RE: spotting scopes
I purchased the Tasco 18-36x50 scope as a Christmas gift for my father a year ago ($99). Pretty poor scope, IMO. It works, but the eye relief is very small and the brightness isn't all that great compared to others I have seen.
If you want a serious scope, be prepared to spend serious money. Good optics are expensive. The Tasco is o.k. for occasional use but I wouldn't want to be squinting through it all day on a hunt.
The Mouse