I have found that my ideal hunting scope range for most applications is a 2-12, or a 3-18. The 2-12 can leave you wishing for a little more high end when you go beyond 500y or so, or when laying down groups at 200y or beyond, and the 3-18 can have you wishing that you had a 2x or even a 1x when you have a coyote run by at 10y, but since they don't make a 1-50x yet, we have to compromise. So, if I'm going to be hunting in tight cover, I'll use a 1-10 lvpo on an ar. For mid range stuff, a 2-12 or similar, and for the open western stuff, or long fields, a 3-18 is ideal. Even at 1k yards, a quality optic at 18x will not make you feel unprepared.