6 year sevice nearing end, which state?

[rara053]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum and hunting in general. I will be finishing my 6 years of service in the ARMY June 2015 and have the option to move anywhere. My wife wants to go to the Pacific NW but is keeping a fairly open mind to Colorado and California as well. I lived in WA for 3 years in the Ft. Lewis area but have no living experience with CA, OR or CO. My question is of the four states where would you relocate and which state and area within is the "best" for resident bivy/bacpack archery hunting? I plan on rifle hunting as well but provide it less consideration. Please feel free to provide comments outside the scope of hunting as we will be starting brand new with zero family or friends in any of the four aforementioned states. My wife served 5 years as well and we will be finishing up our degrees using post 911 GI Bills. We also just had our first daughter May 14th and I'm currently in HI so my responses will be delayed. Thank you all for any input and for supporting all of us Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines and coasties! Also please feel free to ask any and all questions you feel are pertinent.

P.S. I realize the topic is often discussed (I have searched and read extensively) but every case is different and state rules, regulations and policies change often and everyone's life is unique!

P.P.S this site and forum has been a tremendous resource with what seems to be a positive and healthy community!

 

[AZ Vince]

I'd look at Wyoming or Montana if it were me but in the Pacific Northwest I'd lean towards Washington if it were me.

 

[rara053]

I'd look at Wyoming or Montana if it were me but in the Pacific Northwest I'd lean towards Washington if it were me.

Thanks for your input. What would have you lean towards WA?

 

[bowuntr]

I will tell you where not to live... California... Ed F

 

[rara053]

I will tell you where not to live... California... Ed F

Lol, thanks bowuntr. I've read many negatives on hunting CA but thought there might be a few guys with some positives they could shed some light on.

 

[marc]

As you know the bowhunting seasons are really short in Washington. I would either go to Colorado or Montana myself.

On the flip side do you know what you will be doing? Civilian life is hard for some. Just make sure you are prepared because everyone makes it sound so great but when I recruited I saw hundreds of prior service guys wanting to get back in that couldn't.

 

[Dirtbag]

I would probably go Colorado in your situation. Idaho, Montana, wyoming would be great choices as well, however the job market just isnt there in most cases. In the NW, I would go Oregon.

Do not do California...

 

[littlebuf]

Alaska

 

[307]

1. Where is your family? More importantly, where is her family? This is a much bigger factor than you can see right now. Having help with kids and not having to drive 103984729 hours to see family becomes huge especially after having a couple of kids.

2. What do you plan on doing career/job wise? Will it require a bigger town/city?

3. City people? Country people? Lots of people like the romantic idea of living in some small town in the mountain states but far fewer can deal with the reality of this choice. Internet/web shopping makes it easier but it can get a little isolated. This question is especially important for your wife. Guys can generally handle it because of the outdoor opportunities but if your wife is miserable, it's not worth the trade-off.

There are more questions to consider but these come off the top of my head first.

 

[mtnwrunner]

Hi all,

I am new to the forum and hunting in general. I will be finishing my 6 years of service in the ARMY June 2015 and have the option to move anywhere. My wife wants to go to the Pacific NW but is keeping a fairly open mind to Colorado and California as well. I lived in WA for 3 years in the Ft. Lewis area but have no living experience with CA, OR or CO. My question is of the four states where would you relocate and which state and area within is the "best" for resident bivy/bacpack archery hunting? I plan on rifle hunting as well but provide it less consideration. Please feel free to provide comments outside the scope of hunting as we will be starting brand new with zero family or friends in any of the four aforementioned states. My wife served 5 years as well and we will be finishing up our degrees using post 911 GI Bills. We also just had our first daughter May 14th and I'm currently in HI so my responses will be delayed. Thank you all for any input and for supporting all of us Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines and coasties! Also please feel free to ask any and all questions you feel are pertinent.

P.S. I realize the topic is often discussed (I have searched and read extensively) but every case is different and state rules, regulations and policies change often and everyone's life is unique!

P.P.S this site and forum has been a tremendous resource with what seems to be a positive and healthy community!

Thank you for your service. And don't move to Idaho, it sucks here...........

Randy

 

[Pueblo]

I've lived in CA, OR and WA. OR was by far the best of the three for hunting access. Much more public land than WA with lots of variety and more hunt options for public land hunting; great basin desert, great basin mountains, the Blues, Wallowas, Hells Canyon, and lots of misc areas to get lost in, plus the "wet" side with lots of general tags and an incredible herd of Roosevelt Elk. WA public land is dominated by the high cascade wilderness areas. Some have great hunting for elk, but drawing a branched antler tag is just a pipe dream. The Blue Mtns in WA are just a shadow of what's in OR and they are the toughest place to pull a branched tag. Wilderness mule deer in WA is pretty lean compared to either OR or CA as there aren't any high and lonesome mountains out in the middle of nowhere. The Pasayten is as close as it gets but they don't allow archery hunting there, and the early rifle hunt is intense with poor results. Much of Eastern WA is agriculture and non-mountainous, whereas Eastern OR is low on people and big on terrain. WA does have a really great whitetail population.

So of the 3 I'd go OR. However, if you had the flexibility Idaho would be better yet. Imagine living in Caldwell and being within 8 hours of the best Muley terrain in OR, ID, UT, WY, MT while living in a modern city with a good airport and freeway access. The areas I hunt in SE OR take me all day to get to and from Caldwell they're just 3 hours.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

Not CA! I would move to AK in a heartbeat. So much to do there for the outdoor enthusiast and the best hunting opportunities a US citizen can get.

 

[dotman]

I would move to CO, ID, UT, WY or MT.

 

[idig4au]

Thank you for your service Sir!

As a 6th generation CA, I can't recommend that state at all. I left as soon as a could and even chose a career in an industry that isn't prevalent there so no chance to come back. Such a shame ad it's a beautiful state, but all I can say is Pelosi, Boxer, Feinstein and etc.

AK is paradise with good people. I also like ID and MT.

 

[flyinsquirel]

Come to California. We need all the help we can get righting this ship.

 

[krueger]

Colorado would be hard for you get established in a good area along the front range or Metro area unless you have a somewhat good paying job ($75k +). Look at the cost of living for the Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins areas, it ain't cheap. You could get a somewhat affordable rental ($1400 - 1650/month) but its going to be in the less desirable/armpit areas/ long commute of the metro area.

 

[muleman]

Before I had kids, I turned down a well paying job in rural Alaska. I often regret not taking the job. If there is some place you are longing to go; give it a try so you don't regret your decision after you get settled.

Here are a few things to consider.

• Your skill set and the availability of jobs.
• Cost of living.
• Availability of work for your spouse.
• Political alignment with populous.

Good luck with the decision.

 

[Nick Muche]

Alaska, Montana, or Idaho. In that order

 

[gwl79902]

Idaho is what Oregon used to be. I live in Oregon. Some of the small laws that stateshave make a difference in daily life. Idaho has a more hands
off law ideal. You may want to go to a web site called walking to freedom. It is kindof a survivalist type site. I am not into that stuff but I do
find it very interesting to read about the various states and how the citizens view their local government. Idho has some great hunting and fishing.
Bosie is a huge town with lots of jobs if that is what you need. Salmon is a small town with less jobs so you have a mix in the state.

As for living near family. My wifes family is 2000 miles away and I love realy love them they are the best. Did I mention they are 2000 miles
away. Is just me my wife our son and our two dogs against the world. Being away from family is hard at times but it make you rely on eachother more.

Good luck and thank you and more importantly your wife for your service. Greg

 

[WestDan]

I live in CA and can't really say I recommend it. CA has some of the highest state income taxes in the country and finding a house for a reasonable price is a joke around the major cities. Also, the deer quality isn't at the level of some of the other neighboring states (NV, UT, CO, AZ, MT, ID). The state has a massive drought going on right now. Drawing an elk tag is a decade-plus-long ordeal. That said, the weather is great and there is plenty of amazing country to explore. If it were me, I would look hard at Colorado and Wyoming.