Trying to decide on new state

[Tipro]

Im going to vote for utah. First, you might not be prepared for the az heat. Maybe you are, but something to consider.

I've neve r lived in utah, but have visited to out there several times In the summer and winter, and I think you'd like it. in the summer we ride 4 wheelers out into some land where the air force tests bombs, and strap ars on the back. Every now and then you d see a big crater that makes you wonder about the effectiveness of your 2nd amendment rights on the face of that firepower. During the winter you get some of the best snowboarding on the world, plus snow mobiling.

Don't know about the firearms laws, but my friends out there had no problem getting them legally. experiences out theIr encouraged me to get my first firearm.

Great views too. Lots of land to hike and 4 wheel, dirty bike and shoot.

 

[Ornery Cuss]

Percentage-wise, no, Texas does not have a lot of public land. But if you consider the size of it, there is a good bit. There are also many places to hike and camp where you aren't allowed to hunt.

.....and saying Texas is about the last place you'd want to live? Well then you just haven't talked with many Texans. It really isn't that hard to find private land to hunt on, even for free. Make some friends and they will be happy to invite you out to their land to hunt, fish and target shoot in the same day.

^ This.

 

[TrailWolf]

aacider85 I am looking hard into Arizona... Would probably even get back into dirtbikes If I lived there... would be great just ripping across the desert on two wheels loving life

Great hunting here too - when I lived in Manhattan we had a place in the Catskills where I used to hunt and fly fish - AZ is amazing in the hunting the department and the fly fishing up north is pretty great as well.

Here you can do bird, javelina, deer, elk - there is just a lot more of variety than I found in NY plus you can drive to CO and CA for even more types of hunting.

The hiking is also amazing - even though I live in Scottsdale, in less than an hour you can get to places like this:

http://www.sangres.com/arizona/wilderness/fossilsprings.htm

 

[Old krow]

I own 9000 acres right here in the hill country and give permission yearly to hunters.

Don't know what part of Texas you're in, but, that's pretty impressive. However, if you find a good deal on that much land, let me know and I'll move out there too.

 

[Water-Man]

The grass is always greener.

 

[Owen Sparks]

New Hampshire.

Ever heard of the Free State Project? Here are 101 reasons to move to NH including reason # 4

4. New Hampshire offers some of the least restrictive gun laws in the nation: no permit is required to open carry and a concealed carry permit is available on a shall issue basis.

Also no sales tax, no state income tax, no capital gains tax and New Hampshire offers extraordinary opportunities for black bear, coyote, bobcats, moose, white-tailed deer, and beaver hunting as well as deep-sea, river, lake and even ice fishing.

Check it out for your self: http://freestateproject.org/101Reasons

 

[Vector]

You just described Texas.

And Florida assuming you wanted to move south.

 

[tarosean]

Not one vote for New Mexico? one of least populated states and 5th largest = TONS of land to go do whatever the heck you want.
Hunting = Mulies, Elk, Antelope, Oryx, Buffalo,Bear, Cat. plus many more... Oryx and Buffalo are once in a lifetime thou. Some of the best fly fishing in the world (San Juan Quality waters)
Climb mountains to 13,000+
Open Carry if you want..

 

[whalerman]

This is interesting conversation. I would submit that an important aspect is whether or not our mover is going to be retired or will be looking for work. If that's the case, what skills does he have? Also important is whether or not he has kids and family. I live in upstate NY and I'm about 3 years from retirement. We have such a poor economy up here the cost of living is actually quite low. Gun laws are completely stupid, as only criminals do well in that regard. Hunting and fishing is great. Land is available if you look. But there are NO NO NO jobs. We've been sending our best away for almost 50 years now. The only thing we really know how to do is screw you out of your stocks/savings, but that's a downstate skill.

Does anybody know anything about Arkansas? I remember that as a beautiful place.

 

[Dmitri Popov]

I'll throw in a mention for West Virginia, I mean come on it is "Almost Heaven"!

 

[WYOMan]

There are still people in Gillette that quit jobs because they are bored with them. Although most are mining, oil , gas related, and hard work. They pay well. There are also alot of buisnesses that support the energy industry. I know that L&H Industries was looking for welders and machinists recently. There is another company that can't seem to keep truck drivers, and heavy equiptment operators because the hours are long and the job would bore the dead its so repetative. I can go just about anywhere to shoot targets, although I usually go out to the gas fields on the BLM on the east side of the powder river and have miles of noone. I've hunted deer and antelope there too. Hunting land is about 3/4 of the state.

 

[moewadle]

Kingsport area of Tenn

is a good thought and they are on record on the internet recently as being one of the 10 best cities in the USA to start over because of their good economy. Kingsport is one of the Tri-Cities and near the border of Virginia. You are in a far eastern corner of Tenn and near several other states. I think there is quite a bit of public land...the Great Smokies are near...Change of seasons with mild weather.

 

[postalnut25]

Wyoming is great. Only 500,000 or so people with a ton of room. I always enjoyed Utah when I went to see my grandpaents.

I am partial to Colorado. After spending time on the coast of North Carolina, and around the Hampton Roads area of southern Virginia, I couldn't wait to get back to Colorado.

The only problem is the imported "California Dingbats," the Highlands Ranch soccer moms, and of course, the raging lunatics up in Boulder. The rest of the state is amazing.

 

[Dazen]

Here is a map with the Public Hunting Areas listed in Texas.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/lands/maps/

I've lived in West Texas most of my life guess that why I thought there was really no public land available. Everyone I know around here pays big bucks to hunt on someones land.

 

[Kaptain Five]

Southwest NE is treating us pretty well. we just relocated a couple months ago, and there are jobs available, and cost of living is low enough.
Plenty of space to shoot out here, as long as you don't shoot at or near livestock. Lol

 

[JimBoIHN]

Get within driving distance of Las Vegas. Phoenix would work. Laughlin also.
Texas has no place for you to get out and shoot FOR FREE! <removed> hunting lease is $1000.....and that's if you promise not to shoot anything. Texas is a great place but not for cheap outdoor recreation, and very snobbish about land ownership.

 

[JimBoIHN]

If you find you don't like Las Vegas, and there surely must be a few that don't, I would also suggest Utah or Idaho as beautiful states with lots of free outdoor activities available and friendly people. That also puts you near some other great hunting opportunities. I promise you Texas is not the place for an outdoors person, even if you have money. Unless 90 lb whitetails excite you, or game managed offerings where they grow decent deer for you. Nothing like hunting in the wild, though. I must say we do offer lots of good fishing for FREE, but that ain't hunting.

 

[The Sarge]

$1000 dollar hunting leases and snobs in Texas? Like me saying everybody in ______ state is left handed. It's true! I read it on the internet!

So much misinformation it is painful. I never "charged" anybody a penny. Not a single ranch owner I know around here charges anything. Only time I charge is guided hunts using my rifles for city folks.

Dont have to guide far around here.

My front yard the other day


Whatever. If the OP is going to base his decision on the discussion here, versus career decisions, then his choices of living at a rifle range or a van down by the river are limitless

 

[scaatylobo]

BUCKrub91

Since your only 21 years old - you are correct and should move.

If you have no real connections [ wife's family etc ].

Then your GTG,and the sooner the better.

Best of luck and enjoy the adventure.

Hope you post where you settle and how you like the difference.

 

[BUCKrub91]

Sarge im still looking into texas too lol... ive put my name in online at temp agencys in texas, arizona, Idaho, Utah, and Oregon lol... all of them seem like states I would enjoy living in

 

[BUCKrub91]

Since your only 21 years old - you are correct and should move.

If you have no real connections [ wife's family etc ].

Then your GTG,and the sooner the better.

Best of luck and enjoy the adventure.

Hope you post where you settle and how you like the difference.

No wife No gf and no kids... all my family does live here in NY but I wont let that hold me back... I will just try to make it back allot to visit for holidays and such...

 

[Jitterbug]

If in you're shoes I'd give Idaho a serious consideration. Sportsman's paradise up there.

 

[HoosierQ]

I will put a plug in for Indiana for a couple...sadly not near all of your reasons though.

• Gun laws (knife laws too)...great here. Lifetime handgun permits (called license here) that applies to you the person and any handgun you lawfully posses. No need to conceal (but everybody does)...none of that business about breaking the law if your shirt-tail hikes up and your gun shows...lot's of states have that.
• Cost of living is very low. The schools here suck but sounds like you needn't worry about that.
• Lots and lots of good gun shops. Lots and lots of gun shows. Lots and lots of gun owners.
• Lots and lots of game...some game. Deer is great, people come from Wyoming and Montana to hunt whitetail here because they are so numerous. Turkey is good. The "official" game animal of Indiana is squirrel seems like.

• Not much if any public land...no free place to shoot unless you know somebody in the country.
• Economy is always a bit iffy here.

 

[BUCKrub91]

Im actually from Richmond Indiana and didn't mind living there to bad.. But I lived with my parents there on 7 acers of land and had permission to use the 80 acers of land across the street so if it weren't for that IDK how I would have felt about it

I would move back there if I had a job/living lined up... Im sure I could find a place to stay there for a little while though considering I have friends there

 

[DC Plumber]

Well, if I were young, single and no kids to take care of and had a little pocket money, I'd just start driving. Make a large loop through the country and see what gets my interest. Everytime the wife and I take a drive, we say, "hey, we could enjoy living here".

Sometimes we never even leave our state and are amazed by the things we didn't know of.

Myself, I love the upper midwest (Great Lakes area). No hurricanes. No tornardo belt. Bitter winters (keeps the riff raff out), beautiful spring and fall and great summers. No earthquakes (until last week, a small 1.5 80 miles from my house). No poisonous snakes, no bears that will eat you, no aligators in your pool, lots of trees and rolling hills, and most importantly to survival............TONS of fresh water!

Enjoy your search, keep and open mind though.