Best state to hunt? (shoot, rifle, Minnesota, Montana)

[rifleman]

Alaska! Your 15 year old, properly educated and cautioned, can actually wear a .44 mag sidearm to fend off the savage Sockeye Salmon.

More caribou than a person has a right to dream of, and they can almost be taken with a heavy stick if you hide in the brush willows near where they emerge from their swim across the rivers. Last time I checked (about 2 or 3 years ago) a resident could take a total of 7, as I recall... Not that I particularly like the taste of them.

Moose? One young bull's enough to feed on for, oh, two years or so...

Coastal and island deer (like on kodiak). Bears, if you like to eat them or go for trophies. King crab (I like to hunt THEM with my .340 Weatherby! [just jokin', you PETA anti-hunters!]. Sea bass. Halibut. Amazing diversity!

Ptarmigan in flocks of, say, 100 to 300... Waterfowl? Geese, ducks, etc. Yeppers! don't know about turkeys either, but I think I heard they are in all 50 states now, yes/no?

Don't know if there's any pigs though.

And it's beautiful to boot! Can't beat all that, now can yah?

(PS: I live in WA, but git up to Alaska every other year).

[M3 Mitch]

I think you can find some decent hunting in the rural parts of almost every state. At least small game and birds - these are probably my favorite game anyway, sometimes you hunt deer for a couple of days or more and don't see even one - but usually if you go after birds, you at least get a couple of shots off. Up to you to hit rather than miss. Squirrels, rabbits, etc like birds you can usually get several shots per day and just stuff them in the game bag rather than drag out or have to cut up and pack out.

The worst day hunting is better than the best day working. OK maybe not really, but I have had some more interesting than most experiences at work. The worst day hunting is better than my 90th percentile day at work so far. Yeah, I'll go with that.

[renter8319]

michigan has some great hunting

[camelrancher]

South Dakota is great pheasant and cotton tail country. Wisconsin for whitetails and turkeys. Texas is my favorite for hogs.


Piebald Whitetail Buck: Spectrum Ranch Chief

[Bluefly]

The wilds of northern Michigan are up there.

[texdav]

Texas certainnly has some great hunting.Hunting south texas certainly gives you a real chance at a B&C whitetail. Loads of trukey and hogs are plentiful.

[DezertGirl]

Originally Posted by camelrancher

Piebald Whitetail Buck: Spectrum Ranch Chief

Sweet buck!

[momojojo]

My husband was really successful in hunting deer in Texas (Harper, TX). He had the whitetail butchered and processed professionally... I am now a vennison coniseur. Best meat ever.

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

It would be hard to argue with Alaska for the number one spot. I'm biased, but I'd put Idaho and Montana as tied for #2. If there isn't elk hunting, it's not a hunting state . What other states sell elk tags "over the counter", as opposed to vai a lottery or drawing, I really am not sure?

[DezertGirl]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

It would be hard to argue with Alaska for the number one spot. I'm biased, but I'd put Idaho and Montana as tied for #2. If there isn't elk hunting, it's not a hunting state . What other states sell elk tags "over the counter", as opposed to vai a lottery or drawing, I really am not sure?

Oregon has over-the-counter elk tags.