Land Owner Perspective on Western States

[Rotnguns]

Idaho also allows landowner tags if they enroll their lands in the Access Yes! program, allowing public hunting on their land:

Access Yes!

A hunter and angler's guide to Access Yes! Properties in Idaho.

idfg.idaho.gov

 

[cuerro viejo]

I’m currently looking at this same topic in NM. NM and CO are my top choices to buy land with the intention of getting tags to hunt and/or sell. It’s nice that Colorado tells you the minimum acreage it takes to even be in the game (160), but land is generally higher in CO than NM…but the towns in CO are usually nicer.

I’ve focused my search on NM as your $ goes farther and the EPLUS system can reward you for improving the land…. Or if you just buy on the X you can get more tags.

You can also get to a lot elk hunting within 3 hrs of ABQ.

My two cents.

Be careful with CO I have to pay taxes on mineral rights that are no longer producing. Big rip off.

NM does have OTC private land deer tags, so you can always get a tag, CO political climate is sketchy at best in relation to hunting and firearms

 

[OKHunter84]

Might be kinda like trying to multi task too much, jack of all trades master of none. Trying to find elk hunting and running cattle would take a lot of land.
You could find a decently priced ranch somewhere in the Midwest and be able to whitetail hunt and run cattle. The money you would save you could do a whole bunch of guided western hunts.

 

[Hschweers]

I know this doesn’t fit what you said, and if you just want to be west I get it, but why not east? Around my parts it’s 1 acre per cow, borderline unlimited deer (by regs. Actual number is 303/year), and no state income tax. Land out in the sticks can be had around $5k/acre, and 50 acres goes a looong way compared to a western 50 acres. We don’t have elk that you can hunt OTC/landowner, but you can still get a remote feel if that’s what’s desired.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

You need to look at gun laws too. I live in Colorado and retired here 25 years ago. Things have changed a bunch. The area from Colorado Springs to Denver to Boulder have a majority of the population and the representatives from this area control the legislature and they are really liberal. The last year or so the Legislature has passed some horrible gun control laws., The wolf restocking came from this area too.

If I had it to do over, I probably wouldn't choose Colorado. I still love the outdoors, the hunting & fishing and the rural living. (My county has less than 25,000 pop). I live west of Durango in the 4 corners area. I love Wyoming & Montana, but the weather is just too cold. I am staying here as I am just too old ( 83) to move again.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I guess I have a differant perspective. As a resident getting a tag is no big deal. Having elk on the private land during hunting season is rare as hell. I feed elk all summer on my land and the neighbors but as soon as hunting season comes they are long gone. I have killed elk on my land 5 times in 36 years.

Sections in eastern Montana might be a differant issue due to visibility and pressure. In western Montana, I would think you would need 10,000 - 20.000 acres to get consistancy. They don't stay long with pressure.