Shooter
Active Member
For the price and all of the oppurtunity that MT has to offer I don't think that it can be beat. Plus WY is real close (and NR tags are easy to get in WY) which is the state I would rank 2nd.
Best Mule Deer state?!?
- Thread starter hawkerpayne
- Start date
Shooter
Active Member
To hunt as a NR?
I love to hunt MT. If you don't need to kill a 170+ buck or a 300+ bull it is hard to beat. I also like WY as a NR.
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
side note...
like someone suggested, whatever sate you live in there will be another 3-5 states around you with more opportunity in addition to your new home state.
WY res get to hunt wilderness without outfitters...
like someone suggested, whatever sate you live in there will be another 3-5 states around you with more opportunity in addition to your new home state.
WY res get to hunt wilderness without outfitters...
hoshour
Veteran member
Don't think I haven't considered that or at least spending May - Nov out there, enough to be a resident and hunt all fall. But when you get some grandkids, you'll understand why they are the best thing about life.
When you have a bunch of little ones that absolutely light up when they see you and then come runnin' to throw their arms around your neck and ask you to spend time with them, well, nothing compares to that.
micropterus79
Active Member
Another vote for Wyoming; I spent my youth growing up in Western Colorado (which is awesome, don't get me wrong) but still got up to WY any chance I got for hunting, fishing, anything outdoors related. The only things I ever actually killed up there was a doe antelope and some trout and walleye but on average, always saw more and bigger of EVERYTHING. Spent a summer working on Boysen Reservoir right by the "town" of Shoshone. Really an amazing place. IMHO, it is the low human population density that makes it so great because it has functionally the same habitats available as most other western states.
- Aug 10, 2014
- 10
- 0
I'm not familiar with what this means. "Wilderness" can you explain that to me?
libidilatimmy
Veteran member
Most states in the Rocky's have NF land that is designated as "Wilderness" meaning several things: but to paraphrase it you can't take motorized vehicles, or any vehicles for that matter; only travel by horse, mule, or foot; no commercial operations like logging; basically they're large tracts of land that are designated to keep wild.
NDHunter
Veteran member
Wyoming has a law that non-residents can't hunt in wilderness areas by themselves. That is why some of the primo elk units in Wyoming with lots of wilderness don't take as many points to draw as they should because you must either hunt outside the wilderness area which sometimes only leaves a small part of the the unit, or else hire a guide.
- Aug 10, 2014
- 10
- 0
Does anyone know if Montana does the wilderness area restrictions? Montana's residency requirements are only 180 days where Wyoming is a full year. I'm looking to be 3-6 months out from now for the move so I could essentially hunt Montana as a resident next year, but not Wyoming if that makes sense. Thanks again everyone who has posted on here. I really appreciate the insight. I know no one wants another person hunting their spots.
No, MT does not have the restrictions. You have to live in Wyoming for a full Calendar year before you can become a resident.
nvarcher
Very Active Member
Yeah I wouldn't even apply for Nevada. Horrible draw odds and I haven't seen a decent buck once in the state!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
- Aug 10, 2014
- 10
- 0
okielite
Banned
Montana overpriced their hunting opportunities and has had lots of leftovers available every year since. Basically they told NR hunters to find other options when they raised prices. You wont' find a leftover general elk tag in Wyoming for good reason but you can go buy a leftover Montana elk or big game combo tag right now. Montana is basically an OTC state at this point for general elk and deer tags.
stevevan
Active Member
WYOMING!!!! Having lived in Wyo. for 25 years I can vouch for the great opportunities it presents to the outdoorsman. Since returning back to my native Michigan and experiencing life east of the Mississippi I can certainly reflect on all the greatness of Wyoming. As far as the Wilderness Law concerning Non residents needing a guide to hunt in the Wilderness. What a farce. Just a law made by the strong lobby of the hunting outfitters in the state to protect their businesses. For 25 years I could roam the Wilderness of Wyoming with a hunting Lic. as I pleased. Now after moving from the state and designated a non-resident I'm no longer competent to do so (?)(!). Spent lot's of time in wilderness on DIY hunts including a successful DIY sheep hunt. SOOOO, now I'm less able to take care of myself in that same wilderness than a person who just established residency after 1 year and has maybe never stepped inside a wilderness boundary . Go figure, just doesn't make sense. Furthermore they are discriminating against the hunting non resident with this Guide law just because he is packing a valid hunting license. This is the ONLY time a non resident is required to have a guide. If a non resident wants to fish, take photos, backpack, whatever, they can do so on their own and are exempt from the Wilderness Guide Law. Another example of we hunters being picked on for no legitimate reason (On federal Public Land that we non resident hunters pay taxes on!) just so an elite group of individuals (Guides and Outfitters) can require us to use their services for their profit. Not right!!!!
In God We Trust
Very Active Member
I live in Colorado and would recommend Wyoming or Idaho. Colorado's cost of living is sky rocketing as well as the population and liberal regulation. I can't wait to transfer out of here to on e of the less crowded western states. If you do pick Colorado try the western slope, less people. Stay away from the front range!
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Down here in SW Colorado we consider the "Front Range" to be another state.......too bad it isn't!! If I had it to do over, Wyoming would be it for me.....
Last edited:
trkytrack2
Active Member
Wyoming hands down. Ya the "record book" shows lots of record muley bucks killed in Colorado but check the kill dates.....years ago! Deer hunting in Colorado has taken a big hit here and populations are way down. Of course, you'll feel like your hunting back east what with all the hunters that swarm to Colorado. Seasons are also short....some just a matter of a few days long. Years ago Colorado was a really great place to hunt and live. Anymore, with the liberal left running the state house AND the CPW, and the massive population growth along the front range, it's not much fun living here anymore.
- Aug 10, 2014
- 10
- 0
If there are fewer nonresident hunters in Montana, why wouldn't Montana be a better choice then Wyoming? What is it about Wyoming that is better than Montana? Also if anyone would have leads on specific areas in Wyoming that are better than others u would really appreciate it. I have looked into Cody and Sheridan so far. But I really don't know the areas well. Im contacting Wyoming fish and game about getting previous years successes and areas of public ground. Also investing in onx maps next month as well for the regions. Any other help or insight would really be appreciated. Thanks again.