You don't say what your budget is. IMHO I would put the extra money that an illumination feature cost into the overall value of the scope. If you can't see the deer, cheaper scope, you can't see it with an illuminated crosshair scope anyway. If you get one of the better grade scopes, Zeiss or similar, with a German #4 or similar crosshair you will be able to see the deer later and if you can see it thru the scope you will be able to see the bolder crosshair.