Washington Vs. Idaho

[RLM]

I am planning on moving to one of these 3 towns this summer, but I can't just decide.  Spokane, WA, Pocatello, ID, or Boise, ID.  I lived in Pocatello from 92 to 98 and liked it a lot.  I've been living in Texas for the past 10 years and am sick of it.  Obviously hunting is a major factor in my decision.  Basically how does Eastern Washington stack up against Idaho as far as public land/hunting opportunities, and will I have to drive a ways living in Spokane to find good public hunting?

[archery288]

Welcome to the site!    I would say Idaho would have more public land as they have more national forest land than any other state besides Alaska!

[GoldTip]

I would say Idaho has hands down better public land hunting opportunities.  If you have a good job and can afford it, I think living in Spokane, Washington is a far better choice than living in either Boise or Pocatello, at least for me personally.  It is not that terribly expensive to hunt Idaho as a Non-Resident, and I am actually closer to most the hunting spots I hunt in Idaho, than the ones I hunt in Washington.  But I get to hunt both.  Non-res tags are OTC in Idaho as long as you buy early, and then if you tag out early, you still have your Washington tags to hunt with.  Also, Idaho hasa much longer general deer or elk season.  I usually am hunting Idaho for a while early season, then come back to Washington to fill some tags, then head back over to Idaho while the season are closed in WA.  Also, there is no choose your weapon rulke in Idaho.

[boneaddict]

I'd rank Idaho as the best state for overall hunting in the bottom 48.  Alaska doesn't count....its in its own class.   Yes, I said best.   HUGE mule deer, HUGE moose, Great elk, Greaat bear, and hey...you can hunt wolves almost now too.

[WDFW-SUX]

That poll question is laughable 

I'd rank Idaho as the best state for overall hunting in the bottom 48.

I'd say Colorado and Idaho are a toss up............ the Idaho draw system is much better though.

[boneaddict]

Yeah, I'll probably never get drawn to hunt Colorado.  Any state with NO POINTS wins the award for me.

[Intruder]

I'd rank Idaho as the best state for overall hunting in the bottom 48.

I'd say Colorado and Idaho are a toss up............ the Idaho draw system is much better though.

I agree that ID compared to WA is better.  

Interesting perspectives... Having lived in CO and ID I too think they are great hunting states.  I'd probably give a slight edge to CO based on quality and # of elk and muleys.  ID does have way better moose hunting though.  I'd also rank MT way up there.  Kinda depends on your criteria.  There are a lot of things you can throw in the mix.... big game, small game, upland waterfowl, turkeys, pigs, game #s, diversity vs. quality, public access, seasons, management.... etc.  Tough to judge best.      

[boneaddict]

True on all accounts.  My perspective is swayed heavily that I can buy a tag OTC and hunt alot of premium country in Idaho for elk and deer.   I haven't had that much experience with CO being able to do that, so that is a heavy proponent of my statement.  OTC and still has outstanding game.   Its also one of the easiest to get a OIL hunt the way they have theri draw set up in regards to selecting species etc.

[WDFW-SUX]

I wish WDFW would just copy idaho........

[snohohunter]

Dumb question, but what's an OIL hunt?

[boneaddict]

Once in a lifetime.

[Houndhunter]

and you can run hounds and trap with real traps, i like idaho

[RLM]

I probably get just as excited hunting small game (rabbits, grouse, squirrels) and waterfowl as anything else.  I like playing around with rimfires, air guns, bows, and stuff like that.  I've spent a lot of time in Colorado during the summers fishing and camping and such, but never hunted there.  I've always just assumed Colorado would be an expensive place to hunt with not a whole lot of public land, but never really did much research on it.  One thing I liked about Pocatello was you could just drive 30 minutes or so from town and be out hunting.  The only animal I've shot since moving here is a single goose in 10 years.  You will go out and you won't see a rabbit or squirrel, and if you're lucky maybe an occassional glimpse at a running deer.  There is good hunting here if you've got a lot of money but public hunting in Texas is really pretty awful.  Thanks for the great info.

[Wacenturion]

I wish WDFW would just copy Idaho........

Does that include reducing the population to Idaho levels as well.  Problem is Washington is the smallest state in size west of the Mississippi River with the 2nd largest population after California.....unfortunately many of them liberals.
I too would chose Spokane with the ability to hunt northern Idaho as well as eastern and southeastern Washington......and hey.....Montana is just up the road. 

[wf70gonehunting]

I would go with Idaho. I lived in poky for 10 years lots of big wttail and mldeer down there. I would go back if there was some good work.