Where to move for best hunting and fishing experience

[tenguns]

Not sure if this is the right place but ....Living in the West now 30 years - from the East. Thinking strongly about moving away from the Pacific Coast and moving inland but aside from hunting (mule deer, elk, bear and birds, etc - I fish. And fish a lot. I'm from Vermont - more specifically near Lake Champlain. It's a fishing paradise for bass, pike, walleye, bass, trout, and whitetail hunting is good - but not great. No elk... smaller and fewer bear... etc.

So the question is, If you had to choose where to move (State) - given those two activities take presidence over near everything but family, breathing... etc... where would you move? I could move back to Vermont - and travel to hunt Wyo, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, etc... but that's a long way East.

Thought about Provo, Ogden, Coeur d' Alene, Reno, SLC, Boise, Spokane keeping it West... any thoughts?

What state would you recommend for the most comprehensive hunting & fishing given a semi-retirement sitcom?

 

[Againstthewind]

Wyoming of course! Wyoming has pretty low taxes and some places (not Gillette) have pretty low living expenses. A place like Casper and you would be centrally located for both fishing and hunting. It has most of the amenities of the bigger towns you listed. There are too many stoplights for me in Casper. Here we call them suggested slow down lights in case something bigger is going the other way lights. There are quite a few reservoirs right around there for trout and walleye as well the Platte River and the mountains are pretty close for trout streams and stuff. In a year you can be Wyoming resident and pretty much hunt any of those animals you listed every year. Provo, Odgen, SLC and then Spokane, Coeur d'Alene are pretty much connected in my option if that helps narrow things at all.

 

[hoshour]

It depends on whether you want to travel for the hunting or the fishing. Residency means nothing for fishing but it means a lot in the draws for hunting. I sure wouldn't move back to Vermont if you want to hunt and fish the West.

If close-by great fishing is your main concern, I would think Wyoming and Montana would be tops, with maybe Montana higher because you mentioned lake fishing, Colorado maybe third.

For hunting, I think you'll get a lot of votes for resident status in Utah, I think Wyoming is the better all-around state with Montana and Colorado close behind. On the other hand, Wyoming is the easiest western state in which to draw nonresident tags.

If you move to Montana or Wyoming you'd better get along well with very cold winters and small towns. I wouldn't do Spokane because Washington is not a great hunting state.

 

[Eberle]

I'm with Againstthewind! Wyoming, wouldn't even look anywhere else. Tried to get my wife to move up there several times since we got married. She said the winters are too cold for her.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My wife and I spent 20 years (before I retired) looking for our retirement location. We only looked west of the Rockies, as we had no desire to move further east. I am sure conditions have changed a lot since out exploration, but we just love SW Colorado, been here 15 years now. My first choice was Lander, Wyoming including most of the western part of the state. We also liked the Bitterroot Valley in Montana where my Grandfather was born. My wife said "Too windy and cold in the winter".

We are completely retired with no need to work. Jobs around here are pretty limited (at least good paying ones!), land pretty cheap also. We bought acreage and built our home. Big game hunting is great, waterfowl pretty good too. Upland game very limited. Fishing great. Lots & lots of reservoirs for trout, bass, walleye, etc. Great trout in all our local rivers & streams. As a senior citizen, my fishing license is free. State & local taxes are on the low side (at least in comparison to Calif, where I came from).

Would I do it again....absolutely. But I still love Lander, Wy & Stevensville, Mont.

 

[CoHiCntry]

Fishing great. Lots & lots of reservoirs for trout, bass, walleye, etc. Great trout in all our local rivers & streams.

CC... what reservoirs around you have great fishing? I'm just curious. I've never considered Colorado a great place for fishing unless your a fly fisherman. At least around my neck of the woods. If you are a fly fisherman there are lots of great places to fish!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Closest to me (about 8 miles) is McFee (2nd largest res in Co) with Smallmouth, kokanee, trout, crappie & walleye. Navaho next with all the same + pike...great spring crappie!), Vallecito -again same + great kokanee & pike. Jackson has good trout. 4 or 5 other smaller irrigation res with good fishing too. One of the best things is I am pretty close (less than 200 mi) from Powel. We take our pontoon boat and spend lots of time there too. I am not a big trout fly fisherman. I have a 2 acre pond on my place that I stocked with bass, crappie, bluegill and channel cats. I use my flyrod with poppers a lot on it. great fun!.

 

[CoHiCntry]

Closest to me (about 8 miles) is McFee (2nd largest res in Co) with Smallmouth, kokanee, trout, crappie & walleye. Navaho next with all the same + pike...great spring crappie!), Vallecito -again same + great kokanee & pike. Jackson has good trout. 4 or 5 other smaller irrigation res with good fishing too. One of the best things is I am pretty close (less than 200 mi) from Powel. We take our pontoon boat and spend lots of time there too. I am not a big trout fly fisherman. I have a 2 acre pond on my place that I stocked with bass, crappie, bluegill and channel cats. I use my flyrod with poppers a lot on it. great fun!.

I didn't realize all those were over there... guess I need to get out more!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I didn't realize all those were over there... guess I need to get out more!

The only downside is that they are all irrigation res and the water level really can and does fluctuate a lot. High & dirty with runoff in spring and falling levels in late summer & fall. You need to adjust your strategy depending on water a lot.

 

[laxwyo]

Pinedale, wy wouldn't be bad. Tons of Mtn lakes and rivers nearby and all the hunting you want. Small town though

 

[xtreme]

I have a place for sale in souther Colorado that is only 25 feet from the National Forest and you can walk from the house for elk and mule deer. I saw a 236 mule deer a half mile above my house and elk can go low to mid threes. Bear, antelope, and fishing in reservoirs and streams like Conejos are nearby.

 

[packmule]

I grew up on Sam Rayburn Reservoir which is basically surrounded by National Forest. No elk, no muleys, no huntable bears, but IAH is < 2hrs away, the good fishing on the coast is closer than that. I love the NW, just not real fond of all that white stuff that falls.

 

[Againstthewind]

That is a good point about the winters in Wyoming. I am just partial to Wyoming so I had to throw it out there.

 

[gonhunting247]

I'd opt for a small town in MT or WY, but not sure if a guy could find a good paying job. IMO both those states have great resident hunting.

 

[go_deep]

I'd live in Saratoga Wyoming from April to November then winter in Arizona or Texas. My .02 pennies. Got relatives that pay $1200 a month to rent a place 2 bedroom house in Arizona all utilities included and fully furnished. Have the tax breaks of Wyoming and for a little money get out for the winter.

 

[NVBird'n'Big]

Since nobody has addressed Reno. I'll throw the jest out there.

Fishing is fantastic, lots of different opportunities, Tahoe is world famous for Mackinaw, and Pyramid lake has some of the best fishing arguably in the west, both 20-30 min from town. The Truckee river right in town is also great whether you are fly or spin fishing. Lots of reservoirs within an hours drive in Northern California.

Hunting, once you are a resident it is much cheaper and your chances are higher. There are good units you can draw every 2-3 years for deer rifle, others you can draw almost every year with a bow or muzz. Elk is tough but you will eventually draw. Antelope depending on area will take 2-5 years to draw rifle. Opportunities to put in for CA, Desert, and Rocky Mtn sheep as well as mountain goat.

The upland hunting community is awesome, chukar hunting is a way of life here, also great quail, sage hen, ruffed grouse, and blue grouse hunting is 15 min from town. Pheasant in select places but not a big population. Also chances to hunt the fabled snowcock up in Elko if you are feelin wild. You didn't say anything about migratory but there is also great duck/goose hunting as well as dove.

Cost of living is good and no state income tax is awesome. Also amazing golf and skiing if you are in to that. Climate is awesome, dry summers with occasional 100 degree days but overall nice. Winters aren't bad, occasional snow but it melts off quickly. A true 4 season climate.

Reno has always had a bad rep for being scummy or whatever but downtown has come a long way and most people who live here don't spend much time there. Reno has a great community and definitely a lot of nice areas to live. By far more nicer areas than bad. All the amenities of a big city but with the smaller town feel and community. Great outdoor community whether it's the skier/hikers or the hunter/fisherman. Quick flights to CO WY MT AZ and day drives to UT ID OR. Hope this might help, I love my city and people need to know it's nothing like the gambling/hooker town its portrayed to be.

 

[OregonJim]

I suspect that later on we will become WY or CO residents but will winter in Oregon since the wife loves the beach in winter and I love the steelhead.

 

[hoshour]

I suspect that later on we will become WY or CO residents but will winter in Oregon since the wife loves the beach in winter and I love the steelhead.

Sounds like a setup for being snowbirds (with trips inbetween for steelhead).

 

[Musket Man]

Idk about the fishing but if I was going to move somewhere for hunting it would be Wyoming!

 

[missjordan]

I live in western montana (missoula) which has fairly mild winters and has great fishing. Lakes are within a hour drive for fishing with rivers right out your backdoor in all directions. Missoula is a fun university town that always has something fun going on. There is no sales tax in mt as well. Personally I also love CDA as it's a town that's about the same size as missoula, and the lake is also right out your backdoor. I'd imagine winters there are fairly mild as well.