Moving Out West?

Slugz · Oct 4, 2018

If the move is to hunt.....then it boils down to hunt opportunity for the resident hunter. I think you will be hard pressed to find a better state with more options than Colorado........I'd do an economic comparison versus public land available versus realistic scenario to hunt the species you want every year. That's what I did. Add in the fishing, upland game hunting etc etc.....hard to beat. But it sounds like your mind is made up Colorado doesn't fit the bill.

hoshour · Oct 4, 2018

There is so much difference between most of those states in climate, culture, cost of living, trophy quality, ease of getting drawn and such, it's pretty hard to help you without a lot more information.

When the list is that wide open, you probably should do more of your own research and narrow it down, both in the number of states and more about what you're looking for. There's also a ton of difference between Seattle and Spokane, Boise and Coeur d' alene.

There's a fair amount of difference between Colorado and Wyoming, two great states from a lot of perspectives, so it would be good to know why you wouldn't consider either. Those would be two of my top three, along with Montana.

Also, what species are most important?

Prerylyon · Oct 4, 2018

I dunno man, this will be a different perspective from a middle aged man:

Move to where there's a good job in your field. You'll learn more and help jump start your career and earning potential to support you and maybe a family, if that's in your plans. The hunting will come. The toys will come. To be clear, I'm not saying its all about money, cause its not. Just saying that with a good job and career come good things in time.

Peace. [emoji111]

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HighPlainsHunter · Oct 4, 2018

What is your degree/profession choice?

How do you feel about mormons? Hipsters?

rammont · Oct 4, 2018

From the perspective of a 61 year old retired guy - don't waste your time chasing the bucks or the career. I retired for good in my mid-50's, it was the smartest thing I've ever done. I bought in to the dogma of chasing the dollar and career and pretty much spent the last few years of my working career hating the job and my life. What's more, I found out that I quit the career, move to lower cost of living state, and work at a gun store and have a much more enjoyable lifestyle with far less stress.

But in your situation, with your education, I'd recommend finding which state you like best and then seeing if you can get a job with the state Game and Fish or federal Forest Service. You could easily make enough money to live comfortably in either case and as your career advances you will make good enough income to be comfortable - making a 6 figure income isn't all that it's cracked up to be if you hate your life.

HighPlainsHunter · Oct 4, 2018

IowaBuck said:
A great friend of mine is a Mormon who ranches in Wyoming. Don't mind hipsters, deal with my fair share of them at college.

I'll graduate with a B.S. in Agriculture with Emphasis in Food Studies and a Minor in Natural Resources and Conservation. I have an Associates of Arts with a focus area in Agriculture Business. I have sales, farming, guide, and retail experience. I know the conversation is broad and "out west" isn't a very great description.

Then it sounds like you can pretty much look across both time zones as you seem flexible enough to deal with the subtle and not so subtle differences there are. For agriculture jobs there are certainly pockets but there is not a lot in some areas so that may help take some areas off the list if that is the industry you want to work in.

Prerylyon · Oct 5, 2018

rammont said:
From the perspective of a 61 year old retired guy - don't waste your time chasing the bucks or the career. I retired for good in my mid-50's, it was the smartest thing I've ever done. I bought in to the dogma of chasing the dollar and career and pretty much spent the last few years of my working career hating the job and my life. What's more, I found out that I quit the career, move to lower cost of living state, and work at a gun store and have a much more enjoyable lifestyle with far less stress.

But in your situation, with your education, I'd recommend finding which state you like best and then seeing if you can get a job with the state Game and Fish or federal Forest Service. You could easily make enough money to live comfortably in either case and as your career advances you will make good enough income to be comfortable - making a 6 figure income isn't all that it's cracked up to be if you hate your life.

'Ram,

Good points; to be clear, my advice is not about focusing on high incomes or chasing $$ at the expense of stress or pursuit of happiness. More about getting some good jobs early in your career, in the field you studied; giving things that fair chance in your chosen career of study.

Early in my career, I worked at a major aerospace company in Los Angeles for a short time. What many would consider not the optimal hunting and fishing situation. Yet, I loved my job, learned a lot while there-stuff I still use today; and, actually found some hunting and fishing opportunities despite the smog and movie stars.

FWIW, I'm 45 now; and hope to retire in my mid-late 50s to have more time with my large family. Plan is to consult part time in my professional field as supplemental income.

Regards,

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Slugz · Oct 5, 2018

Team.....I'm pretty sure he was asking about " hunting"

The young man is gonna have to make money at a job ......to get vacation time to .....hunt

go_deep · Oct 5, 2018

Here's a thought, suggestion whatever you'd like to call it. If I were starting over I'd find a job that could train me in something that I could use to start my own business. Don't care how much it pays, don't care where it is. Invest 5-10 years into it, then move on to your own thing. If you have a successful business, hire and pay well, they'll never have issue going when and where you want.
California isn't the heart of western hunting, but it has a huge amount of agriculture, plus the weather and scenery isn't bad either.

Fink · Oct 5, 2018

If I was making the move strictly based upon hunting, I'd move to Wyoming. Excellent over the counter tags for deer and elk, with the opportunity to draw some very easy high quality tags. And, I hear they have a pretty decent antelope population. I think for the resident, Wyoming opportunity just can't be beat.

I gave serious consideration to Cheyenne or Laramie. Close proximity to the Denver metro area, where my company has an office, so I could go in a day a week or so, but still far enough away to gain some of the benefits of living way outside of the big city.
I may be wrong, but I'd bet that real estate is a darn good investment (albeit a longer term one), in that area, as The I25 corridor creeps north.

Montana would be a close second - again, tons of OTC opportunities, they have a point system for residents, so you'd be behind the 8ball for the primo tags. There's some pretty cool cities in MT to live in.

Idaho and Colorado probably round out your good opportunity states. After that, you're looking at states like NV, UT, AZ and NM, that have very difficult draw odds, and limited (if any) OTC opportunity. I don't know much about WA or OR, other than the fishing is pretty awesome on the coast... So I'll leave that alone.

Slugz · Oct 5, 2018

Slugz said:
Team.....I'm pretty sure he was asking about " hunting"

The young man is gonna have to make money at a job ......to get vacation time to .....hunt

or win the lotto

JimP · Oct 5, 2018

Slugz said:
or win the lotto

I keep trying.

To the OP, if I was in your shoes I would look at Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana for the ease of getting tags. I moved to Colorado 33 years ago when 99% of the big game tags were over the counter and enjoyed it until they decided to do the draw on just about everything after a very hard winter. You just never know what the future holds when it comes to big game tags, with more people wanting them and only so many animals something has to give.

Now if you can find a good paying job in your field in one of those states you should be set.

mustang8 · Oct 5, 2018

Just out of curiosity, why do you want to leave Iowa? It is a huge agricultural area, the hunting is crazy awesome and your not that far from these out west states you want to hunt? Is it the resident vs non resident tag thing or what? Im in central WI and its a 15 hr drive to the bighorns, you must be around 9 or less depending on where you live in the state. That's a short drive. Just my 2 cents.

kidoggy · Oct 5, 2018

not much opportunity in Idaho. I would suggest Wyoming ,montana or Colorado.

rammont · Oct 5, 2018

I agree, and I'm sorry if I led a movement away from the topic but my point was to follow your dreams rather than the money. I recommend that the OP use his education to gain a career that allows him to work in the environment that he'd like to recreate in. Get a government job that allows you work with game management and he'll have the best of all situations.

jtm307 · Oct 5, 2018

I don't know why a big game hunter wouldn't want to live in WY. No other state in the lower 48 holds a candle to WY for resident big game hunting opportunity.

tim · Oct 5, 2018

Idaho is a great state to live, but bring money, we don't pay well.

hunter25 · Oct 5, 2018

I got dropped in colorado when I was 16 and couldn't be happier. I could transfer with my job but have no desire to do so.

Hunting is great here and every other western state i hunt or fish is within a 14 hour drive.

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Moving Out West?

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