best out of state hunting?

[Stickerbush]

I'm just curious, for those of you who have hunted other states. What do you consider to be the most ample hunting opportunities for an out of state hunter? Did some traveling throughout the west this fall and saw numerous rigs headed back to Washington with respectable deer/elk in the back. Mostly a deer question but in terms of hunter success, price of tags, access to land etc.

[huntnphool]

Lots of variables, whitetail or mule deer? Quality of game wanted? Weapon choice? Budget? Time restrictions? Just to name a few.

[DOUBLELUNG]

In terms of ease of obtaining a license and tags, Idaho.  In terms of hunter success, cost and accessibility, Montana and Wyoming.  In terms of trophy potential, Colorado and Arizona.  These are my opinions specific to mule deer. 

[idahohuntr]

Montana and Idaho would be tough to beat on a budget imo...plenty of access, close, otc tags.

[ipkus]

If I had to pick one, probably Montana.  5 week general rifle season that includes all of the mule deer rut, and much of the state is huntable on a general tag.

They all have positives and negatives, but huntnphool is right, a truly accurate answer requires more info about what you are specifically looking for.

[Stickerbush]

Basically not interested in trophy potential. But mature bucks ideal. Budget, access and success potential is my main criteria, not species specific. I remember looking and Wyoming seemed to have the cheapest out of state tags, am I right in this?

[actionshooter]

In terms of ease of obtaining a license and tags, Idaho.  In terms of hunter success, cost and accessibility, Montana and Wyoming.  In terms of trophy potential, Colorado and Arizona.  These are my opinions specific to mule deer. 

I would agree with this.

[GotMyTag]

I personally like to go where I can draw the best tags.  So I apply in many states.  Also I like to take the kids hunting.  And there are many states that the kids can get really good tags.

So my answer really is where you can get the best tag.

my idaho out of stae elk last year

[Stein]

I haven't hunted there, but I would guess AK has the best all around opportunities.

For cost, it can't really be MT ($846 elk, $592 deer and $996 combo).

For cost and opportunity for elk, I would vote CO.

[WAnoob]

AK can be done on a budget, Kodiak Island blacktail hunts are a complete blast! Nothing like having Orca whales breach in front of your camp when you wake up on the coast. Moose hunting runs costly, people try to achieve cheap walk in hunts and it can be done but once a moose is down that's when the work begins. 1 shoulder on a 60" moose on the bone runs about 150lbs or more and packing out a moose becomes way harder than people assume.

[M_ray]

In terms of ease of obtaining a license and tags, Idaho.  In terms of hunter success, cost and accessibility, Montana and Wyoming.  In terms of trophy potential, Colorado and Arizona.  These are my opinions specific to mule deer.

 

[M_ray]

I hunted Michigan over 20 years ago and it has always been this way. Michigan actually changes their regulations from year to year based on the population of Whitetail. The state is split in half North and South, the south is all private and hard to gain access and archery, shotgun slug only. The upper half has more public land with the ability to shoot modern firearms. Tags have always been cheap cause if they dont there won't be any help controlling the heard, I think my first tag there was 17$ non resident.

[M_ray]

I hunted Michigan over 20 years ago and it has always been this way. Michigan actually changes their regulations from year to year based on the population of Whitetail. The state is split in half North and South, the south is all private and hard to gain access and archery, shotgun slug only. The upper half has more public land with the ability to shoot modern firearms. Tags have always been cheap cause if they dont there won't be any help controlling the heard, I think my first tag there was 17$ non resident.

um im from mich. its new started last year i believe i have the reg book right in front of me.the state wants more people to come to mich. havnt you seen the tv commercials? lol.

I live in WA so no havent seen them ... My point is compared to what we pay here IMO Mich has always been very non-resident friendly for instance by the time I pay for all my Lisc, permits and raffles in WA I can easily spend 400$ so 150$ for non res is still a good price, like I said I think the first time I hunted Mich I spent 17$ and I could go buy another tag once I got one ... another thing we cant do here. Also I remember the limits changing from year to year based on population now they may have changes that but here the Regulations are looked at every 3.
        

[Spawnstar]

it depends on if you want a back country above timberline hunt, you can't beat Colorado muleys. Easy hunt go hunt Montana, lots of deer and there's a few big ones.

[Stickerbush]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Depending on a lot of variables I might hunt Idaho deer 2015 and possibly do Alaska in 16. Just depends on doing enough side jobs to fund it!