The best state to live in for hunting

[Jc213]

Hello everyone,

Well I finally just graduated college in civil engineering from University of Nevada, Reno. I’m from Nevada and I’ve hunted mule deer since I was 16 and the last 3 years I’ve enjoyed bowhuting mule deer. This year I began putting in points for 7 states and really want to spend my time hunting more. I’ll be moving to Oregon to live with my parents and save up some cash for a while, but I’m wondering what everyone’s input on the best state to bow hunt would be? Aside from Alaska. Or does it not even necessarily matter and just be a non res hunter willing to travel. I’m just curious and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has thought about this, and couldn’t find any other information online.

 

[gretch6364]

Definitely Alaska.

 

[Jc213]

Definitely Alaska.

Considering it. Still need to go visit

 

[scooter25]

Definitely Colorado

 

[EastMT]

Well obviously AK tops the list. I guess it depends if you are talking opportunity or trophy hunts. I’d rather hunt every year than hunt a trophy every few years.

1-AK
2/3-MT/ID
4-WY
5-Tie between most western states.

The limiting factor to me is going to be your cost of living obviously. I always figure if the housing is cheap enough I can hunt anywhere in the nation. If I’m paying half my salary for a house payment my options are going to be more local.

The feds are about to move me from AK to probably TN, after crying and whining, I’ve resolved myself to the fact that instead of $2000+ in housing cost, I can buy a pretty good house for $5-700 per month down there. That frees up $15000 per year compared to here, so I can afford to be one of the out of state hunters robbing all the game from Alaska and Montana every year plus use up some of the bonus points I’ve been accumulating but too busy up north to burn them.



I have yet to be begin to procrastinate.

 

[gretch6364]

Wyoming takes the best care of their residents. If you can live as a resident in one western state, it has to be Wyoming.

 

[Gerard Marcaurele]

Definitely NOT Texas.

If I could pick any one state I’d probably end up in Colorado.

 

[wind gypsy]

My preference would be: 1-AK, 2-WY, 3-Tie between ID and MT 4- Probably CO for opportunity but they sure like to cater to NR's which dilutes the benefit of being a resident. 5-AZ

My bias lies with elk hunting.

 

[coloyooper]

Definitely Colorado

I can't believe you'd try to sabotage this poor kid's future like that.

 

[Jimbob]

BC

 

[dirtytough]

In the lower 48 WY is the best for a resident.

 

[Jc213]

Well obviously AK tops the list. I guess it depends if you are talking opportunity or trophy hunts. I’d rather hunt every year than hunt a trophy every few years.

1-AK
2/3-MT/ID
4-WY
5-Tie between most western states.

The limiting factor to me is going to be your cost of living obviously. I always figure if the housing is cheap enough I can hunt anywhere in the nation. If I’m paying half my salary for a house payment my options are going to be more local.

The feds are about to move me from AK to probably TN, after crying and whining, I’ve resolved myself to the fact that instead of $2000+ in housing cost, I can buy a pretty good house for $5-700 per month down there. That frees up $15000 per year compared to here, so I can afford to be one of the out of state hunters robbing all the game from Alaska and Montana every year plus use up some of the bonus points I’ve been accumulating but too busy up north to burn them.



I have yet to be begin to procrastinate.

I think that’s definitely a smart way to think about it, either live somewhere with great hunting opportunities or make sure your cost of living is low enough to go and do those hunts. Thanks

 

[vanish]

Well obviously AK tops the list. I guess it depends if you are talking opportunity or trophy hunts. I’d rather hunt every year than hunt a trophy every few years.

1-AK
2/3-MT/ID
4-WY
5-Tie between most western states.

I feel like WY is above MT/ID for a resident. More than enough yearly opportunity there. Just got to get over that wind.

 

[fire652]

Well I’m hoping Montana. We will see what happens after I move


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[cuerro viejo]

Kind of subjective

I’d put Alaska at one unless Elk was my thing, if elk was, then overall WY,

Texas if it was hunting 365 days a year and variety

KS for Whitetails but STX is a close second with up to 4.5-5 month season.

Mule deer be CO for reasonable consistency/quality,

Elk would be Idaho OTC and two bull tag options.

Great Kid tag opportunity probably be NM

 

[Russp17]

Well my list for hunting would go:
1.) Alaska
2.) Wyoming
3.) Either Montana or Idaho
5.) Colorado

 

[Dcrafton]

California, they all hunt this way anyway


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[Jc213]

I feel like WY is above MT/ID for a resident. More than enough yearly opportunity there. Just got to get over that wind.

What’s the benefits of Wyoming exactly for residents over non residents?

 

[Jc213]

I think I figured it out. General season for residents and better draw odds.

 

[Russp17]

I think I figured it out. General season for residents and better draw odds.

Yeah great draw odds for residents and tons of general season opportunity. You can hunt bull elk, mule deer and antelope every year.