Where to live if Public Land Hunting is a major draw?

[MoeFaux]

Idaho is over 60% public land with different topography in the north v south part of the state, giving lots and lots of options for different experiences chasing different species.

It might not be the best fit for you if you primarily wanna chase whitetails, but it would be high on my list!

 

[Gobbler36]

With what you’re describing I’d be moving to Kentucky, I would say TN but to many ******* ppl moving there too.
It’s a shame we ruin every place

 

[Glendon Mullins]

Virginia, but make sure you are west of the blue ridge so you don't have to deal with the previous mentioned deer hunting with dogs. Plenty of Deer, and some large ones, but you will have to work for them. Plenty of national forest, some WMA.

Despite someone saying deer is all Virginia has, they couldn't be more wrong. Plenty of Bear, Squirrels, Tukey, Rabbit, some grouse.

Liberal Predator hunting season's coyote year round, red fox and grey fox, and bobcats also.

Drive down to the coastal area and you run into some waterfowl hunting, doves, etc.

Fishing: You can find many native trout streams in the mountains, and Virginia stocks trout in several streams several larger impoundments with bass, striper etc. James River for monster catfish, and if that isn't enough again drive down to the coast and fish in the ocean.

You can probably get somewhere around Roanoke and be within your 1.5 hrs to a airport. and the weather suits your needs as well.

Want to get adventurous? drive from Virginia down south and hunt hogs once a year on the cheap, or to Ohio and catch walleye, Ohio has big bucks also, well documented

Sucks driving out west to hunt though, absolutely no where out west is a short drive

there are other states that offer just as much as virginia, north carolina comes to mind, they have literally everything listed above as well and milder winters in most of NC.

South Carolina has avery liberal and long deer season and even milder winters than NC

WV has everything listed except the coastal fishing, and stripers and monster catfish

Tennessee has alot to offer as well and Kentucky as well

 

[HornPorn]

Relying on public anything is a poor strategy in my humble opinion

While I'd like to LIVE out West....the clean air, the smaller populations, the big views, the variety of big game to be hunted.......the trend I'm seeing, accelerating during Covid, is that more and more people are moving West and trying to live that same dream. Not only are you having to deal with other hunters, you have hikers, snowmobilers, dirt bikers, whatever.....just people everywhere trying to enjoy shrinking areas of natural landscape. It's only going to get worse.

I'd rather buy land in the southeast. Think the bible belt....land is cheap, and you don't need much acreage to be able to hunt deer on your own land every year. Ive hunted on as little as 3 acres, because of the size of the neighboring parcels and how the deer move, 160 inch deer a realistic possibility every year. Go to landwatch.com and use the filters and search. Price, acreage, etc.

Every few years, go on a guided western hunt. Have the best of both worlds. MOST guys out west dont own land they could hunt on. They are 100% dependent on govt land. There is nothing like walking your own woods and not seeing another soul, ever. The imagine holding the antlers of a buck you killed on your own land. Its a pretty priceless feeling.

 

[Swamp Fox]

For weather, if I am being picky, I prefer to avoid the New Orleans style 100% humidity and given the choice I prefer snow over rain. My ideal summer less concerned with how hot it gets and more if the air keeps moving and I can find some shade. For winter, my ideal temperature is cold enough that the snow doesn't melt and refreeze and warm enough that I can manage the ice buildup on my beard as a result of exhaling.

I haven't considered Missouri, which is odd now that I think about it, because I have done some research on Illinois because southern Illinois has interesting deer populations, even if it has less encouraging legislation.

I think the weather requirement prolly eliminates most of the Southeast. Even Virginia can get right spongey in the valleys. Those who like pretty snow prolly need to stay north and west of The University, so then it's not even the South anymore ... lol.

 

[justinspicher]

I landed in my current spot in Colorado back in 2016 and have never considered moving anywhere else. I have everything I need here for recreation and hunting. The towns are the right size and I enjoy my seasons. I thought I’d like it here when I took the job that brought me here, but I’d never been to SW Colorado. Turns out i absolutely love it here. I have zero plans to go anywhere else.

 

[svivian]

Georgia