Let’s hear everyone’s top pick for states or provinces to live for big game hunting opportunities

[Phaseolus]

Me too, Western Colorado is great.

 

[Blockcaver]

BC, with OTC hunting for the following: Stone Sheep, Bighorn, California Bighorn, Black Bears, Mt Goat, Canada Moose, Shiras Moose, Whitetail, Mule Deer, Blacktail, Sitka Blacktail, Cougar, Rocky Mt Elk, Wolves, Wolverine, Lynx, Bobcat.

LEH hunting for these additional species: Dall Sheep, Mt Caribou, Roosevelt Elk, Bison. Also quite a few LEH hunts available for the OTC species listed above, especially Bighorns, California Bighorns, etc.

Grizzly hunting ceased in 2017, but not for a lack of bears. Our costal Grizzlies are called Brown Bears if they cross the border into Alaska. The northern BC Canada Moose become Alaska/Yukon Moose when they step in the Yukon, NWT or Alaska...and are the same huge animals.

Upland hunting is there often in limited zones for Ruffs, Blues (dusky), Sharptails, Spruce Grouse, Chukars, California Quail. Goose and duck hunting too.

License fees are reasonable. Native rights to hunt and super long rifle (any weapon) seasons can make finding a good critter difficult, bow (archery) seasons are very short...9 days spanning Sept 1-9 in some areas and include cross bows and the Jr hunts as well.

BC is a very large province and roads are not high speed 4-lane except for a very few exceptions. Going Stone Sheep hunting in NW BC is nearly a two day drive for me....some of the areas are another day beyond that. SE BC Elk hunting is a days drive away. Roosevelt Elk hunting was a day's drive away. Sitka Blacktails would take a two day drive.

Fishing is decent for trout and salmon.

 

[ianpadron]

After reading all this, I am realizing I should stop yearning for Wyoming, Montana, or Alaska and be pretty happy with my WA state hunting

- yes the pressure is bad
- yes success odds are terrible
- yes the game commission (sorry fish and WILDLIFE) doesn't like hunters
- yes I will probably never get to hunt with a suppressor

But -- it's where I get to work a job that let's me both make the money and have the flexibility to hunt a long deer season and put in for tags out of state and be able to pony up whatever it takes to then succeed when going out of state. And the public land near my house is actually decent! I get a tag for every species i care about every year (two for bears!) , don't pay income tax, and if I ever go to Alaska I at least have a decent training ground for miserable wet and cold nearby

You can absolutely hunt with a suppressor in WA state.

 

[WaWox]

You can absolutely hunt with a suppressor in WA state.

Sorry this was misleadingly stated. I current don't own one and my guess is that by the time I figured out which of my rifles I want threaded and set up and decided I want to splurge the $1000+ on one suppressor -- then they will likely take it away

 

[Snowwolfe]

The hunting opportunities in Alaska are awesome. But in general they don't come cheap and we either spend plenty of money on our toys or in transport fees to get to prime areas. I never got into planes but it isn't uncommon for a sportsman to own a couple of ATV's, a few boats, and numerous other bits and pieces. Hell, just last week I visited Alaska Gear and bought a 12x12 Arctic Oven tent with a vestibule and a liner, some gear lofts, and a couple of other small items, $4600.
You want to chase wolves in the winter and spring bear when the snow is still thick? Then add in a couple of snowmobiles to the mix.
When I used to hunt the Koyukuk in my river boat we would spend $5,000 just in gas for the boat.
Sitka blacktail? A commercial flight from Anchorage to Kodiak then a charter flight to the hunting area, $1500-$2000.
Sometimes you can pull off a inexpensive hunt but its tough to do so. We used to have an area we rode ATV's to for moose hunting and doubt we spent more than $200 each by the time we left home till we returned.

I love Alaska and I don't mean to discourage anyone. But to enjoy this state it takes a hefty budget and quality gear. Yes, there are exceptions to every rule but finding a honey hole for any species that is easy and cheap to access can be difficult.
If you are dedicated, the easiest and least expensive critters to harvest are most likely black bears and grizzlies if you live in an area where they can be baited.

 

[northernmadman]

The only 2 reasons I live in the NWT is the hunting and work. Sheep, mountain caribou, moose, wolf, wolverine, and grizzly are all tags I gather for my fall hunt over the counter. I have options for muscox, bison, polar bear, goat, black bear, walrus, and 2 other types of caribou. I think the muscox, PB, and walrus are draw tags and there are OTC for bison or you can draw tags in a different area.
After the toys and gear is purchased the hunt costs me about 5k a year, most in fuel for the truck.
The bonus is as a trades guy I have NEVER been out of work in my 30 years on the tools.
Didn’t even mention the world class fishing either. If you can ignore the politics and survive the darkness in the winter it’s a pretty awesome spot to live.

 

[D_wit22]

Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence….just saying

I believe here in PA I have it good with whitetail hunting. But I always am jealous of you guys living out west with Elk in your back yard. But I’m an extrovert, so I believe outside of the hunting seasons, I’d feel very isolated living in some places with fewer people.

Hunting is important! But there are 8 months out of the year that don’t involve hunting

 

[Elite]

Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence….just saying

I believe here in PA I have it good with whitetail hunting. But I always am jealous of you guys living out west with Elk in your back yard. But I’m an extrovert, so I believe outside of the hunting seasons, I’d feel very isolated living in some places with fewer people.

Hunting is important! But there are 8 months out of the year that don’t involve hunting

I did agree with this to a extent, but hunting consumes most of my time, Shed hunting all spring, predator hunting most of winter and then typical fall hunting


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Blockcaver]

Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence….just saying

I believe here in PA I have it good with whitetail hunting. But I always am jealous of you guys living out west with Elk in your back yard. But I’m an extrovert, so I believe outside of the hunting seasons, I’d feel very isolated living in some places with fewer people.

Hunting is important! But there are 8 months out of the year that don’t involve hunting

With Stone sheep season open August 1, and Black bear closing in the spring on June 30 you can hunt 11 months straight if you chase predators in Jan - Mar…..wolves, coyotes, cats. So 8 - 11 months if you want to hunt “everything”. And there is even a July Sitka Blacktail hunt if you want to go to the Queen Charlotte’s and fish halibut and salmon too, making for a 12 month season.

 

[Elite]

The only 2 reasons I live in the NWT is the hunting and work. Sheep, mountain caribou, moose, wolf, wolverine, and grizzly are all tags I gather for my fall hunt over the counter. I have options for muscox, bison, polar bear, goat, black bear, walrus, and 2 other types of caribou. I think the muscox, PB, and walrus are draw tags and there are OTC for bison or you can draw tags in a different area.
After the toys and gear is purchased the hunt costs me about 5k a year, most in fuel for the truck.
The bonus is as a trades guy I have NEVER been out of work in my 30 years on the tools.
Didn’t even mention the world class fishing either. If you can ignore the politics and survive the darkness in the winter it’s a pretty awesome spot to live.

That’s awesome to hear from someone that lives up there, How do you find the logistics to hunt sheep and caribou,moose. Need a plane or jet boat or?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[northernmadman]

That’s awesome to hear from someone that lives up there, How do you find the logistics to hunt sheep and caribou,moose. Need a plane or jet boat or?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Drive a vehicle 2200Km one way and unload the Argo’s and gear and drive another 55Km from the trucks to get to camp. It’s a long haul but the only other option I know of is to fly into Norman wells and chopper into the mountains from there.
Once you have the gear the biggest cost is your time as it’s 3 days in and 3 days home again. Each year on the way in I wonder why do I do this? Then we talk about next years trip on the drive out
I have friends who hunt off the rivers in jet boats and others that fly around in a 185 on floats looking for moose. It’s a giant territory with very little road access so logistics are usually the hardest part of hunting.
64 days till we drive out , but who’s counting?

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

I grew up in Wyoming and when you draw good tags after a period of moderate winters life is good. However, whatever state you have the most time off and highest income in is what I’d suggest to anyone not settled down. Friends from Texas hunted the heck out of whitetails, then came up with antelope tags and were headed to Alaska for caribou and sometimes Canada for sheep. It made my easy to get mule deer and elk tags seem less impressive.

If you live life primarily to hunt a certain animal it makes sense to be nearby and lovingly watch them all year, give them names and whisper sweet nothings at them with your sexy voice. Otherwise, all around hunters with the biggest trophy rooms aren’t really tied to one state, even if on a budget. The cost of a nonresident tag isn’t all that much in the grand scheme of things.

^this should be pinned to every "Moving to Wyoming" post. With the words "after a period of mild winters" in bold.

 

[TaperPin]

^this should be pinned to every "Moving to Wyoming" post. With the words "after a period of mild winters" in bold.

Very true. Lol

 

[Oakman]

For me it's an equal love for CO & WA, it is not a one man's decision anymore, family, kids and school are huge factors.

 

[Caseknife]

For me it's an equal love for CO & WA, it is not a one man's decision anymore, family, kids and school are huge factors.

Wow, wouldn't have thought that Washington would make the list. Have lived here all my 63+ years, does offer a great variety of outdoor quests, but the last 10 years or so it has become increasingly anti-consumptive to say the least.