What you don't seem to know is that what you are referring to as "assault weapons" typically use much LOWER POWERED cartridges that commonly used in hunting rifles.
I'll see if I can find some relative pics.
Now these may look menacing to you, but fact is that they really aren't powerful enough for deer hunting. In my state, only the two rifles in the middle would be legal for deer. The reason the rest aren't legal is because they aren't powerful enough to kill humanely.
{Courtesy ping to Jonah Hex since I'm "borrowing" his pic}