What is the best state for resident hunters?

H

HogBone

Member
Messages
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I currently live in California and will be moving out due to the state government. All my extended family is here so I want stay fairly close. My options are:

1. Oregon
2. Nevada
3. Arizona
4. Idaho
5. Utah

What is the best state for resident hunters? Deer is most important, Elk is a bonus.

Huge bucks is not important. I value overall deer population and their accessibility on public lands. Also, the states drawing system being preferable to residents and a fish and game department friendly to hunting.

Where would you all move to? Looking forward to your opinions.
 
In my opinion I'd cross Oregon off the list unless you mainly archery hunt. That state doesn't have much OTC opportunity for deer unless you want to hunt black tails and on the political side it's not much better than California.
 
Arizona is very friendly in regards to resident hunters. Some of your best elk, mule deer, antelope, coues deer, sheep hunting in the world is here. Your odds of drawing the best of the best tags are low but only 20% are guaranteed to top point holders so the other 80% are random and anyone can draw at any time. Lots of leftover coues tags every year that you can buy without burning points. Tons of OTC opportunities for deer, Turkey, javelina, bear, lion. Tons of public land to hunt.
 
Although New Mexico isn't on your list I would never encourage anyone to move here, the hunting sucks! I would say Utah is the best one on that list.
 
I live in Wyoming and it's the best. Sorry it is not on your list. Best place on earth.
 
A few others said Wyoming as well. Problem is a good job would be hard to come by and its getting too far away from all my family. If I do Idaho I could still be close to Wyoming but I won't get the resident benefits which I hear are amazing and you're basically screwed if you're a non resident.

I'm leaning towards Idaho I could get a job in Boise/Nampa pretty easy and be close to the Sawtooth.

I'd like to hear from some Nevadans, seems like all they shoot over there is big bucks.
 
I live in Utah and I wish like heck I lived in Wyoming just for the hunting. Wyoming is better than all on your list combined ! That's just my opinion but I hunt in Wyoming every chance I get !
 
Idaho used to be great until everyone found out about the OTC tags. Now it is like a out of state parking lot at the bottom of every mountain Sept through Nov. However I did enjoy AZ this weekend and there were not that many hunters out for the late archery deer. I love Idaho but the competition can be fierce and I spent my entire life there hunting until recently. Deer numbers in the unit I was in AZ were not even close to what Idaho holds typically.
 
Nv has quality tags but you have to play the points game. No such thing as over the counter tags for big game except mountain lion. Resident or not you are not guaranteed to hunt there. It's a draw for everything.
 
Idaho and Wyoming are tied.
Great places, and plenty of opportunity, to not just hunt but to hunt nice animals every year.
I would call Colorado 3rd.
 
I grew up hunting black tails in the state of WA, moved to Utah 3 almost 4 years ago, worst mistake I've done, Wish I was in Wyoming. But your right, Jobs in Wyoming are hard to come by.
 
Strictly speaking, there are no OTC tags in Utah anymore... All units, whether limited entry or general season, are a draw. There are few hunts where tags are left over to purchase OTC. There are tags for elk, but general season elk hunting in Utah is over crowded with few elk actually taken and most are not mature.

Seems like Idaho would be a good option, or AZ. You will find better politics in both of those states compared to CA as well... Some large cities where jobs can be found, but plenty of rural areas as well...

If I had my druthers, I'd be in Wyoming with my cousins. :)

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
Wyoming is currently not accepting new residents. :)

Better hurry if you want to live and hunt here in Wyoming. The downward trend is accelerating...
 
>Idaho used to be great until
>everyone found out about the
>OTC tags. Now it
>is like a out of
>state parking lot at the
>bottom of every mountain Sept
>through Nov.

they dont even come close to selling out deer tags, 10 years ago they sold out long before the season started, not sure how true your claim
 
Wyoming is the best for deer for now and elk is also good. Utah is toward the bottom of my list. The good units take two lifetimes to draw. I never drew a deer tag in Nevada in three years of living there and that includes archery tags on mediocre units. If you are just getting into the game I would look at states that don't play the bonus point game.

From you list, I would pick Idaho.

Dillon
www.dillonhoyt.com
 
>A few others said Wyoming as
>well. Problem is a good
>job would be hard to
>come by and its getting
>too far away from all
>my family. If I do
>Idaho I could still be
>close to Wyoming but I
>won't get the resident benefits
>which I hear are amazing
>and you're basically screwed if
>you're a non resident.
>
>I'm leaning towards Idaho I could
>get a job in Boise/Nampa
>pretty easy and be close
>to the Sawtooth.
>
>I'd like to hear from some
>Nevadans, seems like all they
>shoot over there is big
>bucks.

Not sure where you seen all these big bucks from Nevada ,what I see most bucks are well below average for mule deer.
 
I'm referring to the downward trend of our deer, antelope, moose...did I leave anyone out? Numbers of all 3 of those are trending downward and have been for more than a few years here in western Wyoming. Check the regulations over the past 5-10 years and you'll see what I mean with all 3 of those species having drops in allocated tags.

Elk are also decreasing in the areas that have lake trout. OOPS!!! I meant wolves!
 
Glad you mentioned the lake trout! If you have seen Hank Patterson's guide to surviving Yellowstone National Park...you will know how to survive the threat Lake Trout pose.

(Shaking head...mouthing nasty curse word"...Lake trout!")
 
california,you can hunt deer for 5 months,and you can take 2 bucks every year,dont forget the birds you wont get near the amount or quality on your list,you can hunt big game and doves all year.
 
>california,you can hunt deer for 5
>months,and you can take 2
>bucks every year,dont forget the
>birds you wont get near
>the amount or quality on
>your list,you can hunt big
>game and doves all year.
>


+1
 
I picked Utah for the sake of a job opportunity but prefer to hunt in Idaho. Yeah, I'm one of those dang non-residents parked at their trail heads.
 
Nevada gets my vote. I love hunting there as a nonresident. There is no reason a resident couldn't deer hunt every year.

________________________________________

If Hunting and Angling Ended
There is no alternative funding system
in place to replace the potential lost
funds for conservation. If hunting and
angling end, funding for wildlife
conservation, including enforcement of
all wildlife laws, will be jeopardized.
Hunters, anglers and shooters actively
support wildlife conservation through
tangible actions such as buying licenses
and paying taxes on hunting, fishing and
shooting equipment. Why are hunters and
anglers so willing to support
conservation through their pocketbooks?
Because people place added value on ?
and are willing to pay for ? what they
can use.
 

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