Yeah bird watchers do haveour Butts Kicked when it comes to spotting scopes and optics knowledge go.
Back in the "Good Old Days" ya were allowed to just shoot the thing so you could thing,so you could havea closer look.
I think they called it SHOOT AND RELEASE.....
Sometimes I wish I lived in those days...[&o]
Anyways in the "BIRD WATCHING COMMUNITY", Kowa is known for some very very top end models, very high-end priced, and very very good quality.
Some of these bird watchers claim they are better than Swaro,the others claimthese Kowasevery bit as good as a Swaro.
Its Unfortionate its happened but ya,Japan is taking over this optical industry in every way.
Anyways Kowa has some mid-line priced models that just happen to fall at your price tag.Some of these modelsdo suit the hunters needs, it all depends on what you want in a spotter as far as objective size,overall-size,weight, clarity magnification and practical hunting situations and purposes.
This would be an optic to try as well.
I share a Leica and love it, 15-45 x66, it was the best optic available at for the price at the time, and was the best spotting optic suited for my hunting needs, but at this time there might be a better optic made elsewhere that suits your needs.
But see for yourself and give the Leica atest as well.
But your probably right in skipping the mid class all-together and go straight to the high end Swaro or Zeiss.
Consider the HD models,especially if its going to be a greater than 65mm-70mm objective lens, definately consider Hd at over 70mm.
Condider Hd, if the magnification is at all the same, or close to being the same as the overall objective size.eg 20x-60x65mm, 20x-60x x60mm
IF ITS A 15-45 POWERwitha 60 MM OBJ you can get away without the HD.