Interesting discussion. Thanks for all the input here. I appreciate it.
Looks like I'll have to do some figuring....
Not to confuse the issue but you need to realize that for all of the excellent advice Kent has given you, hunting coues is a whole different level beyond 99% of most other hunting. Picking out little brown deer in the cactus and creosote 700 or 800 yards away requires the best optics as well as incredible skill (which I for one have very little of). That said, most of the rest of us in most situations can get by with less. Definitely buy the best you can afford but how much you are handicapping yourself using less than the very best depends on YOUR hunting.
