Rifle Scopes : Which scope to buy??

Thanks for the informative and interesting reply.  Picking out the target animal in a group is a really good reason for more magnification.    

For me, I like fixed power scopes for these reasons:  

1)  They tend (though some are as heavy if not heavier) to be a bit lighter than variable power scopes due to the fewer amount of lenses which makes offhand shooting and rifle toting easier, 

2)  One less thing for me to have to adjust in the field, 

3)  A belief (that may be incorrect with modern scopes) that the simpler fixed powers have less to go wrong and are easier to optimize from a design standpoint,

4)  Fixed power scopes of the same quality as variables tend to be less expensive (especially used), and

5)  Eye relief is a constant.

That being said, I am amazed by the scopes with a 6x erector range.  I wonder if one might have a place in my battery.  A 1.2x to 7.2x scope would be quite useful for me if it is light enough.  I am not sure I could utilize a 10x or higher scope unless it was from the bench or an improvised rest, so I am not sure if the 2x-12x range would work for me.  I sure am tempted to find out though.