Terry,

So you want to be away from people, be able to hunt relativelyt close to home, and not spend a fortune doing so, correct?

And you haven't looked at Wyoming, because.....?

Lower population then AK. You have moose, black and grizz bears, elk, mule deer, white tail, pronghorn so thick they're like flies, great fishing (no coast and only land locked kokanee salmon) and resident tags aren't expensive. Plus, you realistically CAN drive an hour or two and be in great hunting in nearly any part of the state.

Not to mention the hardships of extremely long, dark winters, so on and so forth.

Just throwing that out there!

It's funny you mention Wyoming because Cheyenne was the second place I was considering.
From the sounds of everything here, maybe it should be first?
I can tell you from a work standpoint for me it would be allot better, and my wife would be allot more receptive to a move there.
My brother's wife and her are very close and they recently moved to NV, and one of her best friends lives in Boulder,CO
I am thinking I should concentrate more on WY.
Thank you all again, Terry.

Dear TerryK,

Since it looks like you will not be buying AKShooters house in Anchorage thereby allowing me to go hunting with him in a more remote part of AK maybe I will meet up with you in WY some day.

Good luck with the move. If I thought my wife would do well in WY I would be right there with you.

I think that since June 1st will be are 20th anniversery, maybee an Alaskan cruise, but from the sounds of it, WY would be better for my wife.
Thank you all for the help, it has really made a difference.
Terry.

Since you are considering Wyoming I would also check out Casper. The last I saw any stats it was the largest city in the state. Now if you would think about the 4th largest city, which is Gillette, I have some property for sale about 45 miles east of there.

Rad

quote:

I have some property for sale about 45 miles east of there.

That sounds interesting. I absoloutly love that corner of WY. Do tell more.

Also if you live in what I call the Wyoming, Montana, Idaho area you can hunt in all 3 states.

While a lot of animals or areas are by draw, there is also a lot of over the counter oppertunities avialable on public land.

Last years moose hunt cost me $4k for fuel. Running 600 miles each way in a river boat and both my son and I scored on moose and he picked up a black bear plus we passed on a wolfe - Pricless hunt.
Deer hunt to Kodiak for 2 people runs about $2,000 - 2,500.
World class fishing is 3-5 hour drive away from Anchorage.
Anchorage has sort of high cost homes but reasonable property taxes and fairly low utilities compared to the lesser 48 states. No sales tax and no state income tax.
I hope everyone keeps on spreading the stuff that it is cheaper to live in Texas and come up to Alaska to hunt. Remember, Texas is Alaska's Bitch!

You need to either buy a plane, a couple of boats and a few ATV's or pay someone to take you to the prime areas. Fruits and veggies are more expensive but everything else is comparable. Have two freezers full, one of moose meat and the other of halibut and salmon so IMO we spend less on groceries than most people in the lower 48. Hell, my golden retriver eats baked sockeye salmon every week or so. Alaskans are friendly, if you need to catch a boat ride hunting or fishing it is pretty easy to do.

There are places to hunt close and cheap. A couple of years ago shot a gorgeous moose, nice caribou and passed up a nice grizzly within a short drive from Anchorage. Much depends on how much effort you want to put into the quest. Many people move up here expecting animals to be around every corner, aint gonna happen. But if you like putting forth some effort and have the disposable income to buy the big boy toys this place has no equal.

Do you like things like taking your snowmobile out for the day and never seeing a house or fence after a 100 mile all day ride? Or fishing all day and night catching red salmon that weigh 8-10 pounds untill you are to tired to lift your arm? Come on up Hoss and join the crew

Originally posted by Snowwolfe

quote:

Anchorage has sort of high cost homes but reasonable property taxes

Can it be that another city is charging more than the 18.5 mils we get stuck with?

Not sure, but a friend of mine just bought a second home around Dallas. He plans on spending 8 months here and 4 in Dallas. He told me the taxes on his home in Dallas were higher than his taxes here. Home here is valued at around 525k, Texas home was bought for 225K.

Can't confirm or deny what he told me, just passing it along.

Just talked to my brother and he said taxes on the house he just sold in Round Rock was on par with Anch but they had sales tax in TX, What a hose job.

quote:

Originally posted by Akshooter:

quote:

I have some property for sale about 45 miles east of there.

That sounds interesting. I absoloutly love that corner of WY. Do tell more.

The property is only 80 acres and located about 4 1/2 miles north of I-90 about midway between Sundance and Moorcroft. Had planned to move out there but wife and I both lost our jobs when the factory moved to mexico. No building except a small shed and no covenants. Have gotten a few mule deer, mostly does, from it.

Rad

I grew up in Wyoming and Montana and I have lived in Barrow, Anchorage, and Sitka Alaska.

I retire from the Navy in 4 years and I am playing it by ear on which one of the three I will end up in.

Here's my synopsis.

Wyoming: Around 500,000 people, huge tracks of public land, good populations of mule deer, pronghorn antelope, elk, whitetail deer, and varmints, excellent upland hunting, ok waterfowl (especially late season geese and goldeneyes). Can shoot a buck antelope and 2 or 3 does in most areas, and a bull elk and a cow. Moose, sheep and goat are on 12 plus year lottery. People are very friendly, especially if you lose any accent you have, and don't have out of state liscense plates. Wyoming is the red-est state there is, Republican country. However the most beautiful parts of the state especially around Jackson HOle are impossible to live in and have a normal job. Too expensive. Wyoming is very dry, very open, and cheaper than most of Montana and all of Alaska to live in. 2nd highest average mean altitude after Colorado, Wyoming is 6200 feet, and Colorados is 6500 feet I think. Wyoming has several mountain ranges that cross north to south, east to west and at wierd angles. Between the mountains are sage brush high desert praire and rolling hills. No income tax. Wyoming has the most pronghorn antelope and sage grouse of any state. Fishing in Wyoming is ok, but not spectacular. Utah and Colorado tourist catch 80% of the fish in the state, and contribute 80% of the fishing liscense sales. Alot of places close to Denver or Salt Lake get fished hard. Wyoming is considerably colder and drier than Montana, and much higher altitude on average.

Montana: Is similar in many ways to Wyoming, but much more liberal, twice as many people, and quite a bit bigger, and Western Montana is more expensive than all but Jackson Hole. Montana has a million people. The western half of Montana is alpine and valleys, the eastern half is high desert and sage brush. Montana has different but higher taxes than Wyoming. Income and horrible property taxes by western standards. Hunting for black bears, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and elk and whitetails in Montana is considered to be better than Wyoming, but Montana has a much smaller percentage of public land. Fishing in Montana is good, it's a lot farther to drive than Wyoming and Montana doesn't have any really populated neighbors unlike Wyoming. Montana has a ton of mountain goat permits, more than any state in the lower 48 other than Washington. Western Montana is a series of mountain ranges cut by glacial valleys. Wonderful place! Finding access to the outdoors is tougher in Montana, but Montana still has a lot of ranchers that will let you fish or hunt with permission. Horses and four wheelers are all that are needed to access a ton of public land in Wyoming and Montana.

Alaska: Obviously Alaska is our largest state twice as big plus some more than Texas. Alaska has around 650,000 people. 80% of Alaska lives within 50 miles of Anchorage. I think that's the figure I have heard recently. Alaska has tons of public land, the percentage is huge but I can't remember what it is. As stated earlier, being outdoors in Alaska is all about access. And access in Alaska is a boat, a snow machine, or an airplane. Horses and four wheelers rarely get it done, as the distances are usually pretty big or wet. Alaska has a ton of huntable species, but not incredable game densities. Caribou hunting in Adak and 26A is excellent, if you live in Adak or 26A. Because it is far enough to be a major pain in the ass to get there. Moose hunting throughout the state is tough, lots of wolves and bears though. Waterfowling is excellent, some years have super grouse populations, and other years not. Fishing is by far the best of the three, but it too can be about getting away from the crowds. Jobs in Alaska pay ok, most things are expensive, especially off the road system or in remote areas. I paid $9 a gallon for milk in Barrow, and $10 for a 6 pack of coke. In my mind hunting success in Alaska as stated above is all about having the funds to pay for someone to take you out to the hunting area, or having the funds to buy the equipment and fuel to get there.

D99 summed things up nicely.

I lived in Wyoming for several years. A great place to live is Cody or Powell or Sheridan. Everything you could want to do is nearby.

In Montana, I liked Red Lodge and Kalispel the best.

I spent two wet and cold weeks in Alaska in August. No thanks.

D99

As I have hunted in all 3 places, and spent time in them as well, I think you gave a most excellent summary.

quote:

Originally posted by TerryK:
We were born and raised in Michigan, so we some idea of winter. Not as cold I'm sure, but cold none the less.
The houses I was looking at I believe were in the hills, 99712?
I have a million qestions, like what is the most common way people heat there houses?, what is "grey water"?
I would like to live rural, but my wife will want sat/cable tv and internet. Is that possible in "the hills"?
I figured the 06 would be fine, but I think I can convince my wife I need another rifle if we move.
My wife and I are just plain folk, I guess, and I am trying to have a normal life for my wife while getting as far away from people as possible.

......... Salcha .. . Check out places on Johnson Road , or the Old Valdez Trail .. But I,de recomend against just south of Eilleson AFB . One of the coldest spots in the state ..... Moose all over the place , Wolves right on the Tannana .( have a smart sourdough learn you about getting around on the Tannana in winter ... It can kill ya quik .!!!!!! Grey water is shower and sink water .. , Smart way to flush . saves water ect ...... Trade the 06 for a 243 thats real accurate with 90 gr Seirra BT FMJs and get a 375 Ruger Alaskan .. And a large cal. revolver ..

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Also if you live in what I call the Wyoming, Montana, Idaho area you can hunt in all 3 states.

While a lot of animals or areas are by draw, there is also a lot of over the counter oppertunities avialable on public land.

.
.
. But no king crab , halibut , and king salmon all in the same day .. or watch a herd of Humpback wales bubble feed all around you ... look at 30 brown bear a day and maybe exert yourself enough to take a pic of one , but maybe not too !!!!.. Watch the northern lights 4 nights a week while pissin off your deck @ 30 below ......
.
. The list is almost endless ..

Halibut, Salmon and especially King Crab, are mighty good.

quote:

Originally posted by HerrMesser:

quote:

Originally posted by Akshooter:

quote:

I have some property for sale about 45 miles east of there.

That sounds interesting. I absoloutly love that corner of WY. Do tell more.

The property is only 80 acres and located about 4 1/2 miles north of I-90 about midway between Sundance and Moorcroft. Had planned to move out there but wife and I both lost our jobs when the factory moved to mexico. No building except a small shed and no covenants. Have gotten a few mule deer, mostly does, from it.

Rad

Access? Water? Electricity or how far from a line? Elevation? How much?

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

Originally posted by HerrMesser:

quote:

Originally posted by Akshooter:

quote:

I have some property for sale about 45 miles east of there.

That sounds interesting. I absoloutly love that corner of WY. Do tell more.

The property is only 80 acres and located about 4 1/2 miles north of I-90 about midway between Sundance and Moorcroft. Had planned to move out there but wife and I both lost our jobs when the factory moved to mexico. No building except a small shed and no covenants. Have gotten a few mule deer, mostly does, from it.

Rad

Access? Water? Electricity or how far from a line? Elevation? How much?

Electricity on property, county road passes through SW corner, no well or creek. Around 4500 ft. Page 5 in listings.

http://www.wesellwy.com/listings.html

Rad