Ok i was just wondering where would be the best place to hunt and live in North America?

I wouldn't mind living in Wyoming or Montana for a few years, maybe in the eastern foothills.

Southern Idaho was ideal when I lived there

I know that Texas will not get many votes due to lack of public land and "big" mountains, BUT:

In the past 12 months, I've taken a 130 class whitetail, filled my bag of Rio Grande gobblers, hunted our "dangerous game" -the wild hog- in thick mesquite flats (taken over a dozen, including one over 350 lbs), limited out on duck, crane and goose, shot several coyotes and bobcats, and enjoyed some of the best dove and bobwhite quail hunting to be found in the US. This was all on my family's (primarily farm) land in west Texas.

In addition, I took an ROE Gold medal Blackbuck, several Axis does (these two species required a 5 hour drive), I'm a 5 hour drive from some the biggest Pronghorn and Mule deer in NA (ask Atkinson), as well as great pheasant hunting. 7 hours from Nilgai, and within 5 hours of just about every exotic imaginable.

Granted, I'm lucky to have access to private land, but the only one of those animals above that I had to pay for was the Blackbuck, and it was quite affordable.

Hunting in Texas is prohibitive for non-residents due to cost (and alot of residents), but the opportunities do exist.

How is Alaska not the immediate and obvious answer to this question. Over the counter grizzly tags for residents . . . enough said.

JohnTheGreek

It may be that alot of us "lower 48ers" don't really know the regs for residents in Alaska. I didn't know you could buy OTC anything??

Also, I'm not sure that the 7-month winter and drastic changes in daylight would be worth it...to me.

I will go with Central Alberta, around Edmonton (my farm).

Within a three hour drive, I could and do hunt, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Whitetail, Moose, Bear, Bighorn sheep, Elk, Grizzly and now Mountain Goat. There is also unlimited varmint shooting (gophers, coyotes, etc)

The only draw back to this area is that it is SO close to the city. I can see downtown Edmonton from my land.

Texan,

Want to get really upset . . . what if I told you the resident grizzly tag in Alaska costs $25.
My buddies in the Yukon Territory pay something like $10 for an OTC sheep tag every year.
I applied for a job recently in Barrow Alaska specifically to get resident hunting rights. I will never pay the big money for a guided sheep or brown bear hunt so I figured I could deal with -60 winter climate and LOOOOONNGG nights for a few years just to take a few species that I might otherwise not get the chance at.

JohnTheGreek

Ninja Hunter: The answer of course is Montana! We have long liberal seasons here for Big Game, Waterfowl, Turkeys, Upland Game Birds and Varmints! The Hunting is excellent and varied from plains to mountains and willow thickets to sage brush! We have it all here and soon we will be Hunting Wolves! Great Hunting here for Mule Deer, Elk, Antelope, Black Bear, Whitetails, Cougar and with special draw tags Moose, Bighorn Sheep and Mt. Goat! Here in Montana you just use the tools you want to Hunt with! No exclusion type choices to make. If you want to do Blackpowder just do it and the next day you can go back to modern firearms (Rifle & pistol) or Archery or back and forth! Our seasons are long and run concurrently for the very most part! For instance at times you can Hunt Whitetail, Mule Deer, Elk, Bear, Cougar and Antelope at the same time! Elk, Mule Deer and Whitetails run from the beginning of archery season September 6th to October 19th then the firearms (you can still archery Hunt during the firearms season by the way) season runs from October 26th to the 30th of November! Thats about 78 days of concurrent Hunting interspersed with Bear and Antelope seasons! Not counting the spring Bear hunt (25 more days or so!). Yeah that spring Bear Hunting IS A BLAST!
Most generous concurrent seasons I know of. You mentioned just "Hunting" and not specifically any one type so I will expound on a tad on Varmint Hunting and Waterfowl and Upland Game Birds. Varminting is year around - no license and EXCELLENT Varminting is available for all types of Varmints! Including night Hunting that is also legal here!
The waterfowl Hunting here in Montana is also excellent and much under utilized! The Grouse Hunting is excellent as is Turkey and Sharptail Hunting! 2 Turkeys per year possible. One in the spring and one in the fall! Pheasant Hunting is excellent in some places. Sand Hill Cranes are a special tag draw. Long seasons for both Waterfowl and Upland Game Birds are the norm! Hound Hunting for Cougar is legal after the general Deer Elk season is over. Cougar Hunting during the Deer/Elk season is legal but no hounds! Cougar tags are bought over the counter. Just some thoughts that ran through my mind while thinking about your question. I have been present while two of my Hunting partners killed 7x7 Bull Elk in the last couple seasons! There are a few areas that offer special tags for Elk Hunting and the tag holders have access then to unmatched Elk Hunting! I have not been drawn as yet for a special tag but going along on these Hunts is just as much of a thrill! Whenever my feet blister up during Hunting season I just get out my fly rod or fishing pole and wail away at the best Trout fishing in the world!
You asked Hunting and I answered Montana - all around I don't think anywhere compares!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Here in Cody Wyoming, all I have to choose from is 2 types of deer, antelope, elk, black bear, mountain lion, moose, mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and whatever else I forgot.

OK VarmintGuy, turn in your MT Resident Decoder Ring, Shoe phone and ID card. You were supposed to keep all that a secret!

Don't listen to him! It's cold as hell here! All the time! I had to run a ladder up the chimney to get out this morning! Darkness all day, every day! I swear! Nothing to hunt here but snowmen and hippies. No beer, either!

Redial

Redial is correct... TEXAS IS the best place to hunt big game (grin).

My vote is Britich Columbia first, followed by Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Southwestern Alberta. Within 30 minutes of the home I grew up in I can hunt WT deer, Mule deer, Elk, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Pronghorn, Cougar, Black Bear, and Grizzly Bear. Elk, WT deer, Mule deer, Grizzly, Black Bear, and Cougar within walking distance of the back door. Now if I could just draw out for everything each year.

Chuck

ALASKA!!

Having lived there while in the service all I can say is is that it is there is no place better. I have tried to go back at least every other year since I left 20 years ago. So far 3 times this year and I am going back in September for a moose/bear hunt. The others are correct that as a resident it is VERY reasonable to hunt everything the great north has to offer. Most would be surprised to know that is also reasonable to do a DITY hunt up there, just do a lot of research and it can be done using a rental car for transportation(excluding Grizz,Sheep and Goats) they are the only species you need a guide for as a non-resident.

Doug

The best way to ruin your favorite spot is to tell some one about it. Then have the suckers move there. My favorite spot is.

I had to answer that question for my family not to long ago...and we looked at the global map, not just NA. New Zealand almost came up a winner. I'm a sucker for mountains, and the tahr, chamois and deer looked might appealing..add pigs, some varmints, waterfowling, plus the trout and salt water fishing...that didn't all look to bad...not so many jobs in my line of work on the South Island though....and *very* far from Europe, and anything else for that matter, not counting Sydney.

My first choice was Montana, but with the current immigration laws in the US, without a job getting in was impossible...and it turned out that jobs in my line of business weren't plentiful again. BC and Alberta were close seconds, and only because of the restriction on handgun use.

It turned out that for sheer combination of job and hunting opportunities Alberta is pretty hard to beat.

Frans

Also, the fishing is much better in those other places

For a hunter there is no better place then B.C.

We have more species of big game then anywhere else on the continant. You'd have to go to africa to find a larger varity.

We have the pacific ocean on one side, the rockies on the other. We have sub artic in the north and desert to the south.

Here's a list of game you can hunt.

Rocky mountain elk
roosevelt elk
mule deer
whitetail deer
columbia blacktail deer
sitka blacktail deer
fallow deer (draws some years)
shiras moose
canada moose
alaskan/yukon moose
mountain caribou
mountain goat
rocky mountain bighorn sheep
california bighorn sheep
stones sheep
dahl sheep
bison(two types I believe)
coastal griz
interior griz
black bear
mountain lion
wild boar(some places)
turkey

Only the boar and the fallow are introduced.

I've been on hunts in this province where I have not seen another person in two weeks and this in areas that are over the counter tags.

Now that's freedom!

I almost forgot that we are the best fishing possibly in the world.

sturgeon(over 1000lbs)
all the salmon species(including alantics now)
steelhead
halibut
100's of other bottom fish
rainbow trout(up and over of 50lbs)
brown trout
lake trout
dollies
bull trout
cut throat trout(coastal and west slope)
burbot
kokanee
eastern brook trout
inconnue
grayling
crappie
white fish
large mouth,small mouth bass
northern pike
waleye

I'm probably missing a hundred or so.

Oh ya I forgot the endless list of upland/migratory birds.

Land is cheap in most of the province too.

[ 07-27-2003, 02:44: Message edited by: boilerroom ]

What are the gun law's in canda i heard they where bad?

Most of us will agree that the new registry is inneffective to stop crime and a big waste of money. You also give up some rights as a gun owner.

You don't have a problem with hunting rifles here unless it's a 50bmg or a magazine that holds more than 5 rounds for a semi. It's not the gun but the mag.

Your allowed to have hand guns up here. Alot of people assume that we are not allowed guns but it's just over regulated.

I still would not want to live anywhere in the world but right where I am.

Redial what do you mean no BEER , HELL come on down to Texas our state was founded on beer. Drink a little cactus wine and we'll get the truth out out you

Does anyone know more about the Big Game hunting in South America, like Chile, Brazil and Argentina? I know there is great upland hunting. Dutch.

Yep! Canada is the best place to live and hunt. Go there please, because in Alaska we don't have any of the animals and birds BoilerRoom listed above. See...Canada and Alaska are separated by a huge ocean

KMuleinAK Sounds about right I guess I'll just have to fight all that stuff off when I show up in Sept. Don't have any plans to move yet but after I retire you might see me around a bit more. All the rest of you beware and stay away. After being in Ak a couple of times I found out that KMule is right. I guess I just haven't learn yet. My 338 and 250's are just the ticket for the bugs I'LL have to have my 416 for the other stuff.

KMule how come you didn't mention the SNOW SNAKES I allmost forgot about them. Then my brother reminded me that we will have to watch out for them when WE come up.

Ray

quote:

---

Yep! Canada is the best place to live and hunt. Go there please, because in Alaska we don't have any of the animals and birds BoilerRoom listed above. See...Canada and Alaska are separated by a huge ocean

---

Alaska is a close second, there is no doubt but we(B.C.) do have you beat by quite a few of those animals.

We(B.C.) don't have musk ox though.

[ 07-27-2003, 13:34: Message edited by: boilerroom ]

Reading some of these posts, it�s crystal clear most of you boys don�t know your bore from a hole in the ground when it comes to the best place for a hunter to live. The obvious answer is North Dakota. It should be the clear winner in this tally. Unlike others posting above, I�m not afraid to list my choice and to list it with pride. I have no fear people will flock here and kill off all the game. People stay away from this place because it�s hot as the Sahara in the summer and as cold as Alaska in the winter. It gets ball cracking cold and isn�t a place for the average hunter when it comes to weather. It takes toughness to live and hunt here. I won�t list all the game I can hunt in this state. I don�t want to make any of you drool on your keyboards or maybe even break down and cry. I will say that I can pick up my rifle or shotgun, walk out either the front or back door, and be hunting. Deer in my yard are routine. And just to really get your goat, I can jump in my truck at sunrise and be in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado or Idaho when the sun goes down. In fact, I have to cross Wyoming to get to Colorado and Montana to get to Idaho. In fact, I�m so close to these states and their game that I consider them my back forty. Well, front forty. Canada is really my back forty. It�s closer than the states I mentioned above. There are times when Life is hell in the choices offered.

And just to really tick you off, during the off season, I can hook up my boat and in a matter of minutes be on some of the best walleye and pike water in the United States.

North Dakota, clear winner by a TKO.

Alaska/Yukon would be my first choice, with Alberta/B.C. a close second. - Dan

When our youngest girl is finished with high school in three years, my wife and I plan to move to Arizona. Not only does our family love the climate, etc., but it's also a move that is in no small part geared toward more and better hunting opportunities.

I've grown very disenchanted with Oregon's climate and hunting over the last ten years or so, and for the last dozen years I've done most of my stateside hunting in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. I love the Southwest.....

With a probability of greater firearms restrictions on the airlines in years to come, I want to live in place that is within easy driving distance of good hunting country, and Arizona fits that bill perfectly for us, especially since I prefer an arid climate, and since I'm a true desert rat at heart.

Arizona offers superb hunting when you can draw a permit, plus New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, and Utah are within easy driving distance. You can get in a full season of hunting every year.

AD

We just finished a motor vacation to Montana and Northern Wyoming. Part of the reason was to scope out Western hunting opportunities.

Once we got to West South Dakota the land got interesting and then spectacular when the Rockies came into view. Also more aninmals were spotted from the road.

In general from what I saw and know from previous trips the Eastern foothills of Wyoming and around Bozeman, MT look really good.

However I really did not see anymore animals and less birds than what I see in CT. There are far more places to shoot and hunt however. But we are mariners too and the New England coast is unlike anything that the West even pretends to have.

San Diego is nice however when you factor in the weather.

I take the question as posed to include small game, varmints, and wingshooting, as well as big game.

You might be surprised, but the Texas Panhandle may be one of the most opportune places for year-round hunting.

"Big" game would include pronghorn, whitetail (good ones), muleys, and aoudad. A few hours' drive away are elk and black bear in New Mexico.

Waterfowl hunting is famous for ducks and geese.

Upland species include turkey, pheasant, quail, and dove.

Then the "anytime" hunting for prairie dogs and coyotes is readily available.

As far as those with a taste for fish, fresh fish are trucked or flown in daily to some of the larger groceries in Amarillo.

Non-residents can hunt the birds and small game on a $35 five day license; for the big game species, the all-inclusive license is about $250.

RogerK:

You have a Private Message.

Roger - you should not have let the cat out of the bag- cause if wasn't for the hunting and fishing-and wide open space, there is no other reason a sane man would live in this state!

It has to be the Yukon-if your a resident.For around $125 canadian that gets you your license and tags for moose,griz blackbearx2,sheep,goat,mtn caibou,tundra cariboux2 and you could apply for bison for$50.

Having lived in Montana most of my life, and having travelled extensively, I have to go with North Dakota. I do believe it offers the best in the lower 48.

IF you can take the weather.

Well North Dakota here I come!! cause the answer damn sure aint Utah anymore! All thats left here are rattlesnakes and Peoples Republic of Kalifornia refugees.

I can not comment on the lower 48 cause I have never hunted there. I would say B.C has the best hunting opertunities. The Yukon is pretty darn good and has B.C beat for the lack of hunting presure, cost of licenses, and every thing is open at the same time(in the Yukon) B.C has alot more game per square mile and more species to hunt. I have not hunted Alaska either, but I hear there is quite alot of hunting pressure on some species.

Daryl

Seems like in summary, anywhere in the Western States or Provinces are hard to beat. No one standing up for anything on the East Coast. I think Nordakota ( Scandanavian for North Dak) and Texas were the farthest places East that were mentioned.

WesternHunter from Utah was right about the kalifornia refugees. Anti hunting people are destroying the opportunities in the West also, and maybe even faster than in the East.

Poor Canadians, I humbly submit that your governments laws are even stupider than the ones in the USA, and that is an accomplishment in itself.

The West may have the best opportunities, but I wish that all states would quit this pattern of outrageous fees for out of state hunters. Limit the number is fine, but some of the prices for tags and fees is getting ridiculous.

While alot of great places to live exist for hunters, laws are making our sport almost impossible for the average guy more and more each year.

The best place should be not which state has the most game and hunting opportunities but which state is the most hunter friendly, or should I say the least antihunter corrupted?

JMHO.