Leave Colorado for Utah??

[fltlndr]

Who can comment on the overall quality of life for the outdoorsman in Utah as compared to Colorado? Hunting, fishing, camping, public land...??

I was laid off a few months ago and have an opportunity in Utah. The high cost of housing and huge population of the Front Range has me seriously considering the move.

 

[mtnrunner260]

There are less OTC opportunities in Utah but has a higher top end in terms of antler size if you can ever draw a tag.
Utah is more conservative than Colo but if there is a state to take over federal lands they will likely be the first.
I moved from wyoming to utah and hated it the first couple years but have learned more and while I still don't love it I really like it.

 

[realunlucky]

I hate utah tag management and hunt out of state most years due to no tags at home

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[twall13]

I think Utah has a lot of opportunity for general outdoor activities (camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, etc.) That said, the big game management is definitely geared towards limited top end tags and it makes it hard to draw any quality big game unit. To give an example of point creep, I've been putting in for the same limited entry elk unit for the last 9 years. When I started you needed about 7-8 points to draw. I now have 12 points and don't expect to draw this year as point creep has pushed it to where you need about 15 points to draw that same area.

With all that said, there is still opportunity to hunt. I get a general season elk tag every year. Sure they are harder to hunt and the age class of the elk isn't the same but I still have the opportunity. There are also ample antlerless opportunities. The mule deer tags are a bit more difficult to come by these days but you can still get a general season tag most years while you wait to draw out on a premium unit.

Rabbits have been great this year, turkeys are expanding like crazy through the state, there are some pretty good waterfowl opportunities. It all just depends on what you are after but opportunities do exist. Maybe not to the extent they abound in Colorado but they are there. At least that's my take on things.

 

[Violent Hippie]

Some of the other guys on here certainly seem to know UT pretty well. My 2 cents having lived there previously (mid 90's) is the overall outdoors (hiking, mountain biking, back packing, skiing, canyoneering etc) is top notch but as previously said the big game hunting is pretty limited. I would take CO hands down but try to avoid the Front Range. Do you have any chances of work in Western CO ?

 

[fngTony]

Now for a middle class life with kids your house hold income needs to be well into the six figures for Colorado. Thats the problem the vast majority here are blue collar tradesmen. Those who do make near 100k on their own are struggling and their spouses are now getting in the job market. Too many hands in the cooking jar. Out of state license for Colorado may not be that bad if cost of living in Utah is better than here

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[dsclowers]

I lived in Denver for 10 years and now live in Montrose on the Western Slope. Quality of life is much, much better over here and much more affordable. Plus, I'm right in the middle of outdoors paradise with no crowds. If you can find a job out here you should definitely consider it.

 

[justinspicher]

Colorado sucks. Move away immediately.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Utah has some nice areas but there are "some cities" you wanna avoid, especially in the southern part of the state. It's cheap there. Can't always get a beer when want. Have ya looked at places like Rifle, CO?

 

[realunlucky]

Utah has some nice areas but there are "some cities" you wanna avoid, especially in the southern part of the state. It's cheap there. Can't always get a beer when want. Have ya looked at places like Rifle, CO?

I've never been any where here, where you could not get a beer if you wanted one. No weed even with your doctor's note though. Don't worry if you move here you can caravan with your neighbors back to Colorado every fall. It's part of utah 's management plan

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[Bar]

Colorado sucks. Move away immediately.

Yes, and move to Kansas.

 

[MuleyFever]

Don't to it.

I can go to the store and buy a beer anytime I want in S. Utah.

 

[fltlndr]

Thanks for the advice. I'm headed to Salt Lake for an interview on Friday; if it goes well I could be packing the van and heading west within the month. I've looked for work all over Colorado (and Idaho, Montana, Wyoming), but the economy is in poor shape right now, especially for the mining/oil & gas sectors. At least I'll have three tags to fill in Colorado this fall...

 

[twall13]

Utahs economy is booming right now but it depends a bit on your profession. Mining/oil and gas is down everywhere but i have to think it will make a comeback this summer. Good luck with the interview.

 

[cody6510]

Good luck with the interview. I made the leap to Utah last year in April and have loved it (I came from the east though so simply having elk to hunt, and public land was an improvement.) I would agree with most of the comments here though, and would say the Salt Lake area is a great place to live. There is no shortage of things to do for an outdoorsman.

 

[Cindy]

Interesting topic.
How many Utah residents did not obtain a general season deer tag last year?
Elk are still over the counter, but are spike only in most of the states elk areas.
Wont be long before the elk are draw only.
I never thought I would see the day that I had a 1 in 3 chance of drawing a general season deer tag.

Limited entry deer and elk tags and once in a lifetime tags are something to consider as well.

I would weigh the differences. Can you hunt deer every year in Colorado, in the area you are in?
Can you hunt elk every year? Can you hunt any bull, or is it spike only?
What are your draw odds on limited entry in Utah vs Colorado?

There is a lot of public land in Utah, but don't plan on having the good stuff close to home.
As you have said, the wasatch front is packed, wall to wall with folks, most of the front itself is close, but the winter range is eaten up with housing developments, and opportunities close to home are limited. They are there, but expect to see more folks than you are used to.

That said, there is lots of stuff available if a guy is willing to drive.

I don't think I would move if I had equal employment opportunities in both states. You go where the work is in most cases, regardless of the rest.

 

[twall13]

Interesting topic.
How many Utah residents did not obtain a general season deer tag last year?
Elk are still over the counter, but are spike only in most of the states elk areas.
Wont be long before the elk are draw only.
I never thought I would see the day that I had a 1 in 3 chance of drawing a general season deer tag.

Limited entry deer and elk tags and once in a lifetime tags are something to consider as well.

Which general season deer units are 1 in 3 draw odds? It wouldn't surprise me if that's the case but the units I hunt aren't quite that bad yet. The group of guys I know it's been more like draw twice every 3 years... All that said, you are right that you often have to travel to the better country in Utah. So to the OP, if you have to travel anyway, Colorado really isn't that far away... Just a thought.

 

[fingers]

I just moved to Ogden Utah from Arizona. I decided to take a different job opportunity since I'd spent too long in Phx. As a life long arizona resident (even have an archery bull tag in AZ this year) it's a hard adjustment for me. At first I thought it's AZ with mountains. And yes, Utah has interesting geography. But the access to hunting and public land seems bad around Ogden. It's just private land. And the mountains are super steep with scrub brush so thick you can't hike it. That's just my very limited first impression around Ogden. I'm sure with more driving there is more opportunity. I'd love to hear others offer positive input though. I've read over and over how Salt Lake is this great outdoor place. But the Wasatch front if so packed with people. I imagine it's like anywhere though and the vast majority don't hike in far or at all.

And the beer thing sucks. I knew I'd have to go to the "liquor" store but didn't realize how few liquor stores there are with limited selection. It's fun they have very guilty looking people in them. It's like going to buy porn or something.

 

[ben h]

Fingers, I hear you on the beer thing at the "Liquor Store", their prices are horrible; I can't comment on the selection, because I'm not paying that much. Oddly enough, the prices on liquor and wine are pretty competitive with what I've seen elsewhere, and they have a great selection. Not sure about where you live, but around me they have plenty of stores and there is no weird vibe, but I could see that in an area with a high concentration of Mormons. I buy most my beer in Wyoming but that just happens to work out for me because I "live" in Flaming Gorge and have a house in Salt Lake for when I have to work there.

The Wasatch front is a densely populated area, but that means pretty much the rest of the state has virtually no people and almost all of the land is public. as stated above after you get a mile or so from the road, you really start eliminating the few people that venture out. If you're in the oil and gas business, try the Uinta Basin if you can.

Good Luck,

Ben

 

[mtnrunner260]

Fingers,
I moved from wyoming to ogden and had your same feelings at first. There is some pretty good stuff around once you've had a chance to learn it.