I think I'm going to take the middle ground and go with the 10 powers vs. the 12's, a lot of forum posts have recomended 8's but I'm just not that far along in my recovery from "Tim the toolman Taylor more power" disease to go that low.
There is nothing wrong with going with the 10x model though I would suggest you go black instead of camo just based on the poor experience I had this past year. It must have been in at least one of the posts you researched. I still prefer the 8x and would offer that might be happier with them. However, since you do live "out west" the 10x might be more appropriate for the environment you are hunting in.
Good luck and let us know what happens.