Best place to live for archers?

[elkken]

I would like to live on the trophy mountain at Cabelas. Every day I could shoot world class critters and not freeze my butt off.    

[BowArkie]

Originally posted by GDPolk:
I don't know about all of that but Arkansas is pretty nice for a sportsman.  We have a very strong population of sportsmen and lots of public lands, some of which are bow only and a pretty respectable variety of game animals.

Right on! Bow season runs from September til February and hogs are available year round on private land...

[Sam McMichael]

TDHunter makes a strong argument for somebody still young enough to handle the terrain. What makes me still claim GA as best, is that I still can handle the terrain necessary to go after what we have. Oh, to be young and healthy again...

[BWallace10327]

All of these places sound great, but WHY Colorado?

[4dogs]

Colorado. For hunting or just archery? Wouldn't be a really good choice for either.. Small game, forget about it unless you know somebody close to your home. Public ground is completely over run. Big game not so much either. VERY crowded and if you live on the front range have to travel a long ways. One good trad shop in the state that I know of. We have been spoiled in the past but its getting ridicules these days. Way too many people, way too liberal. Every since parks and rec took over the game and fish its been a real cluster. Sorry to be so negative but to see what has happened to this state the last several years is just sad.   .

[Todd Cook]

I'll go with GA also. I've hunted many different states, and the Midwest whitetail hunting is better, but also more limited. We have lots of deer and hogs, plenty of turkeys, bear, gators, bowfishing, small game aplenty. Long seasons, mild weather, several trad only clubs,etc. Our terrain varies from very steep in the northern mountains to just about flat in lots of south Ga. Hogs are year round. But we don't have elk. I do miss hunting those critters.

[GreyGoose]

I'd say the SE USA generally.  Can shoot outdoors most of the year, lots of hunting opportunities from whitetails, to small game, varmints, and  bowfishing.  Plus pigs, though I never have pursued them myself.

[flyguysc]

I think that it's where you are. Most place (Greener on the other side)nice to visit but there's no place like home. That's why you live there.

[BWallace10327]

4dogs couldn't have been more right.

[catman1]

I'll go with Arkansas. I don't even have to drive anywhere, there are 6-14 in my back yard most times. Saves me a lot of windshield time. the season last from Sept. 23 thru Feb. 28 after Dec it's bucks only for me the does have been road and pregnant so I don't want to stick one after Dec.

[Babbling Bob]

Think Pennsylvania has always had the a very large number of active traditional shooters, so the state has a lot of events and places to hunt.

Central Texas has so many deer, they can be more common to see than dogs in some neighborhoods, especially in the Hill Country. When I was there (Hills of Lakeway), all you had to do was open the front door and shoot. But Texas also was the first state in the early sixties where a person had to lease hunting rights, so a poor retired fellow would have some trouble hunting there if their front yard didn't have a lot of deer.  

Oklahoma has some mighty friendly shooters who seem to support each other well, and living is inexpensive across most of it. They eat chicken fried steak, pecan pie and smoked brisket too, just like Texas.  However, think I would move to Missouri, where the hunting and bass/catfishing are good too. It can be as inexpensive to live there as Oklahoma. I would still be close enough to go home to Oklahoma to check on the old folks (my brothers) and take them out for a $20 22oz steak to keep'em standing.

[ChuckC]

I think it totally depends upon what you want to chase, as well as what your profession is ( or can be).

[DeerSpotter]

I've been asking myself that same question ?

If I was by myself, it be a different story but I have to consider my wife. We have lived in the North country most of our lives.  In the middle of winter, I don't like snow.  That's only because I have to shovel it out of my driveway.  But when I was active in archery,  I didn't like the first opening day.  Sometimes you could call it
 " amateur day".  I always like waiting till the first snow.  It was best for tracking.  And now in your Golden days or as you say retirement, you wonder what's the best state to move to.

I don't think it can be based on one thing.  There's a lot of things to consider.   As much as I hate to say it, after all the thinking and planning and dreaming,  I think it's still the North country.  But we'll have to see in September.  That's when the rubber meets the road.  

With thought of Georgia, SD,  one get snow the other one gets ice once in a while.   The hard thing is you live all your life in one area where you have all your friends and relatives,  and then you move someplace where you don't know a single soul.  Now that's drastic !


Just my thoughts, but everybody's got to do what they think is best !


Carl       <------------<<<<

[Matty]

Definately NOT Colorado. At least from an opportunity stand point. Yes we have lots of critters. And besides deer elk and (maybe) antelope good luck getting a tag. Not to mention. Our archery season is ONE month long. And all the species seasons are pretty much in that same month. I'd personally would rather be a visitor to CO for hunting and live in a place game and season rich with easy access to other states for hunting as well. Shoot just having pigs to hunt all year long would be a pleasure.
Not complaining about my home state. It's just not "bowhunters paradise" like people assume it is.