You assume that the states goal from October thru Christmas is purley hunting. It is not it is revenue enhancement and depredation on a large unspecified scale. The state wants the deer killed, they don't care that you can "hunt". The state never has your interest in mind.
So again is the state hypocritical in saying that only slug guns are used for hunting season (unspecified depredation) but that you can use your AR in a .308 or a .50BMG during the specfied depredation hunts.?? Yes.