Random questions about Oregon

[Dadnstuff]

Hey All,

I have a possible opportunity to relocate to Salem, Oregon. I am an avid hunter, but have spent 7 of the past 10 years living overseas and have felt the absence of big game hunting for many of those years. Currently living in Belgium (we had 3 hours of direct sunshine last month), weather sucks and am concerned that Oregon will not be mich better. Can anyone provide insight on the Salem area, ease of hunting access, outdoor activities, and general family friendliness? Will be relocating with the Wifey and two young sons. Thanks.

 

[sneaky]

Well, from November til April it's going to remind you a lot of Belgium. Oregon isn't tops on many people's lists for hunting, but there are still opportunities to be had. Fishing you can do with no issues, but if hunting is a higher priority you may have to travel a bit, unless you wanna hunt Roosevelts in the rain forests out on the coast.

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[wapitibob]

Weather isn't too bad in Salem, pretty decent place really. Community is pretty good too; Kaiser might be better for a smaller feel but only minutes from Salem proper. I lived there for a few years back in the day.
I drive out of Oregon for any serious hunt.....

 

[dieselchessy]

That area gets probably 50 inches of rain a year. That's not that much. The weather is relatively mild. You'd be 1.5 hours from surfing and 1.5 hours from skiing. You could ski in the AM and then surf in the afternoon.
You can Archery hunt out east on a general tag and rifle or archery hunt the west side on an general tag. You can drive easily to Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Montana.

Lots of hunting available if a guy looks. Salmon is on the decline as is Steelhead. In the ocean you can do halibut, bottom fish, tuna, crab, ect...

Oh, and this area is the mecca of Micro brews. You could drink a different beer every day and never have to try a factory beer, but they are there if you want as well. Lots of distilled liquor and wineries as well if that's your deal.

 

[lak2004]

I live in Corvallis just south of there for 3 years, it took me some time to get used to winters there coming from sunny CO, but once we left I wanted to immediately move back. Still miss it, especially the fishing! Hunting is decent, Roosevelt elk are fun to hunt, blacktails are a serious challenge. Lots of opportunity for bear, lion, elk, deer and turkey. You can get a sportsmans pac for pretty cheap and get most of your tags in one package. Salem, seemed decent, I prefer smaller towns and there are plenty around Salem. Lots to explore all over the state! I'd move back in a heartbeat if the opportunity presented itself.

 

[Shadow14]

Hunting and fishing opportunities abound in the state. Big game hunting is better on the east side IMO but is still good on the west side if you like to hunt the thick stuff. Fishing is fantastic everywhere. It will rain alot in the winter months but its not terrible.
I would try to find a place in the suburbs or something. Stay out of downtown Salem and Portland.

 

[Oregon]

“Rains a lot” is actually a myth.
Charleston SC gets as much yearly rain as Portland. Mobile Alabama gets almost 70” a year. Way more than the Willamette valley.
What isnt a myth is the gloom. A normal average winter, overcast dominates.
Summers are beautiful.
Where I live, right on the beach, I can assure you rain dominates. The Coast range blocks half the rain, then the cascades block the other half.
Hunting is readily available, quality not so much.

 

[backcountryshaffer]

It seems a valid question for you might be: What are your other options for relocation? I'd love to give you some positive vibes regarding moving to OR but I left in 2015 after having spent 40+ years as a resident. If big game archery hunting is your juice there is plenty of opportunity in OR but you'd probably want to be ready to drive 3-6 hours to get to the eastern units for mule deer and rocky mountain elk. Spring bear is a fun hunt which you can't get many other places in the US.

 

[elkliver]

Decent opportunity elk hunting but almost zero trophy hunting(actualy it just moves the goal post. if you get a 320 bull in Oregon thats equal to a 380 in other states )

great opportunity for Turkey or bear. Fishing is phenomenal

Deer is currently dismal. yes, if you hunt hard you can find a buck but it is suffering hard. Dont live right in salem! but there are decent neighborhoods not that far away.

all reports of rain and cloudy darkness are about the West Side of Oregon and not the east Side. Salem is West Side but not in super rainy area.

concerns about upcoming gun legislation but i am assuming it will still be fine for a Belgium transplant

happy to answer more detailed questions at any time shoot me a pm

 

[teamvit]

I am still in the middle of figuring it out myself. Moved to Lebanon,OR in July. I think it rains a lot but I moved from the desert. I haven’t gotten into the fishing but have found plenty of opportunities to hunt and still lots to learn

 

[sneaky]

“Rains a lot” is actually a myth.
Charleston SC gets as much yearly rain as Portland. Mobile Alabama gets almost 70” a year. Way more than the Willamette valley.
What isnt a myth is the gloom. A normal average winter, overcast dominates.
Summers are beautiful.
Where I live, right on the beach, I can assure you rain dominates. The Coast range blocks half the rain, then the cascades block the other half.
Hunting is readily available, quality not so much.

Rains a lot isn't really a myth, those 50 inches of rain are condensed into half the year, the other half is gorgeous weather. I've lived in Oregon, I'm not guessing at the weather. Summers were about as great as you could ask for. The winters are just like Europe, drizzly and somewhat depressing depending on where exactly you are in the western half of the state.

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[Dadnstuff]

Thanks everybody for the replies. Some noted I should provide more specifics as to what I'm looking for or my other options.

I've worked for Uncle Sam (mil and govt) for the past 15 years. Considering moving to OR for a state-level position, vice Fed. I hunt rifle-archery big game, small and upland game. I've got a 1yo spinone Italiano, that I'm training on upland game. My boys are 3 and 5, and love the outdoors. As far as true "wild" goes, I have not had the opportunity to expose them to that in the past 2 years in Belgium. I grew up with total immersion into the outdoors and wild places, and want to provide that for them. I am not a good city dweller, so a small town outside of Salem would be the best option. I love the mountains. The boss-lady loves the beach. I also really enjoy fishing, albeit freshwater has been my jam and I'd be a total newb with the saltwater stuff. I have an 18' john boat with a small 25hp motor , nothing for big water.

Other places I'm gunning for : southern AZ, and CO Springs.

 

[backcountryshaffer]

Thanks everybody for the replies. Some noted I should provide more specifics as to what I'm looking for or my other options.

I've worked for Uncle Sam (mil and govt) for the past 15 years. Considering moving to OR for a state-level position, vice Fed. I hunt rifle-archery big game, small and upland game. I've got a 1yo spinone Italiano, that I'm training on upland game. My boys are 3 and 5, and love the outdoors. As far as true "wild" goes, I have not had the opportunity to expose them to that in the past 2 years in Belgium. I grew up with total immersion into the outdoors and wild places, and want to provide that for them. I am not a good city dweller, so a small town outside of Salem would be the best option. I love the mountains. The boss-lady loves the beach. I also really enjoy fishing, albeit freshwater has been my jam and I'd be a total newb with the saltwater stuff. I have an 18' john boat with a small 25hp motor , nothing for big water.

Other places I'm gunning for : southern AZ, and CO Springs.

Good to know! I moved to CO from OR and spend time hunting in AZ! Honestly the Springs is a far better choice IMO than Salem. I have family on both locations. Salem is pretty liberal, Springs pretty conservative. As a resident I feel the opportunity in CO is better than OR. I have buddies from OR that come to CO and WY on a regular basis. Opportunity for quail and big game in AZ as a resident are really good. My daughter lives in Tucson, if it weren't for the 100+ daytime temps in the summer I'd move myself there ASAP. Obviously no ocean beaches in CO or AZ but there are plenty of lake beach options in AZ.

 

[lak2004]

If you are not big on cities, the Springs is the opposite way to go. The front range has its perks, but cost of living and insane population growth make it suck in my. opinion. I grew up in the suburbs of Denver and you couldn't pay me to move back that way.

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[dieselchessy]

Where did you grow up with total immersion in the outdoors?
You have an amazing spread from Southern AZ to Western Oregon. Those places are worlds apart.

You say your wife likes the "beach". In the Northwest we call it the "coast". I know to most people those words seem synonymous, but they aren't. "Beach" implies sand, bikini's, board shorts, sunshine and gentle breezes. "Coast" implies rocky, windy, cold, overcast and wet.
In Oregon there is very little beach and its fleeting. Lots of coastline though.