good, bad, ugly of Kentucky?

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ID-shooting

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So, we are seiously considering moving from Idaho to ??? One of the places catching our eye is Kentucky. For politics, we are straight up Libitarian with some leanings to Conservatism. The country side seems beautiful, housing seems decently priced. We are not worried about jobs as we both work for large organizations with counrty-wide presence so we can easily transfer to any state.

Areas of particular interest are the Louisville and Lexington municipalities. Some questions are:

Crime/gangs? We will be leaving an area where hispanic gang crime is running unchecked and the local LEO does not seem terrible motivated to stop it or even admit it. What are they doing in this neck of the woods?

Gun range/clubs? Would be looking to join a private range/club that is CMP affiliated with a 1000yd range if possible. Bonus would be hosting IDPA as well.

Hunting? Hunting here has gotten out of hand, between wolves and over population in the Boise metro, you have a minimum 4 hour drive to get to any decent hunting and even that is sucking more and more. I am a freezer hunter, not really into trophies. Pig hunting greatly interests me, please tell me more.

Military-patterned rifles? I have a small collection of AR's, AK's, VZ, CETME, and other historical military arms and equipment. I do not want to move to an area where I can't take them out of the safe now and then, especially thier proper magazines. I also do not want to have to modify them any more than ATF already has them modified to be legal.

Concealed Carry? I currently enjoy raather un-restricted concealed carry. so long as I stay sober, I can carry pretty much anywhere in my daily travels and taking the wife out. Please tell me about retsricted places, details in the rules.

Camping? We like to go camping, fishing, day hikes, boating. How is it for public land access? Any silly rules about bringing guns to the woods?

If you can think of anything else, please fill me in.
 
I live 45 minutes south of Lexington. Land is $2000 an acre and nobody cares if you shoot til the barrel melts. We have concealed and open carry of weapons,not just guns. Deer hunting is great. No hogs here. Lots of good fishing,hiking etc. within reasonable driving distance. Low crime rate. Restricted places are the usual i.e. Bars,schools P.O etc. We do not have college carry yet. It's a great place to live with a moderate climate. It does get hot in summer,but not too bad. Outside of lexington and Louisville guns are simply a non issue. I am a pastor and when I left my last chuch they gave me an AR.
 
I live in West Virginia (Harpers Ferry), not Kentucky, but it's certainly a beautiful state. So are Pennsylvania, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and most every Eastern state south of Maryland. And they all have very liberal gun laws. I live within 30 minutes of five gun shops; a couple even have suppressors in stock, something I've never seen elsewhere. Finding a 1,000-yd range anywhere on the East Coast is likely to be a challange. The longest I know of is 600 yds and that's on a National Guard base in PA so it's not open to the public.
 
I live just north of Kentucky in indiana, and I love the state. My wife is from Louisville, and we regularly visit her family there. Nice sized city with plenty to do.

I like that kentucky and Indiana honor each others ccw. My stepdad as well as my uncle own rural property down there and the natural beauty of the state can be breathtaking.
 
Pretty much what Preach said, I live in the eastern mountains and wild hogs are just starting to be an issue in this area. Lots of deer, elk, turkey, black bears, squirrels about.

In my small town the police have been very aggressive against any type of gang activity that might try and work it's way into the community, which hasn't been much. The current chief's policy is not one inch of my town will I cede to any gang.

Open carry doesn't really cause anyone's head to turn in my area and everyone here usually does have a gun in their home, car or on their person. You can get a concealed deadly weapons permit which is recognized in a lot of states! You can carry in your glove box without the permit. Pretty gun friendly except for the liberal infestations in the golden triangle of tax collection, Lexington, Louisville, Covington.

At national level Kentucky elects republicans for the most part, in state level politics, Democrats for the most part. Tax wise property tax is fairly cheap, however the KY Revenue cabinet does charge property tax annually on your vehicles and boats and the state has a sales and income tax. Tax wise Kentucky is the Illinois of the south. Utilities used to be low, and are compared to the rest of the country but obumbler is trying his best to screw that up. Insurance wise on cars be prepared to pay up, it ain't cheap.

Weather wise, you get the four seasons here. Summers are hot and humid, winters vary from mild to nasty. Falls and springs are pretty normal and quite beautiful especially in the mountains.
 
I live in NW Georgia. I've been to a lot of places, and have lots of family all over the country. I still say the best overall place to live is anywhere from the NE part of Alabama, the northern 1/3 of Gerorgia, anywhere along the NC/TN border up to and including SW Virginia.

Each state has minor differences, but all are good. TN has no state income tax,but high sales tax. Property is cheaper in Alabama etc. All have very good gun laws and plenty of places to hunt. OC is legal in GA and CC is legal in most. VA is the only one I'm not sure of. No issues with any weapons or magazines

Alabama has a 4 month deer season with bag limits of 1 a day. Georgia's archery season starts next weekend and rifle season ends in January with a 12 deer limit. Plenty of trout streams and lots of small lakes for fishing.

If you're used to mountains the Appalachians from N GA to Virginia are not as high as the Rockies, but are far more impressive than most westerners think. You gain more altitude driving from Knoxville to Clingmans Dome in the Smoky's than you do from Colorado Springs to Pikes Peak. Miles of hiking trails in the area. The AT runs from GA to Maine and goes right through the area, lots of trails connecting to it.

Summer weather is much more tolerable in the mountains and you get just enough cold and snow in the winters to make it interesting. It gets plenty cold, it just doesn't stay that way for weeks like in other places.

You can live in the country, or a small town and be in a larger city such as Chattanooga, Knoxville, Atlanta or Asheville in an hour. Or live in one of the larger cities and be in the country in an hour. A 6-8 hour drive will put you on the Atlantic Ocean.

Politics in most of the area might be more conservative than you're used to. But I'm more of a moderate conservative than most here and don't have any real issues with anyone. I have family in the NE corner of TN. That area seems a little more liberal as is Virginia.

I'd at least consider the Chattanooga or Knoxville areas. Based on your post it sounds like you might need to be near a larger city for work. I have family in both places. Either are good places to live.
 
My only trip to Kentucky was for the 2000 State IDPA, the KY2K, at Bluegrass Sportsman's League in Wilmore, south of Lexington. They are still there.
I don't know about Long Range, having not shot farther from home than Tullahoma, TN.
 
A couple things:

Boise has crime stats well below the national average. You will be hard pressed to find a major metro with lower numbers. Of course things vary from neighborhood to neighborhood.

FBI data Violent Crime per 100,000 people
Boise, ID: 280
Lexington, KY: 306
Louisville, KY: 542

You may want to consider air quality. I never thought about it until my wife developed asthma problems while we were living in the Knoxville, TN area (poor air quality) that got worse when we moved to Birmingham, AL (again, poor air quality). Since we moved west she hasn't had a problem and hasn't used her inhaler in over a year.

You say you are libertarian. If that includes a live and let live attitude on social issues you may find the social conservatism of the South annoying.

Considering your list of activities, I doubt you will find a better fit by heading East.
 
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I agree, especially on the hunting - there is no where the same amount of open land like the West has with BLM and Forest land - most hunting here is done on private property and the costs can get pricey depending on location. While the big cities have the ethnic gang issues, the rural areas are seeing an explosion in meth heads. Don't get me wrong, I moved back East to get away from snow, but every Fall, the SO and I plan a few leaf peeping trips to see hills and mountains. Not only is the hunting on private property, it is done differently (tree stands and baited areas) than what you were used to in Idaho. I lived below you in Winnemucca and then the Reno area and I do miss driving 5 minutes to BLM land to shoot and hunt deer, quail, chukar and grouse.

I have a brother who lives in Franklin - nice area, seems to be fairly low crime as well - at least where he lives. Besides the highest sales tax, I just read where TN has some form of ammo tax stamp at the rate of .10/box (at least .10 now). If you buy large amounts when on sale, that is an extra costs to consider.
There is no Shangri-la; every place will have good and bad. It sounds like you have certain things in mind - make a list of ALL of the things important to you and your spouse from crime to schools, jobs to shooting, etc. and categorize them from MUST haves to really want, to nice if we can have, to it doesn't matter and then start your search. I love the Smokies, but the area is being greatly impacted by air pollution, so if a medical concern as mentioned above is present, then take that into account. Etc., etc., etc.....

Good luck on your research and eventual move.
 
Northern Kentucky is close to Cincinnati, we don't see bears or elk in these parts around here. I think wild turkey is even more common place than deer, but we do have a large deer population. You might find less than $2000 an acre in the more rural parts if you buy more land like 40 acres. Our state bird seems to be the turkey buzzard.

Like others have said you can open carry and car carry in the glove compartment carry or any other car compartment (not under the seat) without a permit. The conceal carry process is pretty straight forward and now you can apply online. You have to pass a safety course.

If your are into NFA, the Sheriff has 15 days to sign off on it. All NFA allowed. Be aware some towns have laws against shooting in your backyard, even bow and arrows. So you might want to check ahead of time and/or pick an unincorporated area away from Lexington or Louisville. Like car racing? KY Speedway is roughly half way between Louisville and Cincinnati.

We also have the famous Knob Creek machine gun shootout here. Bud's Guns is in Lexington! Fort Knox and the George Patton Museum, are here. Bourbon is made here. Like fishing? Many places to fish at. Lake Cumberland is huge and located in the Southern part of KY. Kentucky Lake is larger and is in the Western part of the state. Kentucky is a pretty big state, we even have two time zones. Some say Kentucky is the Midwest, others say the South or Mid South. Some might agree it is all three.
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I would urge against Lexington or louisville, but would certain look rural...not suburbs. It's pretty ground but in places it's pretty rough. As for crime, your cities are your hot spots. Somewhere like georgetown. Or Taylorsville would be much better than the two big Ls. Try to get close to Know Creek if you really want some gun fun a couple times a year.
 
Sign on to a couple news outlets and maybe the sheriffs website/blotter for the counties your interested in.
My daughter lives in south central KY and I spent the better part of the last 2 yrs working in southern IN and I can say that some of the rural areas have a definite crime problem relating mostly to meth.
That part of the country is beautiful and I enjoy my time there but you can't deny the cloud that hangs over some areas.
You will see a striking difference in the land you can access and the lack of solitude that you are used to in Idaho.
 
You'll have a tough time beating KY for firearm friendliness. GA might. TN could equal. All caveated by "stay well outside the larger cities". Just check the violent crime rates for each state in the FBI Uniform Crime Report. Rates of non-negligent homicides were very close for Idaho and Kentucky and both were lower than Georgia which was lower than Tennessee. https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/u...n_geographic_division_and_state_2012-2013.xls
 
If you go central Ky then you get away from a lot of the BS that goes on in coal country and the big cities. Western Kentucky is pretty nice in the fact that cost of living is very cheap and most commodities follow suit, especially guns. It is my belief that a man could buy guns cheap enough here to make a living of buying local and selling on gunbroker.

If you do end up in the bluegrass state give me a shout and I can show you some good hunting ground.
 
All good points. Here's a factor to consider: Tennessee has no state income tax! Of course, sales taxes are higher. The Lexington, KY area certainly is beautiful. I drive through there every other month. And you gotta love the limestone-washed water.
 
Thanks so far for the input! All good food for thought! Keep em comming!

What I think is missing in the FBI stats are crimes that go under reported by the state here. In the most recent history, there have been major breakins with dozens of "assualt" rifles each being targeted. One guy has one recovered in a drug bust, you know that "10 year, $10,000 fine" you are supposed to get for firearm violations, well, guy got no additional charges and is walking around still. Found a serialed scope in a pawnshop, detective should care less and did no follow up after the pawn shop gave all the info to him. In the last two weeks there were red on blue (gangs where footage shows it) shootings and stabbings in broad daylight on major streets, one within 6 blocks of my house and the press release denies any violent gang activity in our area. There are gang tags everywhere. Everyone I know is worried cuz of our state laws that if you have to drop one of these scum bags in your house or trying to get your car away from you on the street, you will go to prison for a very long time.

That is what we are leaving behind.

The desert/highland plains have kinda grown old. Hard to get to the forrest without hearing barking dogs and screaming children all night long. We don't even go camping, havin't registered the boat in two years cuz of the idiots on the water thinking its cool to water ski over your trolling lines where there is a whole big freaking lake they could go to.

Just getting to where I want to avoid people, LOL

Sadly though, I am a VA medical employee, so I kind of need to be close to one of those, or one of the hospitals on Ft Knox or Ft Cambell, just needs to be a federal medical facilty. The wife works nursing so she is good with any care home/hospital but the she works at is in KY as well.

The other reason we are looking to the south is we want trees, lots of trees, mild winter, comparatively, at least let is be above 32 most of the time instead of deep freezing for a few months or over 100 at the other end.

I spent time in Kansas, Texas, South Carolina, and Virginia when I was in the Army. Can't think the humidity is as bad or worse than Virginia nor as hot as Texas. Could be wrong there though.

As for politics, yes, very libertarian. Essentially, you could pray to the phone book and worship a car tire as your god all while wearing a pink too-too, sucking bong hits and letting the whole defensive line of the local football team run a train your back side and I could care less. Let me be me, I will let you be you and we will get along just fine.
 
Yes sir, the gang bangers are ruining it for everyone.:cuss:

I'm not really sure you can put a face on the gang banger population anywhere, they come from all ethnic backgrounds.

The problem is larger cities have the same problem only more of it.

If you can work anywhere as you said consider moving to the Lewiston ID area. I'm sure they have gang bangers there too but at least you won't be looking at a 4 hour drive to hunt because there's more public land than any normal person could ask for.

You couldn't pay me enough money to move east of the Rockies.
 
I relocated to Kentucky ten years ago from California.

Kentucky is indeed "gun-friendly." We are just starting a governor's race here, both the Democrat and republican contenders have NRA "A" ratings.

I live in Lexington. Open carry would probably attract attention, but otherwise, it's reasonable. Bud's Gun Shop is located here. I belong to the Bluegrass Sportsmen's League a large facility 15 miles south. It has just about any type of shooting facility you'd need.

Lots of hospitals/medical here. The weather is not too bad -- winter would be mild compared to Idaho.

One thing to be aware of. The state is politically conservative and largely religious. Drug legalization not a popular idea here. The state is largely in favor of traditional marriage. Lots of counties are "dry" or restrict alcohol sales. That being said, there is a strong trend of "live and let live."

It's a nice place with a lot of good people.
 
I've lived here my whole life. There are some very nice semi-rural areas within commuting distance of both Louisville and Lexington if you need to work in either. Of the two I would prefer Lexington because it is smaller and you don't have to drive as far to get into the boonies.

You won't find a lot of public hunting land within an easy drive of either big town, but there are some little spots tucked away. If hunting is really an issue then talk to the Department of Fish and Wildlife and see what they recommend. Our fishing is better than our hunting unless you happen to own land.

Our taxes are too high and if you go very far east of I-75 you hit the "war on poverty" entitlement mentality pretty strongly.

We're a very gun friendly state. NFA is OK and we have a good CCW law. Housing costs are average but you can find nice chunks of acreage for <$2000/acre if you try. We own 65 acres we bought 5 years ago and we can be in either Lexington or Florence in less than an hour.

Most of us can't drive in snow worth a darn.
 
Lots of counties are "dry" or restrict alcohol sales. That being said, there is a strong trend of "live and let live."
Click to expand...

Somewhat oxymoronic, don'tcha think?

(We have the same BS in FL; one county can be dry; another has liquor stores open on Sunday at 7AM, and everything in-between. Luckily, the gun laws have a state preemption so no locale can enact rules more restrictive than the state - does KY have the same?
 
I live in Western Kentucky (Hancock County). Except for while I was in the Army, I"ve lived here my whole life. While we have pretty good gun laws (open carry state and good CCDW laws), we do have some progressive politicians who are an embarrassment. We also have some liberal leaders in Lexington and Louisville that do not represent most of us. Mitch McConnell is an embarrassment to many of us.

Decent housing on 10 acres is affordable and the hunting is great in my area. Deer are plentiful along with the squirrels, rabbits, and turkeys. Fishing in the Ohio River and Green River is great, but the water does have pollution and I'd be cautious about eating too much game out of it.

Pollution is getting to be a problem in my area. We have alot of coal plants and factories pumping chemicals into the river (such as the local paper mill).

I am a member of the Owensboro Rifle and Pistol Club and it is a great organization ( http://orpci.org/ ). There are big gun shops well within driving distance and lots of smaller ones that can take care of most needs/wants.

As for the population, I know few people that don't carry concealed on a daily basis. Open Carry, while legal, is not mainstream (I've only seen it once).

Overall, it's a good state. I'm about to move with my wife to South Dakota (Chamberlain). Kentucky will be missed and will always be home. If i was you, I'd stay away from the bigger cities (they do have gangs and high crime in Louisville).

I just saw you work with the VA. Owensboro has a clinic and Evansville has one also. I use both facilities. Owensboro is a 20 minute drive from me and Evansville is 40 minutes. So if you want seclusion, I'd go for one of those outlying areas (Daviess County, Hancock County, etc...) Land is cheaper in those counties and you get privacy.
 
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