what do other states think?

[DoubleJ]

I've visited for a descent amount of time, hunting forums based in Iowa and North Carolina.  Both complain as much or more than we do.  Iowa especially.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Illinois complains a lot about their Game Department. Ohio seems to have the best relationship with the hunters out of any of the states I have seen.

Whitetail hunting in this state is awesome. I do have my opinions about other ways to manage  the herd/seasons but even when I live away from here I travel back every year so I can whitetail hunt in this state.

[MAVsled]

the other big complaint i here a lot of is about outfitters either buying up prime hunting land or paying landowners for lease rights or simply to not give permission to anyone but them, i know of a piece of ground on the Milk River that the Bone Collector guys pay big bucks for exclusive access.

the ultimate challenge to true public access hunting and DIY.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I don't know who is to blame, but I feel like our seasons our the biggest complaint I have with this state.  They are so short!  I went to Idaho last year and it was so nice to go out for a week during now season and then a week in rifle and still have 3 more weekend hunts.  I know our elk populations are not as high to allow any bull hunting in some good areas on the east side, but I sure wouldn't mind chasing a spike with a bow and then being able to hunt spikes with a rifle and muzzleloader later in the year with out paying 180 dollars to do so.  I aslo would like to see more tags available for draw hunts.   It confuses me why some of the best areas in the state have 1 or two tags available per weapon type?  That and short seasons or lack of seasons make me think those in control don't want us in the field.  A lot of guys pay a pretty fair price to only hunt 8 days a year for deer and elk.  ( 4 weekends)

[ridgefire]

i was talking to a idaho bioligist a couple years ago up on the mountain and he said he worked for wa fish and game for nine years and said it was the most screwed up dept he has ever worked for. i can say i feel better buying my id elk tag for 600 than i do my wa tag for 60 or whatever it is nowadays

[268bull]

Belkaholic, Yep, I do believe we all complain about hunting appears to be better somewhere other than our home state. Admittedly, if I had the dollars, I would like to pay for a nice guided hunt, say New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, etc.. But that ain't gonna happen any time soon! And on top of that , I'm at an age where I have less life in front of me than I have behind. I too, like Bowhunter 45, migrated out here from Pennsylvania, and I love the hunting opportunities here. Growing up, and hunting whitetails in Penna. was great fun, but when work brought me out here, the public land accessibilities are great. Yeah, there are areas where it gets a bit crowded, but dig your maps out and find those areas which aren't. I hate to say this, but it's been my observation that a lot of hunter's don't seem to want to be more than a half mile from their rig. I've found out that by going a mile more beyond that, and I've uncovered some really good hunting. We have a lot of Corps of Engineer resivoirs here in the Willamette Valley, and I found some real good deer hunting between the roads which go around them and the edge of the water. It's so obvious that it's overlooked, and you'd be surprised at the number of deer found there. The deer figure out those locations real quick. When you have lived and hunted in a state where on opening day, statewide, there are a million plus other deer hunters out there. Lot's of elbow room here in the west. I think there's always room for improvement in any states hunting program, but enjoy what you have. Good huntin' to ya!  Dale