I can promise you that if you're not going to helmet mount it, the 256 will work find for finding deer. I can see deer on the other end of one field I hunt and it's 980 yards away. You might not be able to tell if it's a deer or a hog, but the heat signature is there. You're not going to impress your friends with it but if all you're looking for is a dead animal then save some money.