... Deer in my area are mostly first and last light, I could not take a shot with this scope last time out as it was first light and it just couldn't gather enough light.
...
I appreciate other suggestions, thank you!
Just my opinion. First and last light gathering ability can also be a function of the quality of the scope. Early last summer, used a new Leupold VX6HD 1-6x24 and a used Swarovski Z6 1-6x24 to spot a deer standing ~300 yards out from my back porch at first light. Looking through the Leupold @ 6X, the deer had funky ears. Looking through the Swarovski @ 6X, the deer had 5-6" spikes sticking up directly behind his ears. Swap back to the Leupold, fuzzy ears. Back to the Swarovski, spikes behind the ears. "Seeing is believing." Sometimes you get what you pay for...
