Final answer:
In terms of legality and ethical hunting practices, a 20-gauge shotgun that fires a single slug and a 16-gauge shotgun firing buckshot are likely legal and suitable options for hunting deer and antelope. Birdshot is generally not appropriate for larger game, and a .410 shotgun may be too small to ethically harvest larger game.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of which shotguns are legal when hunting deer and antelope predominantly pertains to game laws that vary by jurisdiction. However, in general terms, when hunting larger game such as deer and antelope, a shotgun that fires a slug or buckshot is typically preferred for its stopping power. Among the options presented:
- A 20-gauge shotgun that fires a single slug (Option A) would be a legal and common choice as slugs are suitable for larger game due to their power and accuracy over distance.
- A 12-gauge shotgun that fires birdshot (Option B) would generally be considered inappropriate and potentially illegal for deer and antelope hunting as birdshot is designed for smaller game and is less lethal at the ranges required to ethically harvest deer or antelope.
- A 16-gauge shotgun that fires buckshot (Option C) may also be a legal option, as buckshot can be effective for deer-sized game at appropriate ranges.
- A .410 shotgun that fires buckshot (Option D) is generally considered too small for ethically hunting larger game like deer and antelope, although legality would again depend on jurisdiction-specific regulations.
Out of these options, the 20-gauge shotgun that fires a single slug and the 16-gauge shotgun that fires buckshot are most likely the legal options for hunting larger game such as deer and antelope, with a strong preference for the slug-firing shotgun for its increased accuracy and ethical harvesting capabilities.