Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: lpcjon2 on April 22, 2010, 08:17:00 PM
-
Well the wife and I were talking and she stated she wanted to move out of Jersey.Then she said I want to go down south,maybe Georgia :saywhat: .This is a girl that has been as far as Pennsylvania and Maryland.Well my heart started pounding in my chest.Now I have to get some info on what are the best towns to live in.And I have to find a job and one for her as well.Im a forensic Tech/medical investigator and she is a social worker.But most of all what are the hunting opportunities like? Any help would be grateful and an asset to seal the deal. :pray:
-
Bryant, AR. I live just west of Little Rock - tons of hunting/fishing - think you both could find good jobs in LR. Go Hogs!
and you could come to my church - cool real people!
-
Kerrville,Texas is a hunter's paridise and has a population of about 20,000 with about 40,000 in Kerr county. About 60% are seniors who retired there! Kerr county is the heart of all the exotics in Texas along with whitetails and turkey. Great restaurants and sets on the beautiful clear Guadalute river with small mountains along its banks. San Antiono is about 50 miles on Interstate 10 where Bass Pro sets in a huge strip center. Kerrvlle has a new hospital downtown! Ken
-
I don't know where your gonna move to but I think you married a smart girl. I still have to get my wife thinking along those lines........I'm working on it. Good luck in your search!!!
-
We grew up in SE PA, about an hour from Philly. I tried for several years to get her to move west to WY,CO,MT, ID etc. Even had some interviews but when it came down to it she couldn't leave family. I did get to NW PA which is a whole lot better but still not the west. My last hole card is my sons have inherited my wanderlust and will move there on their own accord. If they go, we'll be right behind I'm sure.
If I were to move south I'd look hard at KY, TN, NC. JMHO, your mileage may vary.
-
Anxiously watching the suggestions. I am about 3 yrs away from another southern migration. Need to let one more little birdie graduate and then fly away from home.
I have been dreaming Texas. My wife is thinking Savanah. We'll see. One way or another, I am moving back into a country setting with land of my own. Did the suburb thing to make Mrs and kids happy for too long. Can you saw log cabin home and pole barn workshop?
-
We are not retiring I'm 40 and she is 41(my cougar)But the N.J. taxes and cost of living are killing us.Plus the area I live in (outside of Atlantic City)has become contaminated by less than desirable people and we have been looking for a change.I have 3 kids 15,9,and 7 They are ready to move as well.I like the seasonal weather and not to fond of dry heat(my mother lives in AZ and a sister in TX)
-
I have been wanting to move to CO for 20 years. My wife won't cut the strings with her family. Plus, she always says, "Why would they pay a school teacher with 20 years experience when they can hire someone right out of college for less money?" Hard to argue with that:(
-
I'm partial to TN, but NC, KY, GA, AL would be next in that particular order. I'd imagine that you'd need to find a larger city to continue as a medical investigator/forensic scientist, your wife's SW position might be easier to place. Absolutely no offense to any members from NJ as it has it's pretty areas, but I'd move ricky-tick out of there. My Yankee wife has settled in wonderfully in TN and she's from Philly PA and loves it here. I'm a purebred TN mutt with roots in this area since 1803, so being back here makes me like the proverbial pig in slop.
UT Knoxville has a leading forensic graduate school, it's the home of Bill Bass from Body Farm fame. Chattanooga has an active regional forensic lab, nice folks that I got to know in college. Memphians are really good at killin one another in interesting ways and they have a large, busy and dedicated lab there. I did some work with them while I was in medical school. I'm sure Nashville also has some good forensic investigators.
If you settle in TN or have some specific questions, go down into the state forums and ask around. We have members spread all over the state if we can help. GA also has an active state group.
As far as hunting, all states are pretty good and have liberal bag limits and the seasons are long. TN and KY have elk. TN/GA/NC have bear. Most states have populations of hogs now, but are certainly thicker in the deep south. I don't know that there is a bad state to hunt in, but you will have to pay attention to cities near public ground, or else consider joining a lease.
Good luck, move while she's motivated, don't look back except for holidays and learn to drink tea the proper way - sweet!
David
-
I'm looking at Eastern Tenn.,Southwest Va., Western N.C. and Northern Ga. My daughter is living in Northern Ga. now and I have had it with N.Y. taxes and miss managed Government. The winters are getting long it seems also....lol!
-
Tim, how do you like your Grits? This is a test!
-
Well my wife wants to move to Costa Rica....Can you imagine me there....white whale on a beach in 85+ and 40-60% humidity.
Don't know what the hunting and fishin's like. She has pretty much done what i needed to do for 28 years so I guess it's her time..BUT COSTA RICA.
Guess I can fly to places to do things :(
Jer
-
I'd definitely look in to Kentucky. Hunted whitetails down there this year in the northwestern part of KY near Paducah. Friendly people, stuff is cheap, and there is plenty of game.
-
Im in GA now myself. One of my friends from college is a forensic tech and just got a job in Savannah. I think you will have to live close to a major city in that line of work.
I have realized that the entire state of GA is just one big suburb of Atlanta. The hogs are best south of Atl but deer seem to be everywhere.
If I could do it with no strings attached I think I would go the greater Macon area.
-
South Ga. ....Gods Country.RC
-
Hot Springs, Ark. Lots of old people in the Hot Springs Village, which is North 10 miles. Lots of Hospital, Medical facilites etc. Located on 10's of thousands of acres of National Forest lands of the Ouichita Forest. Tons of beautiful lakes, streams etc. Tons of deer, turkey, hogs, bear, etc. Rick Welesh lives near here,--he took a state record bear--something like 600lbs. --Arkansas is the "Natural State" and it lives up to its motto-- absolutely beautiful with a wide variety of environs-- from swamps w/ 1000yr.old cedars, and alligators to Mountainous realms where mt. lions roam. As a bonus, living is cheap here--taxes are 1/3 what they are in my other Mich. residence. Oh, Deer season is about 5 months here--going to the end of Feb. Hot Springs Village is a great place to live, and near-by Jesseville School district has a very high percentage of graduates going on to college.
-
Why not look west of the Mississippi? I here Alaska is a nice place to live. I also here the hunting and fishing is great and the state pays you to live there. ;)
Olin
-
I always figured the south was so hot that God only put the real sinners down there. How could he love someone and put them in such a HOT place!
(God loves Steve and Olin and put them in a COOL place!)
-
Originally posted by lpcjon2:
But most of all what are the hunting opportunities like? :pray:
got your priorities right :biglaugh:
good luck finding a new spot mate
-
C'mon RC, tell him about the knats....
Tim, read the thread about "What do you do in the off season" Us southern bots have no off season.
Atlanta would be your best job opportunities but you won't like it there. Augusta area is very nice. If you can find jobs in some of the small towns, I think you'd be very happy with the hunting and fishing. Remember, the south Georgia has the majority of the hogs and the bestest bowfishing.
-
i grew up and live near the savannah river here in s.c. about an hour from augusta. i think augusta/macon area would be a good bet if you have your heart set on ga. for excellent hogs, head down toward vidalia. there are several midsize towns here in s.c. that would be worth looking into. greenwood, anderson, edgefield, and aiken would be some excellent choices. any of these towns would put you beside sumter national forest, 120,000 acres of public land with some of the best whitetail hunting in the south.
-
here's a vote for north Georgia. lots of bear, deer,turkeys and hogs. Unlike New Jersey you can shoot the Bears instead of just lokking at them.
Lots of public land hunting on WMAs including the Cohutta wilderness. there are a bunch of Tradgangers who live in Cherokee county, within coommuting distance of Atlanta.
-
......lived all over but really liked Savannah GA area....coastal fishing in the summer and deer and pigs to shoot the rest of the year.....no snow to speak of and only the random hurricain every few years.......
-
KentuckyTJ grits need to be cooked low and with patience(not the 5 min. grit).I was stationed in NC and loved the people and the way of life.They actually say "hi how are you" and mean it,not just a ploy to get your wallet.
-
If you REALLY want to fit in Timothy, remember that grits not only need to be slow-cooked, but pronounced with TWO syllables.... "Gree-uhts!" :rolleyes:
Good luck in your search!
-
lpcjon2, if Georgia is on your mind "haha", and with the careers ya'll have, being in or near a metro area will be a must.
If being near salt water rings your bell then go to Savannah or Brunswick. Lots of great fishing plus hogs, hogs, and more hogs, good deer hunting too.
If you want a little more seasonal weather and gently rolling terrain go inland a hundred miles or so. Columbus has a lot of growth going on and more to come from what I hear with the Fort Benning expansion. Also great deer and hog hunting. Macon and Augusta are also have great hunting opportunites, not so sure about the job markets there, but definatly worth checking into.
I would stay the H3LL away from Atlanta if at all possible, unless you like a two hour commute to travel 25 miles.
If the mountains are more your thing maybe the extreme northwest corner of the state. I had a friend that lived in Walker Co. and it was a really nice place to live. Good deer hunting a few hogs, but the biggest dang turkeys I believe I ever saw. Chattanooga TN is plenty close enough to commute to work.
Good Luck,
Dave
-
South TN. ....Gods Country. RP :D
-
I love these threads. It is fun to hear about great spots for hunting and to hear people brag about their homes. Nothing wrong with that.
But dude, if you have kids, think schools, not hunting. Funny thing - higher taxes usually means better schools.
Good luck.
-
Originally posted by Steve H.:
I always figured the south was so hot that God only put the real sinners down there. How could he love someone and put them in such a HOT place!
(God loves Steve and Olin and put them in a COOL place!)
...haha...I'm with you on this Steve. Too hot, humid, buggy...sorry guys from the South. But that way we all don't head to the same place! :thumbsup:
-
Originally posted by lpcjon2:
KentuckyTJ grits need to be cooked low and with patience(not the 5 min. grit).I was stationed in NC and loved the people and the way of life.They actually say "hi how are you" and mean it,not just a ploy to get your wallet.
:clapper: :biglaugh:
Passed that one with flying colors. You also need to practice waving at everyone you pass on the road (even if they are in a passing car).
Oh yeah one more test...Can you say "Yall" correctly for me in a sentence.
-
South Illinois is nice plus we don't have alot of dog pecker nats buzzin' ya when you are huntin' and we have big whitetails. As far as jobs go, other than more meth labs per square inch than any other place on earth, there isn't alot of violent crime. The forensic opportunities would be tough but I bet you could use your skills on alot of bloodtrails here :)
-
Where I grew up, the stuff that looks like grits is what we called "chicken feed".
-
Move to Athens Georgia...live there, UGA, great football, great hunting, near Atlanta, not all that far from the coast...I wish I was still there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
UGA Footbal???/HAhHHAHAHahahahahHAHHHhahahh
Tha's funny.....
-
TEXAS H
-
If you want good hunting, move west. MT, CO, ID, and WY to name a few great states.
"The West is the best"-Jim Morrison
-
Boise Idaho. :thumbsup:
Go Broncos.
-
Illinois is not a hunter friendly state. Outside of liberal archery regulations, if you plan to own guns, like to shoot guns, want to carry guns, or ever hunt anything with guns... stay out of illinois.
If you are a tried and true archery ONLY hunter, you might get by OK in Illinois.
-
:thumbsup: Call me when you get settled! :archer: Might want to come visit! :archer: :archer2:
-
I would take anywhere the hunting is great, it doesn't get over 60 degrees and no bugs.
-
Iowa? I think my place will be on the market soon. I have some nice big old whitetails in my backyard every night:) Not sure that we have enough murder around here to keep you in work. Not complaining!
-
It is confirmed by the wife Georgia sweet Georgia.So you Georgia boys please give me the best city to live in.Thanks
-
KentuckyTJ I recon I could if I was over yonder in yall's area
-
Western KY if I had a choice. Near Murray/KY lake region. Friendly people, lots of outdoor hunting & fishing sports. Climate is not too hot and nasty humid in summer or bone chilling cold in winter.
-
Don't know how close you need to be to a bigger city, but I life 45 minutes south of Atlanta. I am a fairly new transplant here, but can give my experience if you want. Depending on your needs there are quite a few different options within the ATL area. Mountains north, lots of rural land and public hunting, plus leases in most every direction depending on desire or need to commute to "big city". I live on the edge of a nice suburb and have killed a deer and just missed a turkey in my own yard with trad gear (foxes, yotes, and occassional bobcat in back yard too. Hogs in many places. Lots of critters and bigger lots available on south side. So many other options though. Athens, etc. PM if you want what little advice I have. In any case, good luck. Some great trad gangers are locals too!
-
You SHould move to Staten Island!!
:laughing:
-
If I were to move to any southern state I think it would be Tenn....PR
-
I would have gone with KY, AR, or TN, in that order. Love the mountains.
-
Look into Kansas City, MO, Lots of jobs great hunting and public land. I made the move from Western MD in 78 with no regrets.
-
Higher taxes don't necessarily mean better schools. But it DEFINITELY means less money in your pocket. In Texas we have really good schools in many areas, bad ones in others. Downtown Houston has HUGE taxes and their schools are generally not good. The taxes are less in the suburbs but the schools are almost always very good. Our hunting is good but you won't find anything for free here. A lease is pretty much a must but as a bowhunter they can be found for a reasonable amount. We hunt here pretty much year-round so that is sure a plus. The people in Texas are friendly. Do work on the accent though before you get here!
-
Madison, Georgia
-
Good suggestion Bmoeller, Madison is a small town, clean and has just about everything you could need. Good deer and turkey huntin too.
About an hour to ATL.
I'm near Macon but wouldn't feel comfortable suggesting it to anyone. It's 3 hours to the Savannah coast and 3.5hrs to the gulf coast. We have loads of deer, turkey and hogs although the best hoggin is about an hour south of here on the Flint River. 2 hrs. to bear huntin and trout fishing and if you're flying out, ATL airport is 1.5 hrs away or you can fly out of Macon. Deer season is 4 months long and you get 12 tags, turkey is 8 weeks and you get 3 tags, hogs are year round, no limit. You can bowfish year round and fill in fishing the coasts.
I considered moving to Montana several years ago but their deer season is so short and then unles you ski, you have 3 months of snow and COLD.
Downside, it gets HOT here for a month or so in the middle of summer. That's when we work to make money for the upcoming fall seasons 8-) We switch the bowfishing over to nighttime.
-
go west young man go west. :D elk...elk and more elk.
-
Go west to southern Colorado or Arizona. The bodies will be stacking up in those states in the near future and plenty of social work for the wife. Plus you can hunt elk.
-
You guys! You get one elk tag and season lasts how long? Then you have to live there another 364 days before you hunt another one!
-
Oklahoma is a great place. Good friendly people, good hunting for lots of different game and the western half of the state is pretty open. Lots of public hunting land. Lots of different eco systems from alligators and nutria in the SE corner to mountains and merriams in the northwest. Three kinds of turkey can be killed in Oklahoma. Lots of pheasant, good whitetail country over most of the state and mulies in the west. Great people. Give it some thought.
-
Originally posted by lpcjon2:
KentuckyTJ I recon I could if I was over yonder in yall's area
Dang Tim, You and youruns are welcome in Kentucky anytime if they won't have yall in Georgia.
-
Thanks TJ, I was looking at Calhoun and did check Madison.Is the northwest park of Georgia a good choice? And why are the homes all very cheap,you can get a lot of house for 150G's.Whats the best way to go about the search.I have checked the town's website but they are more tourist informative.I like the historic aspect of Savannah,but fear the crime in that area.This is becoming a heck of a challenge getting good info.Any help would be great
-
Originally posted by imhntn:
Oklahoma is a great place. Good friendly people, good hunting for lots of different game and the western half of the state is pretty open. Lots of public hunting land. Lots of different eco systems from alligators and nutria in the SE corner to mountains and merriams in the northwest. Three kinds of turkey can be killed in Oklahoma. Lots of pheasant, good whitetail country over most of the state and mulies in the west. Great people. Give it some thought.
Last I checked, Oklahoma was full.
-
I would say SC, but jobs are hard to come by. GA, TX, ARK would be my points of interest.
-
Tim, the mountains around Calhoun are beautiful and the climate is more bearable. What ever you decide, I promise you this; You don't want to have to drive thru ATL to work OR to play. Those of us on the southside, tend to stay down here, the guys on the northside, have to deal with the trafiic to get to the good hog huntin
-
I've lived in Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and now Kentucky. For a bowhunter, KY is a terrific state (sorry, KS wasn't all that great because it is SOOOOOO difficult to get permission -- I knocked on 15 doors one mid-summer and got 15 sorries -- nice landowners but much of the land is leased). With your background I'd go for these locations: Frankfort the capital. In fact, I know a fellow who works forensics for the State Police. I don't know if they are hiring but the fellow I know is a terrific Christian fellow who'd be glad to help if he can. Of course there is a huge government agency in charge of the state's social worker network in Frankfort. This area of the state has so many deer you are allowed to take as many does as you can use. You are only allowed to take one buck a year in KY by any method. This is why, since 1992 our Boone & Crockett deer numbers have been more than 50/year -- #2 after Illinois in the US. Lexington would be my next choice because of the University. You'd be close to the Daniel Boone National Forest. Then I'd probbably consider Bowling Green, KY down near TN. If you pick KY, let me know. I'm retired state wildlife director and could put you and yours on job leads.
-
Anyone else have ideas on Georgia.That is going to be the state i'm going to.Thanks Tim
-
Anywhere between Brunswick and Macon. No further North.Dublin area seems to be booming some for a smaller town or maybe near Perry. RC
-
Timothy , I envy you . I am currently too entrenched here to get out . I want to move to a place like Jersey was 40 years ago . Best of luck to you , Fred
-
Didn't read all the replies....
Deer(4 months worth), Turkeys, Gators, bears, small game.....and Hogs year round.
We got the Appalachians to the Okefenokee and a coast on the Atlantic.
C'mon down.
-
Calhoun GA will put you on the doorstep of the Cohutta wilderness area and WMA which is a treasure.
-
Didn't see the reference to Calhoun till I saw the post under me, and read a bit backwards....that's where I've lived since I was 5. The schools here are still 'old school' as well. A lot of the teachers here my wife and I went to school with.
JC lives in the same county, and can tell ya about the area as well. Nice place to live...and yeah, we got bears, deer, turkeys and hogs all close by. Not as many hogs as south GA...but enough to chase for sure.
-
North GA is God's country and you don't have to deal with the gnats. :campfire:
-
I was looking at Lawrenceville,Dahlonega, and Douglasville,I got to talk with Keith Karr for about an hour over the phone and that was more informative than 4 days on the web searching.I have till December to find a town and was thinking of renting for a year till my wife decides where she wants to buy a house.She is still in school till December.And Greyfox54 I am taking a hit with selling my house but I am 40 and if I don't get out now I never will!
-
Dahlonega is farther from town and mountainous. Lawrenceville is more city but you can still find some places off the beaten path. Dahlonega would be my choice but I like the mountains and not the city. I lived in Hiawassee for 8 years and I am trying to get back there.
-
Thanks Waldo I have to check out Hiawassee,Didn't even see it on the map(that makes me happy).Does Dahlonega have stores and shopping for the wife? She wants that small town feeling,with some of the semi large town amenities.
-
Sautee is right outside of Helen, GA. It seems to be a nice place to go. My neighbor has a cabin there.
I always think I would like to end up somewhere in North Georgia.
Or Durango
Or Auburn
-
I recommend south of Atlanta, simply because that way you don't have to drive through Atlanta to get to the best, or at least most accessible, hunting areas. (That said, there is some mighty fine hunting in the northern part of the state as well.)
I do not recommend Macon per se, but it is centrally located and close enough to Atlanta, the coast and the more southerly areas of the state that traveling to any of them is not too bad. But many of the smaller towns in Middle Ga. are nice communities. Biggie Hoffman and I both live in Gray, about 20 miles from Macon, and despite that fact that they let us both live here, its still a good place to be. There is a lot of public land to hunt on, and with a little study, you can find good places that are not overrun by other hunters. Deer and turkey are plentiful. Also, you can probably locate some really nice hunt clubs also. I saw Madison mentioned in a previous post and agree that it is a really nice town as well.
We have gnats, mosquitos, and ticks in great profusion. Also snakes. So get good snake boots, and learn about Permanone! Lastly,unless you have previously spent time in this part of the country, you will run into heat and humidity that will really surprise you with its intensity. The heat by itself is not so bad - nothing like our Western friends have, but combined with the humidity,it is tough to handle. Early archey season is hot!
Being a native Georgian I may be a little prejudiced, but I think you will find good hunting and good friends aplenty whatever area of the state you choose.
You need to check out Traditional Bowhunters of Georgia and even Traditional Bowhunters of Florida. Lots of really good folks. Y'all Come on down, and and we will have you talking Southern in less than a year.
-
I adopted Georgia when I ended up in Marietta [1968]after a three year tour in the Army. Completed college at UGA and have lived in Douglas, Savannah and Marietta between tours to Louisiana. I'd give up the entire Louisiana big game season for one good week during the rut in either SC or Georgia.
If you have an interest in fishing, particularly big largemeouth....Georgia is as good as it gets. Plenty of opportunity to notch fish from 10 to 15 pounds. My personal best of 13 pounds 12 ounces came out of Columbia county and next at 11 pound 8 ounces from the Statesboro area.
My wife is a Louisiana gal and would retire in the Elijay or Savannah area in a heartbeat....me too. One can access trout, great bass and panfish as well as saltwater fishing easily.
North Georgia is my favorite place in the world, having fished,hunted and roamed from Clayton to Calhoun and places inbetween.
I'd move there for the fishing alone, but add the hunting....and, it be hard to beat.
I hate to admit it to Biggie, but we like Tenneesee pretty good and currently scouting out land opportunity between Memphis and Nashville. I could live in Tennessee but damned if I could wear orange. :)
-
As far as shopping for your wife goes, both Calhoun nd Dahlonega are close to outlet malls and Dahlonega hosts a mammoth arts and Crafts fair in Oct that will keep her busy while you are out hunting. Dahlonega also has North Georgia college and State University, which may offer some employment opportunities.
-
athens isn't too bad. i live just outside it in ogletorpe county, and where i live is pretty rural considering athens is only 5 miles away.
there are some pretty good wma's near by, and a bit more centrally located than dahlonega( i lived there for a bit while in college, and it is really nice) it is also a bit less crowded than lawrenceville. for your wife there is all kinds of shopping especially in downtown athens.
good luck with the move. when you get down here shoot me a pm and i'll take you to one of my hog huntin spots