I am in Wisconsin as well. I have a 1x32mm T/C Hawkins scope on one rifle and a Nikon 1x20mm on another. Both work great. I did have the T/C fail one and fog up on me. I sent it in to T/C and they sent me a brand new one. The Nikon has been bullet proof so far.

I am going to get a Traditions 1x32mm next week and throw that on another rifle just to see if I can break it.

I have done the peep sight route, and the red dot route. I have a RED Dot on a CVA staghorn. It is accurate to about 75 yards but to be honest, in the last 20 minutes of season, when the shadows start to play with us in the marshes and woods, your dot grows a tail, and your vision is very bad through the red dot. Although I was told to shoot it with both eyes open, so some afternoon I will test that theory as they might be right (thanks for the heads up).

A friend shoots peep sights and he can ring a gong at 200 yards all day long he CLAIMS with his Omega. He is a competition peep shooter so I do not doubt him, but I find the peeps in late afternoon shadows not to my liking. You might not have that problem.

I would go with the Thompson Center or Nikon. Both will work well. Both gather light well. You have a slight field of view advantage with the T/C but whether it makes a difference I do not know as I never try running shots unless I have to and then I usually don't.