If you had a $1000 budget

Add a hundred bucks and you can get a Zeiss 3-9X42 VM/V. If you can live with a fixed power (a better choice more often than most people consider) a Schmidt & Bender 6X42 or 8X56 Classic (about $1000). Save a pocketful and go with a Meostar 3-12X56 for around $650, or a 3-10X50 for about $550 (US). All great optics.
 
A thousand bucks is a fair bit more than I'd spend on a hunting scope. In the $600-800 you can get a scope built like a tank, and reliable with optically superior glass with a power range suitable for hunting.

Target work and extreme long range is another story, as is any application that calls for an objective larger than 60mm, or where you need to be able to resolve an insane amount of detail - like 1/20th moa of detail (30 cal holes at 600 yards).
 
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