Lewistown/greatfalls montana opinions

[SURVEYOR]

Guys we are headed to the Lewistown / Great falls area next week for my wife's interview. We are going to spend some time checking out the area as this could very possibly turn into a major move and lifestyle change for us. I would like to get some opinions as I know alot of you guys are from Montana and may have knowledge of this area. So here goes: Is there anything that is a must see? Opinions of the area? Good place to raise a family etc.?
How are the hunting and fishing/ outdoor opportunities in this part of the state? I prefer to have lots of opportunity close to home and travel to the trophy/limited entry areas. Would that be the case here?

The last think I want is to move my family across the country to a place where I have to drive even further to access hunting and fishing opportunities and or is full of meth addicts.

Thanks

 

[Jon Boy]

Lots of general hunting opportunities in those areas and a short trip to the breaks for trophy/limited entry areas. Great falls isn't bad, it can get pretty windy though. Its a short drive to the little belts or the rocky mnt front. Lewistown is a kind of a strange town as far as location. Its a fairly decent sized town but its 2 hours from any other town of significant size (great falls or billings) so it is very isolated and I've heard it can be hard for out of towners to fit in the community. I'm not sure how accurate that is as I've never lived there. Its at the base of the snowy mnts which is one of my favorite ranges, and a short drive to the east side of the little belts. If I were to move back up into that country I'd live in Belt. Nice community and a short drive to great falls for all of your big town needs.

 

[sniper61]

Drive up to Augusta , west of great falls and go to sun river lodge and in joy the monster mounts and a cold beer. You will be at the base of the Rockie mountain front. Never spent much time in missoula but it looked like the best town and best location for hunting and fishing.

 

[Dos Perros]

I've made some friends in Lewistown and those guys are transplants, and they seem well adjusted and every bit as much of a "local" as the born and raised. I think if you get active in the community, church or charity or something, you would be accepted anywhere you go.

Folks in Montana are some of the kindest I have ever met in my life, no doubt.

 

[Bearlodge10]

Surveyor,
I would say central montana is a great place to live and to raise a family. Even though I don't live there (my wide's family calls Lewistown home), I enjoy the area very much and there is quite a bit to see and do. Others have made mention of a few things. If the interview is in Lewistown I would suggest that you drop in to Dash-In for a wagon wheel, onion rings and a hot-n-tot. Then take an afternoon/evening drive up to the Charles M. Russell Wildlife refuge and watch the elk. (Google elk on the Slippery Ann). Another option would be to head west out to the Oxen Oke for a burger and a beer. This will give you an idea of the terrain of the area as well as a bit of the local food etc.
As far as fitting in I think that Jon Boy and Dos make good points. Any new location is what you make of it. We visit Lewistown a few times a year and I have never felt left out. Perhaps I know the right people there, but all the stores and events that we go to are friendly and sincere. Lots of good hunting and awesome shooting complex there as well. Fishing is excellent to boot.
Hope it all goes well. Nonetheless, enjoy the trip!

 

[squeekieslayer]

hearing some AMAZING suggestions... Slippery Ann will all but have you calling central MT home if you hit it at the right time. The oxen yoke has the greatest burger of all time. Augusta and the Sun River lodge are great ideas too. CMR museum, giant springs state park, glacier up north... there are tons of ideas.

I feel great falls is a great place to live... yes, its a little windy. But if you talk to the uppity folk from bozeman, missoula, and kalispell you would thing great falls is 90 mph winds all the time and that everyone here has a single digit IQ. It is not the case, we are not in the mountains, but we are a short drive to 5 different ranges that offer a ton of variety in hunting for all game. Almost all areas around here are general and can be hunted from sep to december. Great fishing, great birding, and great cost of living.

I love it here.

Shoot me a PM, ill take you out for a beer when you are up if you would like... as long as i am not hunting

JOe

 

[SURVEYOR]

I just googled the Slippery Ann and made an executive decision to visit. We will be there later this week so hopefully we will see the elk doing their thing. Is public access to winter coyote hunting decent in this area?