paycut for elk

[deerslyr]

I have close friends near Livingston and they say the area is filled with Californians.  They said it is ruining the area.

  I would think you could still find some areas in Montana that are still quite conservative and won't interfere with a traditional lifestyle.

Ive been all of the state since Ive been here and it seems to me that the *censored*s and californians are all in the minority still no matter where you go 

[LittleJohn]

I MOVED TO MONTANA!! Been a Wet-sider my whole life, 3 months into montana life and its great, Endless opportunities-is a good way to discribe the hunting. Can't wait to learn the country. I was at the local taxi yester, man they have some animals. Met a guy and his family, he was dropping off his 320" bull, he, his wife, and 3 teenage boys, all got thier bulls and bucks last year. He was trying to give me some of his elk meat.

[pianoman9701]

I've been trying to figure out how to quit my job and hunt more. MT would be a great place to do that.

[bobcat]

I have close friends near Livingston and they say the area is filled with Californians.  They said it is ruining the area

 
I think in the near future, they will still be saying the same thing, but replace "Californians" with "Washingtonians". Along with many other places in Montana and Idaho.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I want to move over there so bad, but the only direction my wife wants to go is west of the cascades.  So I guess I need to find a new wife or a great paying job where she has no choice but to follow ; ) 

[Griz231]

Born and raised in Montana, moved to Wash back in 97'.  best thing I ever did as far as a job goes.  but worst thing i did as far as hunting goes.
I took it for granted when i lived out there.  My dad guided for 25 years, so i had my fair share of awesome hunting.  Washington can be a major bummer sometimes.
Montana is great place if you can find work.  I would love to go back now so my kids can experience the same things I did.  All I need is email to work, so I guess i can go just about anywhere.  Just have to convince the wife to go.

[vandeman17]

great discussion so far guys! The nice thing for me is that a) I don't own a house or have kids so I am not tied down and b) I don't make tons of money at my current job so its not like I would be missing out on alot. I have actually been looking here in Wenatchee where I live now, in Spokane and all over Montana. Its nice to have options. 

[GoldTip]

Born and raised in Montana, moved to Wash back in 97'.  best thing I ever did as far as a job goes.  but worst thing i did as far as hunting goes.
I took it for granted when i lived out there.  My dad guided for 25 years, so i had my fair share of awesome hunting.  Washington can be a major bummer sometimes.
Montana is great place if you can find work.  I would love to go back now so my kids can experience the same things I did.  All I need is email to work, so I guess i can go just about anywhere.  Just have to convince the wife to go.

I have virtually the same story, my Dad was also an outfitter.  I moved here in '93.  What most people aren't saying is that yes, there are jobs in Montana, but they pay far less than here.  And unless your looking into moving to places like Malta, Glendive, or Miles City, whoever it was that said cost of living was low in Montana is out of their minds.  I buy non-resident tags to hunt back home, make way more money here in Spokane and have far more vacation than I would ever get in Montana.  Yes, the hunting is not nearly as good here as back home, but you can't eat the scenery.  Montana is the promised land for sure, and I love my home state like no other.  But it is not easy to live and thrive there.

[elkfuler]

Go for it if you can. No matter how many Calis might have transplanted to MTor WY or ?? it would still be better than the Peoples Republic of Washington.  I'm too far along in this job to think of that kind of move but I certainly need to start hunting elsewhere.  Last Friday I called in a BIG 6x7 to 33.5 yards, broadside. Ranged him, held my bow on him, drooled and just watched.  "True spikes only" was the trophy I needed to find.

[deerslyr]

I MOVED TO MONTANA!! Been a Wet-sider my whole life, 3 months into montana life and its great, Endless opportunities-is a good way to discribe the hunting. Can't wait to learn the country. I was at the local taxi yester, man they have some animals. Met a guy and his family, he was dropping off his 320" bull, he, his wife, and 3 teenage boys, all got thier bulls and bucks last year. He was trying to give me some of his elk meat.

I had a game warden actually take me to a spot that is my new elk honey hole  where are you located Little John?

[Little Fish]

Good discussion. I think the ideal solution for me would be to stay here then spend a month or so each fall hunting in another state whether its Idaho, Oregon, Montana.....
Washington has a great variety of things to do. We may not have the best hunting or fishing or boating or diving or skiing, but we are above average for just about any outdoor activity you can think of.

[golfguy0912]

personally never thought of it till I read this post. Did some research to the states I would consider moving to, and it was a little shocking. I am guessing that the cost of living would be cheaper (at least I hope it would), because taking a pay cut of about 25k a year to hunt elk might be a little tough to convince the wife to do.

[RadSav]

The squaw and I have been researching this same thing.  Montana looks to be a poor decision for us due to moving the whole business, but Idaho and Wyoming are looking promising.  We both love the rainy wet side of Washington and really do not much care for tempertures that exceed 75 degrees.  But, we are running out of new places to go and get away from all the stupid yahoos in Washington hunting grounds.  Getting too old to keep packing way back into the back country to loose them.  Plus, the business has been keeping at least one of us close to the shop at all times.

I've been hunting more and more in Canada and it is fantastic even if I have to put up with underqualified guides most times.  Problem with that has been the squaw always looses out and stays behind to run the shop.  She's a damn good slave, but I see a revolt coming in my future if it continues.  Taking her on an antelope hunt in 2012 to Wyoming.  If she likes it there who knows..we might be packing our bags.

[AKBowman]

It's true the Elk hunting is better in surrounding states but WA us still pretty special. 3 species of deer and two species of elk to chase makes a unique opportunity. Definitely a different lifestyle in MT though. One of the biggest advantages might be the length of season

[AKBowman]

Meant to finish that thought, a longer season there allows you to hunt multiple weekends and not have to take a week off work. Fewer hunters allows you not to have to go to such extremes to get away from people making the weekend hunts possible.