In the booklet you get with your hunting license it states under General Hunting Regulations .....
UNLAWFUL FIREARMS & DEVICES:
1) Automatic and semi-automatic (autoloading) rifles and handguns; 2) air or gas operated rifles and handguns.
It further states under Small Game with a note under Arms & Ammunition that: Rifle and handgun caliber restrictions do not apply when hunting woodchucks. While hunting small game during the bear or muzzleloader deer seasons, the only rifle or handgun that can be used is a 22 caliber or less rimfire.
Deer, turkey, waterfowl regs also list the firearms restrictions. In no case are you permitted to use a semi-automatic rifle. Period
The laws are quite plain, when we are talking HUNTING situations. If some judge or magistrate has decided otherwise, they are ignorant of the written law, or have had a compelling reason to overrule it, in my opinion.....