Started a thread on where to buy land in New Mexico to hunt, and had posts regarding other States, so decided to get all your advise as to the best State first. I have an investment piece of property in escrow, and need to find a replacement property for when it closes. Having no friends with property, and after seeing how much it costs to hunt on someone elses property, I thought I could kill two birds (or bucks) with one stone. Appreciate you all helping out on telling me where the best State (exact area would be great also) would be. Who knows, you all may soon have a "friend" with land to hunt on.

Here are as many parameters as I can think of...I live on the central coast of California and since I will not, at least initially, live on the property the closer the better. Since I will probably have to fly anyway this may not be important though. Would like as much land as possible, or abut public land. Love to be in the mountains where it snows sometimes and be on a river, lake, or ocean. Just about any large game would be fine, but it would be nice to have something that could be hunted year round also. Low priced land would be a plus, and would like to have at least one cabin or more that I could rent. Would not mind being way out in the boonies, but would like to be able to access it without hiking in. Any help on local laws would be great also. Like to be in an area that does not have so many laws like where I'am at now! Hope that's enough info...winner gets a free hunt or two!

I might suggest land purchase in Oregon.

It is close

It has some areas much that are much like California.

Has a geat mixture of game

Lots of areas where private property is an inholding or borders accessible government property.

They are already used to Californians


LouisB

Thanks, and sorry about the invasion, but with all the people moving here from Los Angeles we got to go somewhere! I was thinking of driving up that way, any areas in particular?

Bruz - For deer, turkey, quail, dove and likely hogs, Texas offers some good land deals. The suggestion for Oregon is a good one for larger game. Texas probably more accessable to things by airline. I suspect Montana is an option similar to Oregon.

Whatever you do, stay out of Colorado. We've already had to absorb a couple million Californians and they are quickly transforming my state into a mirror image of their old state.

If you do leave California, leave your California ways there as well. Too many people from that state want everything to be "The way we did it in California". All that attitude does is piss off the locals big time.

My 2 cents worth.

Mac

Although it's about as far away from you as you can get, you may want to consider Georgia.

There is considerable "hunting-type" land for sale, much of it in the highly-affordable range, at least when compared to other areas of the U.S.

If you get a little ways out from the developing areas you can buy sizeable tracts--and the bigger the tract, the less per acre.

You can probably stay within 2 hours of Atlanta, which will give you airport access and a relatively short drive to your hunting area. Or, buy near one of the other cities that have regional airports (Augusta, Albany, etc).

Here are some advantages Georgia offers:

--Right-to-carry state. If you are not a felon and apply for a concealed carry permit, you must be issued one.

--Abundance of game. Liberal deer limits. Most hunting land will support turkey, hogs, and other small game as well as deer.

--Pro-hunter wildlife enforcement. SCI and other groups support DNR and we have good relationships.

--Many quail hunting plantations, and Quail Unlimited is based in Georgia.

--That great Southern tradition, opening day of dove season.

--Mild temperatures and generally hunter-friendly weather (can rain pretty heavy at times).

--Lots of good ole boys (and gals) who think the first day of deer season should be a national holiday.

I guess the downside for you is the distance, and of course we do not have elk, mule deer, and only a few black bears.

If you have any interest, let me know.

Did I mention I'm a real estate broker?

[ 12-29-2002, 19:20: Message edited by: Nitro Express ]

Hey Nitro, thought you were being awfully neighborly! Yes I am interested. Please send any info to advantagerealty@charter.net or give me your addy and I'll send my priorities.

Thanks Pecos, be checking it out. Don't worry Mac, I'll stay out of Colorado. The State apparently ain't big enough for the both of us. Would'nt it be amazing if we happened to meet, maybe hunting somewhere and became good friends? That maybe I am not the steriotypical Californian you have grown to hate? Funny, I was born here but went to Ft. Worth and worked in Dallas for a year. When asked where I was from I told the truth, I came from Ft. Worth. (Every morning). Most people said that that is what they thought...eventually the people I spent time with I told them that it was via California, but by then it did not matter. I try to judge people after I get to know them, but then again what do I know, I'am a Californian.

What do you want to hunt?
Do you want warm weather hunts (or will cold weather hunts do)?
I have been thinking of buying property in Ak.

Alaska is a lot closer to you than me. I like hunting big game. I like hunt where I can not hear anyone (trains, cars, airplanes). The cold bothers me, but not as much as bugs.

BTW, I live in OH. Never been to AK. Hunt mostly in WV. Ohio is good for farmers and couch potatoes (watching football). WV and Michigan are good for hunter.

ddunn:

You need to check out a couple of the threads under Alaskan Hunting on 24hourcampfire.com
They have a fair amount of information from natives that might help your decision process.

try oregom from burns to ontario south to the state line. lots of ranches for sdale that have good bucks as well as chukars and landowner tags...

What the heck are chukars? I am just now getting my priorities strait...my son is 19 and I have never taken him hunting except for quail. No excuse for that but my daughter is 5 so don't want to make the same mistake with her. Other than quail I have never been hunting, but want to hunt any deer, pigs, bear, elk, etc., sure I will like any game. Alaska is one place I am checking out, prices look very good. Was given a site of a nice cabin right on the ocean on 3.5 acres for only $80,000. Rather have a small, junky cabin and a whole lot more dirt. I like trees and mountains though, would like to have a great day even if I do not shoot anything...do not like cold either, but looking at property that is at 7,000 ft. which makes it in the 70's most of the year and some snow in the winter. That would not be bad for me. Really need to start looking at places, have never traveled around, in fact I am learning there are some great hunting areas that are extremly secluded right here in Kalifornia up at the Oregon border. Heard there are many huge deer and bear and lots of piggies. Pig season is year round here so I am going out the first of the year and get some bacon! Then again there is Oregon that is close also, but so is NM and Arizona and...

Buy my place;

Montana Hunters Paradise

Questions?

DD

DD:

I read you ad on the place and perked up at the mention of Huns in your area. Is the coulee you mentioned finding them on public land, or do you have permission to hunt on it or what?

How far is the nearest school?

And finally, how much are you asking for the place? If you prefer to keep it private, email me. Thanks CAT

The land around me is all private land. Where the Huns are is owned by the Hillside Hutterite Colony. The have about 11,000 acres in the area. Buy my place and I will make sure you get directions to the land owners who own the land so you can hunt. Getting permission to hunt is easy, all you have to do is ask first and follow the landowners rules.

The Hun coulee is just behind the 100 yard target frame in the picture of the range.

Click on this link High Plains Realty and look at property 25033-07460. The price is posted there along with interior pictures and additional details.

It is 25 minutes to town and school. Right now the school bus stops about 1/2 mile from the house, but only because there are no other children beyond that stop right now.

Hurry up and buy the place. It wouldn't take to much to give up this promotion and transfer and move back. That place beats the hell out living around the beltway.

DD

DD, was following your place on the classified section...looks like a great place, especially your dining room wallpaper , but one thing I decided on was I want lots of trees...even though splatting a gopher during breakfast may help my digestion!

Trees, Trees, you don't need no stinking trees...wait that badges.

Why do you want trees. This born a bred Oregon boy missed his trees for about a month out on the Montana prairie.

Back when I was still in Oregon and the folks moved north from California you could always tell which place belonged to an old time Oregonian and which belonged to a newcomer from the south. The Oregonian had the brush and trees cleared from around the home site, the newcomers didn't. The Old timers learned a long time ago its better to give up the serenity and privacy and not get burned out.

DD

What are Chukars? A large-ish partridge that lives in the Mountain West. Smaller than a pheasant, bigger than a Dove or a Hungarian Partridge.

Very good eating. White meat, like a pheasant.

They live on rocky slopes, so you have to hike rugged terrain to get them. They make a "chuckling" sound when they socialize, so you can often hunt them by ear.

Rookies chase a flock up the hill. Then the flock flies down and the rookies cry. Experienced hunters climb first, then hunt down.

Patrick McManus wrote a great short story on hunting Chukar. Its highly accurate.

McManus lives in Idaho. Chukars live in Idaho. I live in Idaho. There are good hunting spreads in the northern part of the state.

[ 01-01-2003, 07:13: Message edited by: Dave R ]

Good point...just don't feel like I'am in the country unless there's tree around. I'am only on an acre but have 60 feet high cypress trees side by side and two thick around the perameter. Like the privacy but am also a bad shot with my recurve!

Bruz.....one problem you may run into with states like Wy or Mt . Say you buy a nice property that is overun with bucks and big bull elk . I take it you will remain a California resident for quite some time ? Then likely you will have to buy non-resident hunting licenses to hunt your own land. But the part that really sucks is you won't be able to get one every year ; you will have to draw for them like any other non-resident .

In that respect , Colorado may be your best bet if elk are on your agenda . You can buy a bull license there any year across the counter .

The Dakotas are likely the sleeper in hunting property for the dollars invested , but pine trees can be on the scarce side and no one wants to live there in the winter .

Hmmm, good info...I assume though one could still hunt other game though? No pine trees, what type of fowlage ya got in the mountains?

hell, i am biased so i am going to say arkansas. if you pick your area around the buffalo river there is an abundance of big deer, big black bears, and you can shoot one elk per year that is on your property(there are some rules, but it is easy to bag one) the land is cheap and you can get some remote land if it is just for hunting, besides, you can watch the razorbacks also,

Hey Razorback, thanks for the info...never thought it would be so hard to find a place. Found some interesting land in northern California and a couple real interesting pieces of property in Canada, acreage and a private lake. Also been looking in northern US like North Dakota.

We have decided we definantly want to be on a body of water...my family reminded me that it was property for all of us! Is there any particular areas you know of where there are properties with lakes around them?