If you could live anywhere (for Elk Hunting)...

[Sinkinglizard]

If you could live anywhere in one of the western states from WY, CO, MT, ID, or UT given the following criteria, where would it be? The primary objective is to be within 2hrs max of elk country from doorstep to trailhead. I do not want to live anywhere near Denver / front range area or similar metro areas (Boise). Largest city I would be interested in is something like Bozeman, Grand Junction, or Missoula. I also travel a decent amount for work, so I need to be <60min to a regional airport that has direct flights to a major hub like DIA or DFW. My wife and I have a young family, and spending multi millions on a home is just not realistic to be in a mountain town like Crested Butte or Big Sky. I have a strong desire to be in a small / mid size mountain community and would appreciate input

 

[eddielasvegas]

Is AZ on the short list?


Eddie

 

[Beendare]

Wyoming is what you are looking for....just not Cody.

 

[wind gypsy]

WY is tops for resident license but none of the towns I’ve been to really call to me.

 

[HunterGatherer]

I live in Idaho in a place that fits your description but have been thinking about moving to Montana for awhile. Spent a lot of time there and it’s more like Idaho used to be and More OTC tags there. Bozeman has been gentrified in recent years- they call it Boze-Angeles now . Leaning heavily towards the NW corner of the state Missoula to Libby area …

 

[go_deep]

Hawaii, but keep that between us...

 

[UKwildcatfan]

I'd live on the San Carlos res. Not sure I'd pass for native American and can't fool the DNA test.

 

[Jeremy Schaad]

If you could live anywhere in one of the western states from WY, CO, MT, ID, or UT given the following criteria, where would it be? The primary objective is to be within 2hrs max of elk country from doorstep to trailhead. I do not want to live anywhere near Denver / front range area or similar metro areas (Boise). Largest city I would be interested in is something like Bozeman, Grand Junction, or Missoula. I also travel a decent amount for work, so I need to be <60min to a regional airport that has direct flights to a major hub like DIA or DFW. My wife and I have a young family, and spending multi millions on a home is just not realistic to be in a mountain town like Crested Butte or Big Sky. I have a strong desire to be in a small / mid size mountain community and would appreciate input

Lander WY
Fly United express out of Riverton.
Plenty of options for limited quota or general OTC elk

 

[HighUintas]

Salt lake city area

 

[Fireflyfishing]

NJ. Move there. Best elk hunting ever.

 

[Indian Summer]

Licensing in Montana sucks. And Colorado is about to use the same system. I’ll say Wyoming. Alpine. To me it’s the one state that does its best to resist change. Great hunting and beautiful.

 

[richl025]

If you could live anywhere in one of the western states from WY, CO, MT, ID, or UT given the following criteria, where would it be? The primary objective is to be within 2hrs max of elk country from doorstep to trailhead. I do not want to live anywhere near Denver / front range area or similar metro areas (Boise). Largest city I would be interested in is something like Bozeman, Grand Junction, or Missoula. I also travel a decent amount for work, so I need to be <60min to a regional airport that has direct flights to a major hub like DIA or DFW. My wife and I have a young family, and spending multi millions on a home is just not realistic to be in a mountain town like Crested Butte or Big Sky. I have a strong desire to be in a small / mid size mountain community and would appreciate input

I moved to Bozeman this summer. Great city, I love it here, but housing costs are... up there. OTOH, there are some smaller towns in the area where the market isn't so elevated, and they are still within 30 min of the airport.

 

[3forks]

To the OP, you’ve listed some fairly specific criteria… There are a lot of discussions on this site started by people looking for advice on where to move. Most of those discussions aren’t well received because not many people want to enable more people moving to their area. You may not be asking for someone to give you a specific place to hunt elk, but what you are asking for is not too much different than that.

I’d advise looking at what resident hunt opportunities are and where the herds are located in the states you’re interested in, then look at the locations of the regional airport locations in the states you’re asking about. After that, then look at what towns are within the distance from the airport you’d need to be close to. From there, start looking at all the other variables you’d need to consider.