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].

 

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  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