Where is the best location for outdoorsman in the lower 48?

I say lower 48 because we all know that Alaska would win this debate if the thread was "in the US". So what do you think? Best area/location for outdoorsman in the lower 48? Consider trophy animals, diversity of game, abundance of game, fishing, ease of access, etc.

 

Montana.

 

I have always felt like New Mexico is kind of a sleeper state. There is a huge diversity of animals to hunt there. Fishing is good. Weather is good. I think there is quite a bit of access. I hunted there once and was pretty impressed with the opportunities. I will likely spend some more time there in the future.

 

It's gonna sound lame since I'm living there now, but I'm a big Kansas fan. Great Whitetails obviously. Also have elk, mulies, and antelope for big game species. The upland hunting is awesome for pheasant and quail and hopefully the prairie chicken population starts to thrive again. We are in a great fly zone for all migratory birds. Turkeys are in abundance throughout the state. The fishing is excellent with access to most popular freshwater species. Predator hunting and trapping is also great to bridge the gaps between hunting seasons. There's always something to catch or shoot year round here.

If I had to choose a place farther from home, Idaho and Montana would be two states I'd look very closely at.

 

Didn't we just do this a month ago?

Montana, hands down.

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How big would saltwater be in this equation? It adds a lot of diversity when it comes to fishing.

 

Did we?

 

Somethig to this effect

I think saltwater would play a much larger role if this were predominantly a fishing forum. But, since you asked.. I would say Washington if fishing was a key aspect.

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Guess Ill have to say Florida.

Fantastic deep sea fishing off the east coast. Great inshore fishing all up the intracoastal waterway. Tons of fresh water lakes as well. Everglades is fantastic just by intself. I don't fish the gulf but I know that's also great.
Hunting, whitetail that arn't as big as other states but great to hunt. Our Osceola turkeys are beautiful and you have feral hogs to hunt year round along with bobcats, yotes and other small game. The weather is great year round. People talk about the heat but it gets hotter in IL and NY than it does here. The ocean breezes always keeps it tolerable in the hottest months.

 

When I think best location for oudoorsmen, I would not consider any landlocked state. You are removing the possibility of any saltwater fishing. I think someplace like either Washington or Maine would be pretty close. They have North America big game species, turkey hunting, predator hunting, great fly fishing opportunities and of course some of the best saltwater fisheries in the world.

 

I think California would probably win just by sheer diversity. It has almost everything.

 

Michigan and big lake fishing, not the ponds you guys fish on

 

Even considering a lot of their tags are drawing only?

Are we talking just a natural diversity of game? Or ease and diversity of opportunties for hunters/anglers?

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I would have to go with Idaho. Montana & washington state are probably pretty decent too. Maine could be a sleeper, I'm not too familiar with it, but they have moose, bear, deer & relative easy access to a coastline.

In my opinion for any state to be considered, they'd have to have more than deer as a primary big game species. Also the more public land the better.

If you really looked at maximizing outdoor fun & adventure, you could make almost any state a "heaven" if you placed the proper things in priority. Take PA for an example. On the surface you never hear much, but we have tons of deer, bear, small game, turkey, predators, great trout fishing, bass, and other warmwater species. Lots of public land in certain areas. You could keep yourself very busy year round if you so chose.

 

did not know that

take both into consideration

 

Then I will stick with Washington with Montana as my non saltwater state.

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California if you want to do everything imaginable. Great saltwater fishing, great duck hunting, elk, mulies, blacktails, antelope, desert and big horn sheep, black bear, Bass fishing, great trout fishing, fly fishing. Its got everything.

Now if you could ever draw a tag for any of those hunts is another story, but at least you have the potential of hunting them :P

 

I've never been there, but I'll throw in a vote for Wyoming.

 

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any western state.

 

If a state doesn't have good Ruffed Grouse hunting then it is .