Where would you guys live ?

[Brian Krebs]

I am fine right where I am at.  

[amar911]

I plan to stay where I was raised here in Oklahoma, but I hope to buy a place in Colorado and stay there much of the year when I retire, which won't be too long from now. Colorado has been my adopted state for all my life and I visit it often and know it well. There is great hunting in both places. The people in Oklahoma are the nicest in the world and Colorado is one of the prettiest places and is dear to my heart.

[myshootinstinks]

Regarding hunting seasons for those of you aspiring to relocate to the Rocky Mtn west.  There is a great variety of large game here and that is surely something to be appreciated.  I've lived here nearly my whole life and for me, it's hard to participate in all the seasons because they are all fairly short and occur at about the same time each year. Also, good elk areas are not necessarily good deer areas, antelope are usually off in another section, and so forth. For me, trying to hunt multiple seasons turns into a big hassle and actually detracts from the peace and enjoyment of hunting. I have found that due to time constraints I have to focus on one animal each year. I've basically given up rifle hunting and zero in on archery deer one year then elk the next. So, my point is, unless you have a lot of time to hunt, moving to the mountains may change your hunting experiences but not increase them.

[Toklat1]

Alaska out of the Lower 48, lived there seven years. In the Lower 48, Western Montana or Northern Idaho. Love em both.

[J. Adams]

Spent my first 22 years of life in Idaho (GO VANDALS!), and the last decade in New Mexico.  Both states get my vote on game abundance and variety, tolerable climate and wonderful places to hunt.  
So to keep it that way, I'm recommending y'all move to any of the other 46 contiguous states!    

[longbowben]

I live in ohio but, i would love to live in Iowa.Just for hunting season.

[SilverTip]

right where I'm at, big deer, elk is going every year and lots of small game. only thing missing is the hogs but they are comming on down south. you can hunt most everything within 2 hours drive here in Kentucky. But I would love to hunt out west too.

[RC]

I would move about ten miles to be closer to the Ocmulgee river. As it is now it takes me ten minutes to get there.....

  In south Ga. we have the best public land anywhere That I know of.Including fort stewart and the wma`s you can hunt pork all year.We have a very long and liberal deer season,lots of Turkeys and some bear.Abundent small game and very good fishing. I can drive a little over and hour and be standing at Jeykle or St. Simons Island catching whiting ,Flouder,Trout ,Sharks and a bunch of other stuff.WE got freshwater fish to.The world record bass was caught right where I hunt at. I`ve killed hogs that were rooting around the oxbow lake where it was caught.
I don`t want to move.Visit maybe but not move.RC

[Jeff Cooper]

Sorry fellas, not interested in moving!

[BTH]

Northern California or the Texas Hill Country. California has some downright bizzare hunting regulations vs Texas which seems to be a bit more realistic.

If I had the money I'd buy the ranch I hunt on in Northern California. It belongs to my aunt, by marriage, who just passed away, so it now belongs to her estate. My uncle has rights to about 540 acres of it now. Long story on how that all works out...suffice to say that there is over two thousand acres of prime blacktail deer, hog, turkey, grouse, dove, rabbit and quail habitat with water and vineyard potential in Mendocino County Ca that for a cool $2 million could be mine. But I work for a municipal government, and contrary to popular belief, I am not going to make $2 million any time soon! The vineyard and winery next door (10,000 acres) is looking at it and if they had the cash it'd be gone just for the water rights. If that happens I'm shopping for new hunting grounds.
Other than that I'd have to say one of the NW states or New Mexico. I'd love to live in big sky elk country.

[SteveMcD]

When I retire I plan to move back to Pennsylvania. It's a great state for sportsman. If only the deer herds would come back.

[Gene Roberts]

I would stay here. There is plenty of game in Alabama,and plenty of fishing. So that's my 2 cents.

[John/Alaska]

I'm with Jeff I don't plan to move either!

[Muskoxman]

I think some of you guys misinterpreted the question. I was just wondering hypothetically if you had your choice of any where in the lower 48 that had abundant game, moderate temps, close to mountains and sparse population. Where would it be ?
I probably won't ever leave Alaska but after a month and a half of gloomy drizzly rain it makes me think about it.
John

[Morning Star]

N.E. Iowa, just a couple hours from my home is where I'll most likely retire.  It's rugged bluff country is as close to mountains as you'll get in Iowa.... good fishing to.  Once in a while they claim an elk sighting, but then someone figures out it's just an old whitetail buck.
The people and rural living are even better than the hunting.

[DesertDude]

Fredicksberg, Texas........Very soon

[Jason Jelinek]

Looking at your list of desired traits makes it hard to find a place.  A moderate climate and sparse population usually are not possible.  Usually people gravitate to moderate climates or travel between them.  Like AZ in the winter, ND in the summer.

Jason

[fatman]

Jason, didn't know that North Dakota was such a hotbed for summer tourism....    

Just givin' you a hard time...I spend a week in ND every Octrober hunting birds and ducks.  It's nice then, but I hear the winters are pretty grim...

fatman

[K.S.TRAPPER]

John Day Valley, Oregon. It dosn't get much better and very few people thats the best part.

 Don't get me started on the hunting and fishing I won't sleep for a week as it is.  :D  

Tracy

[Jason Jelinek]

Kevin,

What I meant to say was that some people here will travel back and forth between AZ and ND (yes, mostly snowbirds).  Oddly enough a fair amount of our state revenue is from tourism.

I've been to SE Kansas in the middle of summer before.  I can handle the subzero temperatures in the winter easier than I can handle the nasty summers in the southern US.  Oh and there aren't any poisonous snakes or spiders in most of the state either.

Jason