Dang Redhawk, we agree on sumpin.
Is that a first?
For shore cheap optics is NOT the way to save money on hunting gear.
I have a Bushnell Elite 10X and yup they are some fine optics. In fact when I first demo'ed them at the NEF PD shoot last June some of the guys there who owned European binoculars said they felt the Elite was superior to them.
But ya know even with the Elite I still find myself going back to my Legend 8x42s more often than not. I really love the Bushnell Legend it is a truly fine binocular at a very reasonably price. If I had to let one or the other of them go the Legend would stay. I had a Leica and let it go to keep the Legend as I much preferred it to the Leica. I'd do the same with the Elite, they Legend just suits me to a "t".