I'm not 100% set on a 4-12. The only farms I will be rifle hunting on are open fields with long range shots available. The other place I hunt I use my shotgun in the thicker stuff. I have a 3-9 on my ML now and I have taken a doe at 176 yards with it. I had it on 9 power and it felt like to me that at that distance I could tell I was on the vitals of the deer but looking back at it I felt if the deer was much further away it would have been tough to zero in. I thought once I got enough practice in with the rifle and felt comfortable shooting further distances the 12X would be better.
What type of distance will you guys typically shoot deer with a 9 power scope?