Red dots is where I’ve lived and black dots is where I’ve worked, or spent a considerable amount of time recreating/have good friends there.
This thread got me thinking, and I have been penciling out big game opportunities the last few days in primarily ID, WY, & MT.
I was born and raised in ND, and wouldn’t ever move back. Sure the oil has brought lots of economical benefit to the area, but other than that I would say little else that’s good for hunting. ND GFP mismanaged their deer. Big game opportunities are limited to an OTC archery tag every year. Mule deer rifle tags take 6+ years to draw, and muzzy tags are approaching double digits. You used to be able to shoot a buck, and 4-7does, not the case anymore. Few bad winters didn’t help. Elk, moose, and sheep are OIL. Pronghorn are very limited. Great bird hunting and walleye fishing.
Have spent most of my adult life between SD and MT.
SD deer hunting is great for trophy quality and opportunity, and if you play your cards right could be shooting 3-4 bucks a year. Their elk system isn’t bad for what it is, and when you do draw a tag, I’d argue it’s some of the best elk hunting around. Big bulls, vocal bulls, ease of access, and typically not too much pressure. Good pronghorn hunting in the NW. OIL for sheep and goat. Also great bird hunting.
After looking at how many tags you’re able to get, and for what species, and the cost of it all; depending on what your goals are (ie trophy bucks or meat in the freezer or a combination)
MT is the most affordable between the the 3 states mentioned (this is all based on resident tag prices). WY can shoot 3 elk, but ID 2 bulls- for a NR priced 2nd tag. MT 2 elk. Price wise goes to MT. Trophy quality probably WY. WY is a PP state, ID is lottery, and MT is BP.
WY has more deer opportunity with 1 buck and uncapped leftovers. Montana is 1 buck with 8 doe tags ( having to drive all over the state) and again, ID is 2 bucks.
Pronghorn-undoubtedly WY
Sheep hunting goes to MT with trophy potential in the breaks and the opportunity factor with the unlimited’s.
Moose hunting I think goes to ID- or at least used to, but the big 3 in ID are all OIL tags. With the extra opportunity for a 2nd subspecies of sheep (California Bighorns)
Mountain goat is a toss up. Idaho- no points. MT- good odds historically in some areas (Crazies). Wyoming- not educated enough.
Wolf- ID 5, MT 5, WY 2. With the nod to Idaho for cheaper license
Mtn Lion- ID 2 with a 2nd NR priced tag. Other states 1 per year. Can run hounds in all states. Northern Idaho seemingly having the chance at the biggest cats.
Bison- I think more opportunity in WY, with a more expensive price tag than MT (by about 3 fold $414 vs $125) None in ID.
Black Bear- arguable. Idaho, again with the 2nd tag at a NR price. NW MT as far as economics go.
They are all great. They all have their shit holes. Boise, Missoula, Bozeman, Jackson. Everywhere is what you make it, and I think that you would enjoy anyone of these states.
I left MT for OR only as a career move that’ll hopefully lead me back to MT later. OR hunting is more limited, but better than WA. The season structure will be a change, but will give me all of Oct to try and pursue out of state opportunities.