Wanting to move west... Need your help!

[TexRed]

I am a Texas resident and love being a Texan but it is just extremely hard for me to justify hunting out west without living closer. That said; I am looking to move to a western state that has good hunting and fishing opportunities (elk, mule deer, pronghorn, etc.).

I am currently working on my master’s degree at West Texas A&M in plant, soil, and environmental science and I have my bachelors in Agriculture Economics from Texas Tech University. I have always lived in either west Texas or the Texas Panhandle so aside from amazing sunsets there isn’t much to look at or do in the outdoors. I am looking for some advice on agriculture producing areas in other western states that might have some good jobs that would be worth looking into. I have done some research on southern Idaho as well as Colorado but would love to hear what y’all have to say about the states you recommend. My wife is a physical therapist so she shouldn’t have too hard of a time finding a job anywhere we move.

I have weighed most the benefits/drawbacks of moving away from Texas and have to say that it is a hard thought to handle at times. Both of our families are there and all within 3 hours of each other. Living within close proximity of a good size airport would be beneficial in allowing us to visit family.
I generally lean conservative when it comes to politics but I figure with an ag job I will live in a more rural community which tend to lean more right anyway.
Religion is very important to me and my wife and a good selection of churches and multiple denominations is a huge plus.
We figured if we are going to try doing something like this it might as well be when we are young, rather than regretting not doing it later in life.

Let me know what areas y’all are from and experiences you have that might help us to make a decision. Also, if you have any leads on agricultural companies in your areas that I could do some research on, that would be helpful. Google can only find so much.

Thanks in advance!!

P.S. I am sure I will think of some things I forgot to add in this but I can post them later.

 

[Jason Snyder]

You might also look into north central Wyoming. There is quite a bit of farming in the Big Horn basin near Lovell.

Also, eastern Oregon around Vale/Ontario.

Lots of wheat farming in north central Montana.

Southern Idaho has a very strong LDS influence, if that would affect your decision.

 

[quackaddict]

The Rio Grande Valley over here in NM is very Ag rich, and ranching is big all over the state. Lots of hunting opportunities here(more than most realize). I really enjoy it here. I wasn't interested in moving here at all, but once I opened my mind, I see myself staying for awhile. Southern NM isn't for everyone, and I wish I was anywhere else sometimes, but it's all what you make of it(that goes for anywhere).

There's several Ag companies in southern NM. Crop Production Services, Helena, and the university(NMSU) are the first ones that come to mind.

El Paso aeropuerto isn't but 45 minutes from Las Cruces.

If being in a really conservative state is important, you'll pretty much have to stick to ID, WY, and MT.

And if I could pick anywhere to live, it would be north of here. I'd like OTC tags, more water, and more fish...but all-in-all, it's pretty alright down here.

 

[quackaddict]

The Williamette Valley in Oregon is somewhere else I'd focus my attention on.

 

[jm1607]

WA & WY no income tax

OR no sales tax

AK and Canada are dream scenarios but are a long way away.. and cold..

ID & MT are excellent choices as well...

 

[ssliger]

Don't move to Wyoming, it sucks here. It's windy and cold.

 

[muleman]

If being in a really conservative state is important, you'll pretty much have to stick to ID, WY, and MT.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/167144/wyoming-residents-conservative-liberal.aspx

Play around by hovering over the different states and change the metric to see how you align with different states.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/125066/State-States.aspx

South-East Idaho would be pretty had to beat in my book. A lot of hunting and fishing opportunities and a lot of agriculture. JR Simplot also has a presence in several areas in Idaho, might be a place to apply your degree.

 

[JWP58]

I did it. Havent looked back. It takes some getting used to, people aren't as friendly and the housing prices are outrageous...

If Idaho didn't have a state income tax, I'd live near Boise, without question.

 

[quackaddict]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/167144/wyoming-residents-conservative-liberal.aspx

Play around by hovering over the different states and change the metric to see how you align with different states.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/125066/State-States.aspx

South-East Idaho would be pretty had to beat in my book. A lot of hunting and fishing opportunities and a lot of agriculture. JR Simplot also has a presence in several areas in Idaho, might be a place to apply your degree.

I always forget about Utah, no offense.

 

[muleman]

I always forget about Utah, no offense.

None taken.

 

[quackaddict]

I don't know how hard it is to draw BG tags there(Utah), but if you like to duck hunt, well, surely you know how awesome the GSL is. I've only flown into SLC once, and that's all I've seen of it, but dadgum it's a beautiful place.

 

[MuleyFever]

My advise is go for it. I moved from WI to Utah 3 years ago. It is different. Cost of living is low but so are wages. There is so much to see and explore. We have 2 or 3 years left here for sure then we may be looking for our next move, to CO most likely. If you have the desire now you will still have it in 10 years and you will wonder why you have not done it yet. That is how I felt and I will tell you I waited 10 years too long to make the move.

If Elk is high on your list though dont move to Utah.

 

[muleman]

I don't know how hard it is to draw BG tags there(Utah), but if you like to duck hunt, well, surely you know how awesome the GSL is. I've only flown into SLC once, and that's all I've seen of it, but dadgum it's a beautiful place.

To draw premium tags is difficult and takes a long time. There is a lot of duck hunting available in close proximity to the Wasatch Front.

If Elk is high on your list though dont move to Utah.

Premium elk tags are hard to come by for sure. However there are some nice OTC bulls out there with some work. Cow tags are getting easier to to come by the last couple of years too.

 

[realunlucky]

Born and raised in Utah. My family all lives here that being said I had hard time moving back because of the way hunting is regulated. I still have regrets but its a great place to raise kids and they can still have a shot to draw a tag. Every tag is draw except archery elk and they way they divide units and the season dates it's not my favorite. I probably hunt more out of state than in. Utah still grows some great deer but numbers are down and so are tags. Huge bulls but an le tag should be considered once in a life time. Look hard at Montana

 

[muleman]

Born and raised in Utah. My family all lives here that being said I had hard time moving back because of the way hunting is regulated. I still have regrets but its a great place to raise kids and they can still have a shot to draw a tag. Every tag is draw except archery elk and they way they divide units and the season dates it's not my favorite. I probably hunt more out of state than in. Utah still grows some great deer but numbers are down and so are tags. Huge bulls but an le tag should be considered once in a life time. Look hard at Montana

Utah has OTC elk tags!

From the 2014 Utah Big Game Application Guide Book:
General-season bull elk permits may be
obtained beginning at 8 a.m. on July 10, 2014
at wildlife.utah.gov and from license agents
and Division offices. General-season bull elk
permits (muzzleloader and any legal weapon)
are available on a first-come, first-served
basis. General-season bull elk archery permits
are unlimited. You must have a valid hunting
license or a combination license to buy a
general-season bull elk permit.


Here are the tags currently left, after almost a month of sales.
Any Bull Elk - Any Legal Weapon (9453 REMAIN)
Any Bull Elk - Muzzleloader (9453 REMAIN)
Archery - Hunters Choice
Spike Only Bull Elk - Any Legal Weapon (10740 REMAIN)
Spike Only Bull Elk - Muzzleloader (10740 REMAIN)

 

[realunlucky]

They are still a draw just under subscribed. Not saying there are not opportunities to hunt here just stating that any state that touches utah has better opportunities to hunt. I would not move to Utah for hunting alone.

 

[MuleyFever]

They are still a draw just under subscribed. Not saying there are not opportunities to hunt here just stating that any state that touches utah has better opportunities to hunt. I would not move to Utah for hunting alone.

I agree, and under subscribed for a reason. OTC elk tags in Utah are not even in the same category of what you get in some other states. I could also draw multiple elk tags in decent units in other states a few times over before I will draw a LE elk tag as a resident in Utah in many units.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

Wyoming resident special tags are getting harder and harder to draw. It is windy up here. My cousin has a Bachelor's in Ag and he can't get a full time here in Wyoming. I know he has looked all over the state but he is looking more with government not private. My fiancé is from the Cody/Powell/Lovell area and there is some farming up there. I am not sure what jobs would be like but they are definitely smaller communities. Cody would be the closest Walmart. Hunting isn't bad up there but there is a lot of private land.

 

[muleman]

They are still a draw just under subscribed. Not saying there are not opportunities to hunt here just stating that any state that touches utah has better opportunities to hunt. I would not move to Utah for hunting alone.

I agree about the coming to Utah just for hunting.

The general elk tags are OTC and not left over draw tags. When you do your Utah application in the spring there is not option to apply for general season elk as they are first come first serve.

From the 2014 Utah Big Game Application Guide Book:
General-season bull elk permits may be
obtained beginning at 8 a.m. on July 10, 2014
at wildlife.utah.gov and from license agents
and Division offices. General-season bull elk
permits (muzzleloader and any legal weapon)
are available on a first-come, first-served
basis. General-season bull elk archery permits
are unlimited. You must have a valid hunting
license or a combination license to buy a
general-season bull elk permit.

 

[Greg Beck]

Southern Idaho works for me. Moved here 7 years ago from Kansas for construction. That ended and now I am a Respiratory Therapist. All my friends farm and that seems to be huge where I live. JR Simplot like was mentioned would be a likely place. Most tags are OTC. The draws are seemingly equal opportunity. Tons of waterfowl where I live. Fishing is awesome. I like it it here. I live an hour from Boise and its a great small big city.