My wife wants to move to GEORGIA!

[Biggie Hoffman]

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

[Bowwild]

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.

[lpcjon2]

Anyone else have ideas on Georgia.That is going to be the state i'm going to.Thanks Tim

[RC]

Anywhere between Brunswick and Macon. No further North.Dublin area seems to be booming some for a smaller town or maybe near Perry. RC

[Greyfox54]

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

[Terry Green]

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.

[Uncle Buck]

Calhoun GA will put you on the doorstep of the Cohutta wilderness area and WMA which is a treasure.

[Terry Green]

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.

[HATCHCHASER]

North GA is God's country and you don't have to deal with the gnats.    

[lpcjon2]

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!

[HATCHCHASER]

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.

[lpcjon2]

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.

[Richie Nell]

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

[Sam McMichael]

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.

[Liquid Amber]

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.  

[Uncle Buck]

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.

[eman614]

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