There might be a reason that they (and me) posted up what we hunt with. 1) That we chose that rifle for a reason and 2) We actually live and hunt here and can actually comment what combo may work very well here.
I have nothing to say about NC hunting, so I don't recommend anything to anyone there. Might be a start for you?
Gaius,
I've done much more of my hunting outside NC (my current home) than in it. I've hunted Florida to New England, the Mid-West & much of the West. I've seen too many allegedly "misses" with small calibers on large game, misses when no dirt or debris was kicked up around the game by the bullet that likely hit the animal, but did not anchor it. I've seen a 165 grain Accubond shot from a 7 MM Rem mag fail to make it through an elk's shoulder. (The range was 9 yards, but the shoulder was the biggest I've ever seen — even in pictures.) I've seen elk take solid hits, that would soon be fatal, and not even blink when hit. I've seen elk take a double-lung shot & not leave a drop of blood trail. I know I could kill an elk with a .243, could kill a whitetail with a .22 LR, and I could kill a grizzly with a .223, but I know there are better choices for those animals. Using a diminutive cartridge on elk (or any game) means bullet placement must be PERFECT if you want an ethical kill & recoverable game. Reality tells us that few hunters, and damned few new hunters can make a perfect shot on game when they suddenly see the animal they have dreamed of for years.
I've also recovered a lot of lost game supposedly "missed" by others, normally after infection killed an animal slowly and guaranteed nothing would be edible. I've also shot several animals that were partly salvageable, animals that others had shot but not put down. Over the years I've been present for more than 25 wounded animals being "put down" to end their misery. Shooting an animal and not killing it quickly gives ammunition to the anti-hunters — something we should never do!
If the most powerful cartridge this hunter can handle is a .35 Whelen, it will work so long as he stays within the effective range of the cartridge. If the most powerful cartridge this hunter can handle is a .30-06, it will work so long as he stays within the effective range of the cartridge — and limits his shots to ideal situations. If he can handle more cartridge he has more options, and is more likely to have a successful hunt. Although I know I could kill an elk with a .270, I'll never cary one elk hunting because I don't want to be looking at a beautiful animal that's not presenting the perfect shot, and have to say to myself, "Not enough gun for that shot.".
If a hunter has difficulty handling recoil, there are always muzzle brakes for hunting and a Lead-Sled for target practice. Yes, that means hunting with ear-plugs to tame the muzzle blast, but it's an option. I would rather see an elk hunter with a muzzle-brake to tame the recoil he can't otherwise handle, than to see someone sorely under-gunned on a dream hunt. An under-gunned elk hunter is too likely to have a hunt ruined by an animal that was shot & not recovered, or by seeing an animal and not being able to take a makable shot because he didn't have enough gun for THAT shot. (Savage offers several rifles with muzzle-brakes that can be turned off with a twist, ideal for hunters that can't handle recoil.)
I never said what I would cary for dark-woods elk hunting: Never less than a .300 Weatherby, but more likely a .375 H&H. Then again, I no longer am a 1-gun hunter, and have the luxury of picking a gun that fits the game & hunt. This hunter didn't ask what we hunt with, he asked what HE should hunt with.
Also FYI: The best cartridge for NC is the .25-06, it has all the range anyone is likely to have & will take game at that distance without "blowing up" game shot at close range. Now you also know something about NC hunting.