Generally "bulls eyes" don't run when spooked and you will actually have all day in which to shoot one. Deer....not so much. The field of view on 3x is just about exactly three times wider than at 9x. Even here out on the open prairie where sometimes its not possible to get any closer than 250 yds. or so we don't always "need" to zoom into max power. It can be handy and if time and circumstances allow we do.