If you could move to any state out west, where would it be and why? Lets focus on the important factors....hunting (more importantly trad hunting) and fishing.
Probably ID for me. Just a beautiful state with all kinds of hunting. I truly think from my visits that it's a hunters paradise!
Either montana or colorado I think. Something about the rockies. Lots of wild lands there that haven't been plowed over, built on, or even walked on much. Plus, I know the prarie hunters have had tremendous luck with trad gear, but I like my odds with dense forests, draws, spurs, and ridges to hide along. To each their own though.
Based on lots of discussions with wealthy people, retired SAS officers and others that can live anywhere, when asked WHERE they would go if they had to spend the rest of their lives, whatever age, health, realities, and could not travel more than 50 miles from that spot, the answers for the past ten years have been consistent:
If already living in Akaska, they'd stay put.
ALL the others, including billionaires, immediately respond with British Columbia or as close to it as possible! The SAS types have spots in "remote" Australia and South Africa, "that none of the rest of you can access".
Their choices are based upon personal safety and being able to have a decent quality of life. Remote South America has never been on the list because of political and economic issues.
Interestingly, New Zealand is not on the list because of its draconian self defense laws.
Regards,
Kevin
Wyoming, not a lot of people but lots of species to hunt.
Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, or Alaska. Too broad? Montana, because I grew up here, and know it well. (and the animals can get really big)
Take some advise, stay away from the states along the coast. Yuppies and ultra rich have pretty much screwed up or in process of screwing up those states.
We live in California and would not move anywhere; no we don't live here for hunting and fishing! LOL.
We hunt hogs here; and hunt mostly in Utah-a wonderful place for hunting and fishing-great people!
We have hunted and fished in Oregon and Wash as well. Those would also place at the top of a hunting/fishing place to live.
We have not hunted Montana, Idaho or Wyoming and think they are most likely wonderful too. So many places and so little time! :campfire:
I hunted in Idaho 2 years ago and loved it.
Molokai.
I have hunted Id, Mt, Wy, Ca, AK Az and Nv out west. Now live in Nv. Had I no health issues, Id would get my vote. Variety of terrain, game and genuine folks. Agree with crossing off Ca, the pla ce is run by wackos,who turned the world's 5 largest economy into a place where 30% of the students do not speak English,( from Governor Moombeam yesterday). Do your research on taxes,health care availability, schools and any issues that are important to you prior to choosing, as hunting is only part of what you will do.
When I retired in 2007 I researched all the western states, because that's where I want to live. Elderly parents keep me close to home now.
So its Whitetail and preference points for now. If its just for game Alaska, Idaho, Colorado, Montana make the cut. All things considered, Wyoming hands down.
You really need to pick a region as much as a state. Small game and fishing gain importance with age.
if it were me I wouldn't come to AK.
but BC would get a really hard look!
Problem with AK is the cost associated with the hunts and the short window to do the good ones in. most costs alone would put you out west on a 2 or 3 week elk hunt and still afford you left over money to hunt home areas for 3 more months...and possibly throw in a diy speed goat or mulie depending on what good hunt you do up here. Now try and fork that change over every year, year after year.
Sure you can hunt bou all year. The reality is, when its 24 hours of darkness...blowing sideways with a -40 to -50 ambient factor in whatever the windchill, you don't go. At least most slightly sane people don't go lol. Or you can hunt bears all year but considering they're denned for 8 months...again, sounds good on paper.
Alaska is a great place but its not what most would expect! Keep Alaska as a visit and have the best of both worlds!
If your rich there are some great places in Colorado, otherwise I'd probably move to Idaho! Less crowded!
Thanks for the replies. I've lived around mountains most of my life, and miss it some. Idaho ranks pretty high for a lot of people.
I agree with AKDan 100%. I spent more money on hunting in the first 4 years living in Alaska than I had spent in the 30 years living in Montana. Granted I couldn't hunt big game in Montana the first 12 years of my life. But the reality of it is Alaska is a great place for big adventure not day to day or even every weekend hunt.
Idaho is great for sure. I have lived in Wyoming since 1977, and am somewhat prejudiced, but we have great hunting and fishing, government that consistently ranks as one of the best managed in the US, relatvely low taxes, and more antelope than people. Having said that, I have been to Idaho to hunt bears the past couple of years, and there is some awesome country there.
well i'm already here. BC is best for me and "if i had a million dollars............." :goldtooth:
I've been watching this thread closely as I do any thread of this subject. I live in PA and hunt whitetails pretty much every day before work or after work. I'm fortunate to have hunting permissions in between my house and my job.
Moving west at a young retirement age has been an obsession for many years. Each summer and or fall for 20 years we've traveled west looking for the perfect spot. I'm still looking but have noticed quite a few things along the way.
- Distance to hunt is huge. I'm use to traveling 15 minutes at most to hunt. Having to travel 2 hours to a spot to hunt would kill me.
- Length of seasons. Here in PA I hunt from mid-Sept through January. A four week season would also kill me.
- Tags. Where I live does are pretty much unlimited and we have one buck tag. I fill my freezer with venison that we "rely" on. A state with one deer tag would, you guessed it...kill me.
- Whitetails. I cut my teeth on hunting Whitetails and to be honest I don't think I would be happy anywhere they weren't.
- As Don Thomas said years ago, "hunt the seasons"! This is something I would like to be able to do. Here in the east whitetails are supreme, but I would like opportunities at August Pronghorn, Sept Elk, October turkeys, Nov whitetails and late season pheasants.
My concerns are this:
Climate: If it's not hunting season, I still need to like the weather where I live. There are 12 months in the year!
Exploring: If it's not hunting season, are there places to explore, hike, fish, camp, golf?
Location: It might be nice to live in a wildlife paradise but when it's not hunting season is there a nice town nearby for necessities, socializing, medical facilities.
Marriage: Let's face it, if my wife isn't going to be happy I won't be. Finding a place that suites both of us is a must.
:thumbsup:
Good points Tim,but you probably should list the last one first,if you know what I mean.....
Good Shooting,
Craig
My choice would go like this..."Honey, if we were to move west so I could hunt even more and in spectacular scenery, where would you like to go.....?"
I lived in Montana for 4 years and took a bunch of game but I just finished a 2 week hiking vacation in S.D., Wyoming and Montana and hands down I'd pick Wyoming. I caught so many fish, saw so much game and people are few and far between.
Hey Frank,
Interested in hearing what part of Wyoming you fell in love with?
Tim
I lived in Co for 13 years, traveling for work took me to about every corner of the state. Its pretty but I'd never live there again.
I'd move to Wyoming in a heartbeat if the other half would, Pinedale or Buffalo would perfect.
I lived in the Midwest for most of my life and then came west. Colorado for 15 years- and it was/is a wonderful place to hunt and fish! The most vast mountain ranges anywhere in conus, and it's accessible(sorry, more than an hour or two!) Came to WA for family reasons, and it's got all the beautiful terrain, and it's a good place to fish(esp for salmon!), but the hunting opportunities seem slim and crowded! Lived in ID for a year and bought a lifetime hunting license(one of my few astute moves!). I'll be hunting elk there next week. I believe that Wyo and Mt may well be just as good, but-in my experience-ID is pretty near Heaven!
without hesitation I would pick either Montana or Wyoming. Best hunting and Fishing, & sledding. The perfect winter weather keeps a lot of "folks" out which isn't bad either. The common man can also retire in either state and not be taxed as bad as other states would and do!
andrew
Texas hill country. Great whitetails, Turkey, hogs, fishing for stripers and big catfish, Mild winter weather.
I have thought about this a lot myself as well. Part of me is leaning towards getting a motorhome to travel around to all of the Rocky Mountain states. That way you can really have the best of whatever.
My wife has gotten into shooting trad and wants to hunt. I wonder how small game compares out west to the hardwoods of the Southeast? There are a lot of rabbits and squirrels around here but whitetails are of course king.
James
Saskatchewan...I know it is not a State but it is out west...from a purely hunting point of view Alberta is better, but there are a lot more fishable lakes in Saskatchewan
DDave
Gotta agree with AKDan on northern BC as well...you could do a lot worse than the northern parts of any of the Western Provinces
DDave
Cloud, IMO nothing in the west will compare with cottontail and red/gray squirrel hunting back there-small game wise. I loved bow hunting for the little critters during our years in MI, and haven't found the equal here in the west. Big game opportunities are significantly better, especially if you are willing to travel and pay non resident fees. Small game is not the same. Your RV ideal is on track to be able to do both however. We use a comfortable travel trailer as a motorhome is of limited use for us(of course, it depends on what you are willing to tow behind it!)
I felt the original post had to do with relocating to enjoy hunting and fishing where they will live. I think there's a general misconception about the size of western states. It's generally a lot further to get to a lot of your opportunities.
Idaho for me in about two years, maybe three.
Good luck