Where would you live?

[Sunspot]

Lewiston Idaho

Ditto!

 

[In God We Trust]

Wyoming, not a lot of people and lots of critters. Plus mining jobs are plentiful. I am also fond of the political climate in Wyoming.

 

[luke moffat]

Thanks for sticking to the "rules" TEmbry. ;-)
I figured AK would be on top of the list but I'm not sure I could handle all of the darkness. In addition, I think I need to stay fairly close to a population center for work. I like to share the company of a woman from time to time as well which may be a little more difficult to do in the backcountry of AK........

Of course I'm biased cause I'm born and raised here so I don't know any different but the winters aren't so bad. I usually try to get to a warmer climate for a week or two every winter, but overall its not so bad.

As far as finding women in the backcountry, I'm not sure, one seems to be out there everytime I go....coincidence I guess.

As far as staying in the rules of Lower 48, then I'd choose Idaho, simply based on my limited knowledge of what I've read about hunting opportunites in each state. If any other place other than AK I'd choose BC or YT, or NWT all in that order.

 

[H'n'F]

As far as finding women in the backcountry, I'm not sure, one seems to be out there everytime I go....coincidence I guess.

Well Luke, that's a hell of a lucky coincidnece. If they're hiding behind every rock up there on top of the hunting being so good, maybe I should reconsider and start working on getting an Anchorage office started....

 

[Sunspot]

I have missed living in Alaska ever since I left in 1993. What a great place for the adventurist.

 

[eltaco]

I've lived in both Denver and Boise and I'd pick Boise every day of the week and twice on Sunday! Considerably lower cost of living and WAY less people in the woods... and not liberal to boot! The bird hunting is substantially better, too. More elk in CO, no doubt, but there are excellent opportunities for big game in both states.

Oh yeah, and you don't have to sit on I70 to get to the mountains, either

 

[fulldraw1972]

I would say Idaho for reasons already posted.

 

[deadwolf]

Rules are silly, Alaska of course : )

Hawaii is only 5hrs away if winter gets too bad, which with my remote start and heated seats in my duramax, doesn't even happen that often. Also there is still some hunting available to us in the winter as well, caribou, wolves, goats, ptarmigan, maybe more I'm missing as well, just gotta get out and enjoy it

 

[belly-deep]

If you could move anywhere in the lower 48 to hunt elk, mule deer, pronghorn, Moose, sheep etc., what would be your choice and why? I may be facing this option in a few years and thought it would be fun to discuss. So, what state has the most options for residents to hunt and fish?

Your question should be rephrased as: "elk, mule deer, and antelope"

The draw odds are such that I would never move to a state for the chance of drawing a moose, sheep, or goat tag. If you're serious about it, you'll apply for all three species in every state that offers a draw and hope that someday you get one. And then you'll take a few weeks vacation, travel to that state and hunt. Before you do that, get used to the idea that you will possibly never draw any of the tags, especially if you are older and don't have many years left play the draw odds. I know plenty of people in their 50's or 60's here in MT that have never drawn an MSG tag, despite a lifetime of trying.

Moose/sheep/goat hunts are icing on the cake. Elk/deer/antelope are the bread and butter of western hunters.

That said:

Move to Montana if you want to have long seasons, including hunting the rut for all three species. Most of the deer hunting in MT is for average to slightly above-average bucks. The general season elk hunting can be good for big bulls unless you're afraid of grizzly bears.

Move to Idaho if you really like one of the species. You can buy two deer or elk tags every year. I'd gladly trade in my MT elk tag for another mule deer tag, but I don't that option here.

Move to Colorado if you want to hunt big mule deer, and shoot mostly meat elk with a general tag.

Move to Wyoming if you want a good mix of the three, and the best antelope to boot.

While the hunting in Nevada is great in terms of trophy quality, it is lacking in terms of opportunity. I would not want to be a resident in NV, but would like to draw a NR tag there sometime.

Utah is out of the question. Big bulls, low draw odds. Big bucks, low draw odds. General tag units have been described as the "pumpkin patch" due there being an army of orange with Ultra mags descending upon a lone forkhorn on opening morning. Nuff said.

Just how I see it.

 

[luke moffat]

Your question should be rephrased as: "elk, mule deer, and antelope"

The draw odds are such that I would never move to a state for the chance of drawing a moose, sheep, or goat tag. If you're serious about it, you'll apply for all three species in every state that offers a draw and hope that someday you get one. And then you'll take a few weeks vacation, travel to that state and hunt. Before you do that, get used to the idea that you will possibly never draw any of the tags, especially if you are older and don't have many years left play the draw odds. I know plenty of people in their 50's or 60's here in MT that have never drawn an MSG tag, despite a lifetime of trying.

Moose/sheep/goat hunts are icing on the cake. Elk/deer/antelope are the bread and butter of western hunters.

That said:

Move to Montana if you want to have long seasons, including hunting the rut for all three species. Most of the deer hunting in MT is for average to slightly above-average bucks. The general season elk hunting can be good for big bulls unless you're afraid of grizzly bears.

Move to Idaho if you really like one of the species. You can buy two deer or elk tags every year. I'd gladly trade in my MT elk tag for another mule deer tag, but I don't that option here.

Move to Colorado if you want to hunt big mule deer, and shoot mostly meat elk with a general tag.

Move to Wyoming if you want a good mix of the three, and the best antelope to boot.

While the hunting in Nevada is great in terms of trophy quality, it is lacking in terms of opportunity. I would not want to be a resident in NV, but would like to draw a NR tag there sometime.

Utah is out of the question. Big bulls, low draw odds. Big bucks, low draw odds. General tag units have been described as the "pumpkin patch" due there being an army of orange with Ultra mags descending upon a lone forkhorn on opening morning. Nuff said.

Just how I see it.

Wow great break down...especially for someone that hardly knows the capital of each state. Thanks.

 

[Hardstalk]

To be honest Im a mule deer fanatic so take this as you will. But Nv although even residents have trouble drawing " trophy" units. Every unit has a selection of good-great bucks. And if your centrally located and have the time and money. You can hunt Cali early season,Nv early season, Colorado, and a late Arizona hunt for deer every year and dont forget southern Ut is just as close as well. and everything would be within a 5 hour or so drive. Still building my yearly route by trying to scout all states and have a go-to spot in each of them. It takes some time but my goal is 2 quality mulies a year starting the next 2 years or so. With the antelope and elk hunts mixed in.

 

[H'n'F]

Thanks for all the great info guys. I know the odds of drawing moose, goat, sheep tags outside of AK are pretty much zero but it's fun to start the conversation. I'm not really all that old yet at 32 but I got an early start and my son will be a freshman in the fall so in 4 years when I ship him off to college, I will be 36 and free to roam, so long as I can find work (Mechanical Engineering). I've been hunting WI whitetails for 20 years and spend every dime I have traveling to CO and WY to hunt. I haven't hit any other states yet but my firm has an office in Denver, several in CA, one in OR and is thinking about opening one in ID so I may have some options. Yes, mule deer, elk, and lope would be the yearly draw but I'd love to hunt bear, caribou, goats, sheep, hell, anything that walks, flys, or swims really. Maybe I can talk them into an Anchorage office......
I appreciate all of the input guys. I have some time but if I'm going to get them to move me west I have to start working on them now.