Trad Gang

I posted a thread yesterday seeking information on a possible relocation to New Mexico. The responses I received made me realize that I should have kept my thread a little more wide open.

My wife and I are considering a relocation to the southern US seeking warmer weather. I'd be interested to hear about anyone's recommendations for states that have good hunting (public land), decent economy and not overcrowded without being completely isolated or desolate.

Thoughts?

Texas has great hunting and is mighty big.  Long deer season,  upland birds and proghorns.  Lots of exotic oportunities also.  Depending where you settle, not so far from a beach vacation either.  Oh and no state income tax.  Property taxes are high, but you don't need a huge piece.

Some of the best medical facilities in the nation and lots of oil related jobs.

PM'd you.

TEXAS has 365 days of the year hunting for hogs and exotic animals, very close to the coast for excellent salt water fishing. Texas also has 2 of the best bass fishing lakes in the US [ Amstid and Falcon].

 :wavey:

Georgia ain't bad. Wide variety of game and considerable public land. Present economy, not so much.

There is good hunting all over the South.  It would really help to post a bit on what you would like to hunt.  I'm content to be an Arkansan until I die.

Come on down to NC. Lots of nearby municipalities (job opportunities) with mountains to the west and ocean to the east. Mild winters. Summers can get a bit muggy at times.

Check Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, etc for some examples of larger cities close to National Forests and game lands.

Many game lands around east to west.

Lots of Canadians pass thru on the way to Myrtle Beach and Disneyworld.

Southern Utah. You get all of Utah, Northern Arizona, Much of Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. Elk, mulies, sheep.

I relocated to NC (Greensboro), which is in the middle of the State (30 miles South of VA line).  Great community and lots of outdoor activities.  Fair taxes and good politics (if you like the outdoors).  I also really like the NC Coast, North of Wilmington- but my job is in Greensboro.
The state gets all 4 seasons, but the winters are not brutal, like in the Northeast.  July and August are muggy, but outside of that it is a great place to live.
Good luck in your search.
Scruff

I'd second this area.  Colorado and the surrounding states have just about anything you want to hunt.  There are over 300 days of sunshine and snow melts in a couple days.  New Mexico is great and would be an excellent place to retire.  It's darned hot in the summer, though!

 

QuoteOriginally posted by will_hunt:
Southern Utah. You get all of Utah, Northern Arizona, Much of Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico. Elk, mulies, sheep.

Texas public land is very minimal and way over crowded (lived here most my life and I sledom hunt Texas anymore).  Kentucky and Tennessee would be my choice for warmer weather states with good public hunting.... Arkansas also is overlooked.

Texas IS NOT GOOD unless you have the money for it. I hate being Texas and not having the money for it. Sorry I can not spend $150-200 a day to shoot your varmits (hogs).

QuoteOriginally posted by awbowman:
Oh and no state income tax.  Property taxes are high, but you don't need a huge piece.

When we were looking at a houses in Minnesota, the property taxes and state income tax was pretty much the same as my property tax in the state of Texas. Now the houses in MN values were in the $250,000 price range (min) and my house in Texas is $130,000.

My family (me too!) loves living in California-the mountains, the ocean, the wilderness areas and of course the weather. I hunt more out of state than here however; it isn't perfect-life is a compromise.

Hawaii

Check out Georgia, outside of metro Atlanta that is. Lots of wild life mgmt public areas to hunt. Look at  www.gon.com (http://www.gon.com)  forums lot of activity in trad archery area of forum. Blairsville-Dave on gon now that I've moved to N Ga. Dave

New york,( not),cold in the winter, muggy in the summer, taxes are high, and there are few if any jobs........ come on Ross, help us pay for NY city.

Is it any wounder everyone with any sense has left the state?    

The fall season is fantastic though

how about AZ?

I reading this one as my wife and I are thinking of moving out of NY.  It's beautiful upstate but  the taxes and politics suck.

Ga...Gods country.RC

Georgia is a great southern hunting state. We have mountains and coastal islands and a lot of diverse habitat in between. TONS of public land. Great hogs, deer, bear and gator hunting.

Lots of good suggestions here guys, thanks! Utah is one that caught my interest and I certainly enjoyed my time in Georgia last month.

Gotta figure out what an ex-cop can do for work too....

Tallahassee buddy!  Charming city, great WMA's all around us here, great parks in town, nice people, a university, 3 hours to Jacksonville, 5 hours to Atlanta, 6 hours to Savannah, 2 hours to Gainesville.  Panhandle livin!  this area is a sportsman's paradise!  Hunt, fish- fresh/salt.  Check into it!

PS: no state income tax!  

Texas also good choice-  check out Brenham and the Brazos river valley area- only 2 hours outside Houston, gorgeous country!!

What RC said! Tallahasee sound good too!

If I could get out of the Northeast it would be South for sure maybe South GA, North Florida. Anybody hunt Louisiana/Mississippi area? Wonder what's that like? I want low taxes, and a nice RED state, sick of the lefty loonies in the Northeast.

Man...I can't imagine voluntarily leaving the Rocky Mountains to go someplace flat.

Florida.Great hog and turkey hunting, excellent fishing, great winter weather, no state income tax.No trout, but you can't have everything.

Where in GA?

I think that there are better states out there than Utah to pick but that just my 2 cents. Here in Utah big game hunting is on a draw system other than archery elk and it's OTC. Deer herds are way down and with the draw now you may go without a tag some years. Most of the good elk hunting is on units that you are limited to only spike bulls or cow elk, which I don't mind. Our famed limited enrty elk units may take years to draw and they are not what they used to be. Once in life time tags(moose, sheep, bison, Mt. Goats) can take a life time to draw even one. Small game most years is abundent except turkeys have been way over hunted the last few years. We do have lots of public land. If your looking for warm weather stick to the southern border of the state and it can be real nice weather with lots of sunny days. I live in Cedar city and we see months of temps between 30 to -30 in the winter up to 100+ in the summer.

SC...lots of public land...cost of living is lower that most,one of the longest deer seasons in the country with great bag limits in most of the state...lots of turkeys, deer, hogs, squirrels, rabbits, doves a few quail/chukkar and even a few bears in the NW part of the state. Fishing is awesome too, especially on the coast. Come down!

Where in Ga? south of Macon.RC

Not to hijack the thread but I have always considered NC or SC as a place I would like to retire myself. I have no idea how the deer hunting is but the little I have heard sounded encouraging.

You Carolina guys care to elaborate more on the hunting (specifically deer)?

I was in SC last spring (Myrtle Beach) and the weather was GREAT in May (just missed a storm). Driving from NW IL down south was a pleasure. So many beautiful areas going through the Appalachian Mountains between Knoxville and Greenburg. We went down to Charleston for the day and there is a lot to see in this area. Lots of cool history as well.

So back on topic I guess. Even though I don't live in the Carolinas I think it is a nice area.

Bill

There was an article in Outdoor Life back in June 2010 that listed the top 200 recommended USA outdoor towns to retire to.  Of the top 20 places one state had 5 entries (not bad!).  That state was...drum role please...Wyoming.  Arizona and South Dakota each had 3.  If you expended your list to the top 30 places both Idaho and Minnesota had 4, and North Dakota moved in with 3.  

Looks like outdoor retirement place reviewers hate the ocean, lol.

I would`nt want to retire anywhere I had to cut a lot of firewood..lol.RC

I think about this everyday. I'm 47 and planning the retirement thing already. If I was a resident of Canada I wouldn't give that up and try to immigrate to the US. I'd move to BC and live there May til December then head south and rent a little house for a few months or just bounce around state to state to see what's out there. Why settle for one state? Non-res hunting license for deer and small game are fairly cheap in most states and each state offers something different. BC is the hunters paradise. You can have the best of both worlds in my view. And if your not used to hot summers, you won't like the southern states. I like  the heat but most of the folks I know that live in Florida and Texas don't live there in the summer. They live in a AC and only walk in Texas or Florida from their AC car to their AC office or house.

Australia    :D  

Buffalo, big boars, deer, fox, camels, goats and a few others.

Well I would suggest Alabama, long deer season, liberal limits, good management areas.

Been thinking same thing.
Am very tried of cold 6 month winters. BC is good hunting. In most of Canada BC stands for Bring Cash. Texas in the winter, Yukon in summer

I have never been there but I think Arkansas would be a nice happy medium.

amazonjim, AL is not a bad suggestion. My mother in law lives in AL near Boaz. Although I have not really considered it she has an acre lot she wants to leave to me and my wife. Like I said in my earlier post I was thinking NC/SC but AL is not bad. Still HOT/HUMID but if you look at the Bowsite state forums AL has a lot more activity than NC/SC. I assume that could indicate fewer archers and archery clubs.
One Easter weekend in AL I went to a traditional only 3d shoot at a club near Birmingham. Those trad guys made me feel welcome, shot with me and even invited me to come hunt some time on public land. I find most archers open and friendly when I go to big shoots like Cloverdale and Compton and many are from Southern states. There are shoots in TN (TN Classic) at Twin Oaks archery club that would not be too far to drive if I did settle in AL.
So to the OP I would also say if you want to belong to an archery club you might look at what clubs are around. I belong to a great club in LK Geneva, WI and that will be hard to leave. I think I would want a good club close by when I move to hang out with other trad guys as well.
Only issue with AL is the tornados...... I would definitely build a storm bunker if I moved down there.. Might be fun to build. LOL Just hope you NEVER need it. All kidding aside, I have seen some areas near my Mother in Law that were devastated by tornados. That is a concern and something to know about that area.
Deer density is more important to me now than shooting big bucks. I currently hunt an area that can produce big deer but the density is very low. For me, I would choose having a good number of deer to hunt regularly over getting a good deer every two or three years. Besides, smaller deer are easier for an old guy to drag out of the woods. Ha

Bill

Well there are lot of nice places. I lived on Hilton Head Island SC for over 20 years. Closest public land 4 miles away Archery Only. Ton of pulblic land, Hogs 365 days a year, think deer is now max of 4 per year. When I was there. There was no limit on private land. You did need doe tags. They where cheap. And I was a hour drive from Ray Hammonds Hog Heaven.

 http://www.dnr.sc.gov/  

Well I am back in Philly now and it aint warm.   :)  

Rich K.

I've lived and hunted in IN, KS, MO, KY. I've also hunted in WY, CO, MI, AL, and TX.

KY has quite a bit of public land for an eastern state, but I don't hunt it. KY can't compare with western states for lots of public land.

If you aren't trying to completely get out of snow country I'd recommend Colorado for lots of public land, huge diversity of big game hunting opportunity, and scenic beauty.

I would qualify CO a bit these days because it seems that liberal mind-sets are getting a strangle-hold on the state and trying to restrict freedoms of everyone except criminals. I hope CO doesn't become the new California.

In the East I wouldn't live anywhere south of KY because I hate high humidity and I prefer opportunity at larger white-tail deer. In the west I'd be careful about some states due to limited opportunity in lotteries.

Regarding Colorado becoming liberal, believe it.  I've only been here 15 years and I see more Oregon stickers on cars than ever before.  My buddy moved from here to Portland a year ago and he believes 40% of the population in that city is crazy.  Now that I'm seeing all those stickers out here I'm wondering how many of them are bringing their mess to our state.

The only other place I'd move to right now would be Boise.  It's like a little Denver with everything right on your doorstep.  It's hotter in the summer but not nearly as hot as New Mexico.  And, they get less snow.

One of the prettiest places I've seen, for a city, is Missoula, Montana. I've had the pleasure of visiting 3-4 times. We even looked at houses once and found the cost of living is 15% lower than KY.

I hear jobs are a bit tough to find though. My "job" would allow me to work anywhere but grandchildren are EXTREMELY effective (and precious) anchors!

Alabama
- great deer hunting (state wide)
- AWESOM FISHING
- hog
- several large management areas
- wonderful people
- Home of Howard Hill
- just a few hours from the the gulf of mexico
- back2back2back2back football championships
- Mild humid weather

nother vote for bama!

What's employment like in Alabama?

Interestingly, for those that suggest staying in Canada - I love this country but the taxes and the liberals have me looking south. The hunting is great though..... Lol

I have been to and lived all over the country.  Heck, I've been to more foreign countries than I can count.  Makes no difference.  
The top three places are:
1. Texas
2. Texas
3. Texas

I know there will be those who may disagree.. just my .02

Rossco, I live in IL but I have a couple customers in AL that are doing manufacturing. Most are suppliers to automotive and are doing OK right now.

Like I said my Mother in Law lives in Boaz, AL. My wife and I always enjoy visiting her. There are a bunch of outlet stores in Boaz that my wife loves to visit. The last few years I saw a few of these stores close though. My M-I-L said it was the economy so I imagine jobs are iffy depending on what you do like most areas.

I like this thread. I am getting close myself to retirement. My wife is 3yrs younger than me but I think as an RN she could find work for a few years (if she needs to) just about anyplace and I could still retire.

Fun to dream.

Bill

Texas is a great place to work and live, no doubt. Although housing is much more affordable than other parts of the country, as some of the others have said, hunting can be relatively expensive with the comparatively few areas of crowded public hunting land. Most of the state is privately owned, and private landowners charge quite a bit to hunt. Believe it or not, most, if not all, even charge to hunt hogs (ironically, a non-native state-wide pest that's known for destroying and causing lots of property damage). But if you have plenty of money, then you can hunt hogs and most (if not all?) exotics year round to your heart's content!

There's no state income tax, but high property and state sales tax make up for that, unfortunately. Homeowner's and auto insurance are also relatively more expensive than other states, too, from what I understand.

Someone else mentioned Tallahasee. I used to live there in the 80's and early 90's and really liked it. Closest beach is Alligator Point about 45 minutes south. St. George's Island and Panama City are about an hour and a half away. You've got lots of public land just to the south, about 15 minutes away. One thing about the panhandle of Florida, though, is that it's far enough north that the beaches are kind of cold in the winter time. Then again, you're from Canada, so what counts as cold for a southerner like me is probably nice and warm for a Canadian.

And speaking of warm, before you move down south, be sure to visit during the peak of the summer time heat so you know what you're getting yourself into! Tallahassee temps ranged in the mid to upper 90's and sometimes low 100's. Quite tolerable temps in dry climes like Arizona with only 9% humidity, but downright miserably hot in the 90% plus humidity of Florida. Dallas, Texas summer temps are a bit hotter but with slightly less humidity, making them just as miserable. Difference is that Dallas temps never go below 90 til way after midnight. So the only respite you have may be at around 4 or 5 a.m. when the lows average 79 or 80 degrees. Be careful with heat stroke and dehydration, something a lot of folks don't consider when they're not used to the heat. And with the heat come the bugs. I'm not talking just mosquitoes, which are known to carry West Nile Virus and encephalitis here in Dallas, but chiggers, deer fly, ticks, biting gnats, scorpions, fire ants, crazy ants and a whole host of other bugs that come out down south when temps warm up. About the only time they don't come out is when temps go above 100 - it's even too hot for them! I've also lived up north, and just as most folks stay indoors during the cold winters up north, most folks stay indoors during the blistering heat down south! Just something to think about when considering a move to the southern U.S.

Not trying to discourage you with scares of high heat and biting, disease-carrying bugs, though. I'm used to the heat and don't mind it that much. Just get a bit tired of it around September. Most folks acclimate to the heat and get used to it, too. Still not used to all the biting bugs, though.

Another 10 years of pushing around a patrol car and Im off to Austin Texas to get weird with Willie. Love me some Texas. Ill come back to NY in October, November and maybe even May. Crossing my fingers.

What is the best compromise state. Not too hot, not too cold. Not too many bugs, and has good diversified hunting and fishing,,,,,,,,,,,and economics are good ????? Is there one ?

Huntsville,AL.

High Tech town with most of the major Manufactures in the Defense and Space industry. Along with many other Automotive, Chemical, Electronic, and Communications Companies.  Very affordable living. Airport sucks but great flights out of Nashville two hour drive. Very very hot humid May thru September. Walk to mail box will break sweat but that is the South.  Hunting and fishing great like above post. My challenge to you would be....... see how many Whitetails you can kill at 3 per day.... between Oct 15th and Jan 31st. Excellent hunting in surrounding States too. Also in center of multiple... excellent traditional 3d shoots. PM me if you have any questions I can help you with. Suggest multiple trips winter and summer. I am from Northern Minnesota orginally. Know where you are coming from. Envious of your Hunting in Canada though, everything bigger for sure.

QuoteOriginally posted by Knawbone:
What is the best compromise state. Not too hot, not too cold. Not too many bugs, and has good diversified hunting and fishing,,,,,,,,,,,and economics are good ????? Is there one ?

NC


Foothills just outside Winston-Salem come to mind. Thurmund-Chatham Game Land is not far away.

Yadkinville. Wineries are springing up all over NC.

Concord. Lots of growing businesses and established businesses and just outside of Charlotte. Home of NASCAR (to me anyway) and lots of NASCAR teams in that area possibly needing a good machinist/ tool-die guy   :)  

I've lived in NC, Louisiana, and Alaska. NC has alot to offer.

Funny how 90% of everybody is picking the state they live in.    :clapper:  

I hunt primarily in CO, TX, MO, AR, TN, OR & Canada.

I would hate to pick just one state, but would probably go with TX too.

I hear Arkansas is great too Barry!! It will be a hard choice from the suggestions above. Ask lots of questions and visit before you "Bust a Move".

Poisonous snakes down South verses Canada too.  But most snake bites are to those with high blood/alcohol and have Tattoos. LOL.

Ozarks. Take your pick of Missouri, Oklahoma or Arkansas. If you like to climb there's plenty of tough terrain to work the quads and lungs.I shouldn't give it away. Very good hunting and fishing. Compared to your winters, mild. Summers are tough mostly, but your centrally located and can easily get away to many other states to escape winters or summers in 14-16 hrs.

Rusty

Additionally: spring fed rivers supply rated by the millions of gallons. trout, small mouth/bronze backs, white bass, stripers.

Man south carolina sounds good I wish icould move im in ca and the hunting sucks. Good luck with yourmove.

Arkansas or Missouri no doubt. Somewhere around the Branson, Mo area to Mountain Home Arkansas. Literally tons of game animals and all kinds of good fishing.

A lot of negatives to living in NY state. Way to liberal and taxes are high. But after living here my whole life, to relocate would feel like picking up and moving to Siberia or something. Could be a big adjustment Ross.... would you feel at home and in place if you relocate? All I'm saying is, for some of us, if we pull roots do we then kill the tree? How deeply are the roots planted?Of coarse you could always move back to Canada if things don't work out.Just a thought! Good hunting, knaw

I live in Michigan, which I know isn't as cold as Canada for the most part , but there isn't a chance i could live in any of those far south states .  No offense to those that do. The heat and humidity is unreal.   We went down to a wedding two years ago in June to Mississippi.  We stopped and golfed in Alabama on the way down and then in mississippi. Both places were so humid and unbearable I couldn't believe it.  All the locals said , this isn't bad compared to July and August.  No thank you.  We went from air conditioned house ,to air conditioned car , to air conditioned hall.   We were so drenched in sweat from golfing we didn't even finish either round.    I work construction outside , so I know what heat is like , but the humidity down there is a whole different ball game.   Something to keep in mind if yer not to familiar with it down there .

The deep south is preetty tough in the summer. Hot blanket wet humidity, ugh. My brother lives in Alabama, I can't handle it. Don't like it so cold the snow squeaks either, but that's me.

What about Tennessee?  Seems as though there may be a lot to like there.

Agross1, x2    And there has to be hills and trees,totally flat is not were it's at for me.

I lived in Tennessee a few years many,many years ago. Milder climate, but still get winters, but not crazy cold. Taxes were low and housing was cheap but that was 20 years ago.

Find me a place where its a bit warmer, the taxes are low, lots of hunting, and no lefty loonies and I'm there! I've had enough of northeastern winters and southwest PA is full of liberals drives me nuts!!

No way would I ever leave here. Right in the centre of BC.The prevailing wind blows over 3 or 4 hundred miles of forest before it gets here, makes for nice fresh air.Spring summer and fall are all great and as far as winter goes just good ice fishing and sledding and a good excuse to stay in the shop and build a few bows for a couple months. I think KennyM has worse winter in Missouri than we do here in the banana belt of BC.I admit I don't think I would like winter in Winnipeg.I hunt Moose , both deer,Black bear and grouse and rabbits out my backyard and other stuff not to far away.So many trout and salmon we give some away to the kids and friends.Now put me in the middle of the Vancouver urban sprawl and I would hate it but luckily theres way more rural than sprawl if you are willing to go a little north. Actually forget I said all this, we don't need a lot more people up here. A few tradbowhunters would be OK though.  :bigsmyl:   Bob

My wife and I go back and forth with this all the time.  I guess you have to decide...

Hot humid summers followed by nice mild winters.

or

Beautiful low humidity summers followed by snowy winters?  Very hard to find the perfect spot.

I don't know about those southern states. They look like a good place to get bit by something.

Bob, you sold me, I'm coming to BC   :bigsmyl:

Dave, you won't regret it.  :campfire:  Bob

Dont come to Melbourne Fl. Dont want anyone else moving to this outdoorsman's paradise.

Just spent a week in TN working.  Sales tax is 10%.  No joke.  Seems a bit out of hand to me.  The climate there is pretty nice, though.

Believe it or not but Boise Idaho would not be that bad...I know of a few people in Northern Idaho and a few from Libby Montana that go there every winter. It has many many bright sunny days, it is high desert, and temps can get in the 50's and sometimes 60's in the late winter...Also, you can drive a ways down into Nevada and find a bit warmer on some long weekends, etc....One of the top retirement destinations and/or popular big city to live...

So let me get this straight...If you live in Canada you can migrate to the USA for retirement? I don't think you can be a US citizen and move and live in Canada unless some type of work visa...Does anyone know if this correct???

I would choose Boise, you still have winter, but don't have to deal with as much of the summer heat.  Plenty of public land to hunt, and the people are very friendly. New Mexico offers mild winters, and plenty of public land, and you can hunt something every year, getting tougher and tougher to draw deer and elk tags though.

Not hearing from the TN folks.
Someone hiding something  :)

QuoteOriginally posted by Jerry Bellmyer:
So let me get this straight...If you live in Canada you can migrate to the USA for retirement? I don't think you can be a US citizen and move and live in Canada unless some type of work visa...Does anyone know if this correct???

Doesn't sound right to me.

You have a couple options going both was.

- temporary visa (means you gotta leave the country every 6 months).

-immigration. This can be done via investing or other means. The investor visa is an option for moving either to the USA or Canada.

But what if you want to live in Canada for retirement...Can you do that if you currently are a US citizen?

Would a pension be considered a investment since your spending your money in Canada to live?

bowless - yep, me thinks they don't want anyone else to find out about their state.

Never been there, but I would think eastern Tennessee would be about perfect.

A few years back, I joined my wife on a work event in Miami, Florida, during the month of July. All I can say is, when you have to leave the beach and swimming in the ocean by noon, because the heat takes your breath away, you know it's HOT! LOL

Jerry, no your pension isn't considered an investment. I think, but am not completly sure, it would need to be a business or farm or similar investment.Call the nearest Canadian counsel for correct details. Canadian govt and Canadians in general are very friendly to legal immigrants.The other option is the 6 months at a time visa. I know retired people who only go out of the country for a day and come right back for another 6 months. A lot more snowbird it and spend the winters down south.The problem with the 6 month thing is you are not a legal resident for hunting elegibility or healthcare.If you are serious it is possible, I know several people that have retired here with full legal status and the best way to find out the rules is to contact the Canadian counsel nearest you. Hope this helps.  Bob

If we are talking strictly a hunting issue than give NY a spin. We have a long season, in my parts I can Hunt Whitetails from Oct 1 to Dec 31st. Plenty of time to get out and have fun.
But it is an expensive State. The State Gov't isn't very hunter friendly I will admit. Cost of living is high, much higher than anywhere else, but the State does have a lot to offer. There is a reason why tourism is booming in NYC. For the size of NYC the crime rate is very low. And all you need to to get 1 hr away from NYC and there are is damn good deer hunting.

Can't imagine why no one has mentioned New Jersey ?, could it be that just because we are the most populated state in the nation, nah, could it be because we have the highest taxes ?, nah, could it be because they love gun owners ( O.K. so I'm lying a little ) nah, could it be because we have some of the most polluted air in the country, nah, worst traffic, worst roads ?, corrupt politicians ?, highest cost of living ?, occasional hurricane ( Sandy ) and that the Gov't said they will send aid and help fast, nah, or could it be that they are trying to keep it a secret that we have more deer per square mile than any other state and that you can hunt from September to the middle of February ?, so what if the deer live in people backyards, just shoot them when the kids are at school.

I HATE THIS PLACE, I NEED TO GET OUT TO SAVE WHAT EVER SANITY I HAVE LEFT !, JUST FOUR MORE YEARS TO GO.

Think the best way to get to canada, Is move to hong kong then apply from there.  heheeheh. Think hard to get to canada on a pension,

When I retire I'm going to spend my winters in Texas. Hopefully by then they'll be their own country!
Lots to do there. I love it and the people are so friendly. Coming back here for fall tho!!!!!!!    :bigsmyl:

Canada does have a TON of stuff to offer the outdoorsman, that is true.

I'm getting burnt out by the taxes, the politics and the winter (in that order) though. Really sick of working until mid-June before the money I earn is mine rather than the tax man's.... Particularly when you see all the freeloaders getting a cushy deal.

Funny how no one mentions Illinois as a retirement destination.  We are such a dysfunctional state I cannot wait to get out!

I've not read all the response yet so I can give an unbiased opinion.  If I ever get to retire, we are moving to Arizona.  Any type of weather or hunting you want within 4hours    :thumbsup:

Now I am going to go back and see what everybody else said    :thumbsup:

Northern Arizona.

I've never been to northern Arizona and am wondering if that area may have an almost perfect climate like what you might find in southern California, except without all the traffic, smog, high taxes, crime and extremely unaffordable high cost of living of southern California.  I've been to southern Arizona plenty of times and have found it to be very scenic. The winters are awesome, but the summers, especially in areas like Yuma, are even more brutally hot and life-threatening than the southeastern U.S. I kid you not, it got up to 124 degrees one day near Yuma. The lows were never below 100 for about 3 weeks straight. Yeah, it was a dry heat, but once it goes past 105 or so, it doesn't matter how dry it is, it still feels like an oven when you go outside. One plus, though, is that I never got bit by any mosquitoes, chiggers, deer fly, biting gnats or anything like that! I'm sure they have their share of desert scorpions, but I never saw any, though.

I'm guessing that northern Arizona would be much more hospitable in the summer time? Don't know what the hunting or trad scene is like, though.

I believe most critters in Arizona are by draw and even residents have a difficult time drawing certain species?

I remember hunting elk in eastern Arizona one morning at 24 degrees.  That night at 11:30 in Phoenix it was a 102 degrees!  Like a warm oven!...a very warm one!  

I'll add another vote for NC.  However, if I was coming from Canada, I would stay in Western NC.  The ssummers aren't too bad, and they have a true four seasons.

Another advantage of NC is year around canoeing.  I just spent a week on the Lumber River.

Nobody has mentioned Virginia yet.  My nephew lived there for a few years and liked it alot...not too hot, not too cold I here.  Not sure about cost of living or hunting opportunities (a.k.a. public land), though.

I'm looking at Northern Georgia, near lake Lanier. Maybe the Gainesville area. I have been down a few times to visit my daughter and her husband and now my first grandson. I like what I see, Can hunt hogs and deer...a turkey now and then and some decent fishing also. Weather seems pretty good and a lot of other things to do. Not to far from the mountains yet an easy drive to the ocean also.....a move is in my future.

Where else can you go where it's 93 one day and within hours its in the low 30's  :)

Tennessee! Tons of public land, tons of deer and turkeys, long seasons, and liberal bag limits. There are also bears, and hogs in east TN. You should look at middle TN to be specific around Nashville. My favorite place in the world.

I grew up in East Tennessee and would move back in a heart beat. My wife used to joke me about the small Appalachian town I lived in, now she loves it there. Deer, turkey, hogs. I like to bird hunt and have quail and grouse. Native trout in the streams. 4 full seasons. Little to no crime, compared to Here in Jacksonville, Fl.

why not NEW ZEALAND   :thumbsup:

Jeff B I am actually working on that right now. I have gone back to school to get a degree in Forestry which is on the Long Term Needs list in New Zealand.