Relocation with shooting in mind...

[Demi-human]

Blown hugely out of proportion, @JTHunter. I think anyway.

It is so prevelent that there were five deer found with it this year, in the entire state. But I have personally talked to to at least ten hunters, probably not the most die-hard, that said they were going to "skip it" this year because of the disease.
The DNR wanted to take many more deer this year to thwart the overpopulation and combat CWD. Then they talked the disorder to death and frightened any fence sitting hunters into not wasting their tag on a whithering doe.
Perfect Government Sense.
If they wanted to reduce the number of deer, why did they not give away free tags after the first purchased one?
Loss of revenue.
How much state revenue is lost from the ten local hunters not hunting at all? How about all the out of staters that skipped it?


There are farmers around me that get pest eradication permits. Some don't, but many shoot the deer and leave them where they fall, or at the very most drag them to the field edge. There are herds of two hundred that go through a place and destroy the whole field. All of them look healthy. There is just so many of them!

I will go out next year. I am not a hunter. I have not grown up doing it. But I love venision and haven't been able to get any this year from my normal benevolent sources.
That or cut up the two or three I hit every year with my truck...just plain over populated.

 

[Spats McGee]

I retired early and am 52, just me, and want to move to a place where I can ideally again have a range behind my home, privacy, and peace & quiet. Currently live in NW PA, and am open to areas pretty much other than really hot and humid summers, crazy AZ type heat, dreary winters, crazy high taxes/real estate/rent costs, and insular, unwelcoming folks. I'm live and let live, and don't try to change the culture where I move to.

I lived in Utah for a few years in the early 90's and liked the climate/gun culture pretty well, so perhaps "Out West" is calling me again, but it seems home/rent prices are crazy high as ever. I also see firearm laws/regulations have changed a lot, esp in CO, WA, NV and OR... PA is a downright paradise from some of what I am seeing.

So how about it; what leads and suggestions can you give me to help me start my quest? I know what I ask might seem vague or disjointed - Just the same I appreciate the help, and will answer any specifics here or via PM. Thank you very much.

I see that you're looking "out west," but I'll stop in for a quick mention of my home, Arkansas. We've always been a gun-friendly state, and our law is developing rapidly towards allowing permitless open and concealed carry. We are still a shall inform state, and I've had to inform on about 4-5 occasions over the years. The officers never cared that I was carrying, but appreciated being informed. We still have lots of open land, and the hills of north Arkansas in particular make for nice backstops.

As someone mentioned, we do have four seasons, sometimes in the same day. . . . . Winter at 4 am, Spring at 9, Summer at 2 pm, and fall at 7. Yesterday had a high of around 70 and a low in the 20s. Summers are sticky and humid, with August running into the high 90s or low 100s in temperature, and occasionally having the same numbers for humidity. Winters drop into the teens and twenties with some regularity, but rarely go into single digits. We get some snow, but seem to get sleet and freezing rain more than snow, so any mention of winter weather sparks a run on all local grocery & liquor stores.

ETA: Oh, and I almost forgot . . . Arkansas has "AR" for its postal code!

 

[stonebuster]

We're considering North Carolina or eastern Tennessee. They have lower taxes and milder winters but a change in the seasons which we like. The taxes and antis are driving us out of Connecticut. Making a move at 70 isn't easy but we can't afford to stay.

 

[Spats McGee]

My wife and I lived in Nashville, TN, for about three years. I had to choose a city of 1M+ population to live in, Nashville would be a pretty good choice. Nashville prides itself on being the friendliest big city in America, and it well may be. It's also pretty clean, or was when I was there.

 

[Demi-human]

(I loved Tennessee during a family trip down there!)

I can't say that out loud, as Michigan is truly the best. But it sure was pretty in April. I could see me living there if my bones got too cold.
But I'm a Michigander, I'd have to be really cold...

 

[crestoncowboy]

I live in the Va/TN/NC border area. TN sales tax is about double the other two.my time is split between the three states. I work in TN and have for 20 years . They make up for the lack of state tax with high property taxes and wheel tax (at least in the county I work in.) I have 20 times the land that some of my colleagues at work have that I hunt with and our land taxes are similar. (Not that mine aren't plenty painful). A hunting license is 50 dollars in NC and 150 in TN. Some of my friends even buy their out of state license and come hunt on my land because it's about the same price, and many dont have land to hunt. And in my area the uninsured motorists and no inspection on vehicles (insurance wasn't required in TN, although that may have changed and inspections stil aren't) was always an issue. In NC west of Raleigh (roughly) an inspection is checking your lights and signals but it keeps some trash off the road. (I routinely see cars without hoods or with ratchet straps and tape holding things while I'm at work.) East of Raleigh it gets petty bad with exhaust tests etc. If your into classic cars it can be an issue, none of my built classics would pass a decent exhaust test I don't think.

As far as weather we have hit negative numbers this year maybe 5 days and had 3 decent snows. One 2 foot the other two were 6 inches. Yesterday it was 70 but this year is unseasonably warm. January and February routinely see 0 with negative wind chills. Rarely does the ground thaw during those 2 months, thankfully since feeding cattle in waist deep mud sucks (we are this year though). In summer mid 70s is about the max up here in the blue ridge mountains. Only a handful of days get "hot" and most nights are 60s and cool. My cutoff for riding a motorcycle is 60. Most years I get to ride a total of 15-20 times. From wilkesboro east (below 1000 ft) is a different world. If you want the cooler temps look from Boone to the west.

East TN and SW VA. Have had tornado issues too. Not so much in the mountains though. Although the glade springs Va/Hampton Tn. Area has had some nasty ones.

 

[George P]

this is a great thread, please keep it going. im searching too after a long career spent overseas. i grew up in wmass when it was normal. now obscene home prices and insane politics make it hard to return, though its where my heart is. further out from boston normalcy has toeholds and there are enough shooters quietly tucked away. im spending alot of time in tidewater va dealing with my elderly/ailing mom but don’t like its geography, climate or ambience. several months per year in las vegas, it offers places to shoot outdoors in an hour, lots things to do or avoid, lots of people from away, easy flight connections to anywhere and a reason for relatives to visit, but the dem party’s lock on state politics is a huge looming worry. i was out of the u.s., short visits aside, for 30 years...what happened to our wonderful country?

Then you might prefer Arizona for the winter

 

[Galil5.56]

Thanks everyone. Kinda overwhelming looking at all of the great ideas... Never thought having so much freedom to go pretty much wherever I wanted could seem so daunting, with so much analysis paralysis. I know I can always move again, but to be honest I have had my fill of it and want, need to settle down.

I have because of many factors, rented a U-Haul 6 times since my divorce in 2013, and for any of you who have been in a similar circumstance of this; moving to help an ill parent who ultimately passed away, a move again to rehab and sell her home, children issues, etc, etc... Just want to find that place where I can finally relax, shoot to my hearts content, reload, volunteer again, and start enjoying my retirement in a place I love. No sob story here; just illustrating how it is, and trying to find my little piece of the pie.

I have honestly looked over all variables, and triaged them as best as I can... So:

having lived in TN and South Georgia, and don't think I could go through the heat and humidity again. So, I think "The South" is not in the cards. Shame too, since the COL is low in many areas, very gun friendly, and lots of nice areas to explore. Even when I lived in S. Indiana working there and in N. Kentucky, the summers were rather brutal. Again a shame, as COL is very low, gun friendly, nice country.

I like NH and Maine, but downstate it seems COL/housing can be very high, taxes are rather high for RE, and because my health is not what it was even two years ago, I'm not sure I could deal with harsh winters living remotely. Very good gun culture, which I obviously really like too. Upper Midwest has many places that would suit the low COL (a lot of MI) desire, others like MN maybe not as much, and again harsh winters of which I am extremely familiar with, just don't have the same appeal when you don't feel like you used too, all alone, no family anymore.

Despite a high COL, especially for housing in many places, "Out West" esp in parts of CO, N. NV, and lot of UT seem really nice. I thought Richfield UT was very nice, and wonder if it's pretty much the same 25 years later? Not a lot of snow in some of these places, low humidity in the summer, and not too hot in the right places for summer. Having lived in UT and traveled around the west, I kinda know more about this area than others. Down side are the political changes in some of these states/declining firearm freedoms, and crazy high COL. Could I drop $3-$400k on a home... Yes, but that is not what I want... I just want a modest small ranch home/cabin with a garage, but that seems hard to do when I'm seeing double-wides on a speck of ground going for $300k.

Wanted to get back to the thread, add my rambling stream of consciousness , and thank you all again for your generous help and sound ideas; It's appreciated.

 

[Armored farmer]

Stay away from Illinois.....
My family enjoys a week in Tennessee every summer.
The folks are happy and friendly.

 

[kmw1954]

Galil5.56 I guess that at 65 this year I am content to stay put here in Wisconsin. We do get all 4 of the seasons with none being too brutal. As I mentioned I have chronic heart ailments and my mobility isn't what it used to be but the one thing I know for sure and have ultimate confidence in is the medical care I have available to me here in SE Wisconsin. Which for me is one of the points that are not much taken into account when those sites rate states. Growing up in this region I am use to the weather and seasonal changes. I am also use to having open waters close by that I can fish and enjoy. From the small ponds to Lake Michigan I can be on the water within 30min. Cost of Living is what you make it. My housing costs are reasonable, property taxes were going down. We pay Normal Income Federal taxes, state Income tax, sales tax, property tax and car license plates.

Other Draws; Pro Sports, 2 NFL football teams, 3 MLB teams, 2 NBA teams, 1 NHL, 2 AHL. Major cities within 1.5hrs, Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and Rockford. 2 Major air ports, 3 commuter rail lines between Milwaukee and Chicago and Amtrak. Then within .5hr in any direction I can be on an interstate highway that will take me anywhere in the USA. I also receive the local broadcast TV stations from both Milwaukee and Illinois though for some reason we just lost WGN on our cable network.

If there were one drawback that I would find is that the area population is spreading, traffic is getting greater and the idiots are getting more stupid. But family is here, roots are here and the wife still works here. Just feel that I'm now too old to start over!

 

[crestoncowboy]

Tn an NC have quite a bit of weather fluctuation throughout. Elevation changes. Ive left wilkesboro at 65 degrees in a tank top and drove to mount Mitchell 2 hours away to find ice. The mountains have crap winter's. From the foothills south or east have brutal summers. Ive lived in both. I will keep in the mountains
I can add clothes until I look like Ralphies brother in "a christmas story". I can only take off so much, which at the outer banks was everything, and there is no relief from that heat. AC can only do so much.

 

[SilentStalker]

Western Idaho is rapidly turning sour. I grew up in Nampa. It's not a hotbed of latino gang activity. The home prices in the whole Boise metro area have gone NUTS. Californians coming in with monopoly money are paying crazy prices. Locals are being priced out.

I've still got a lot of family in the Boise area and childhood friends in Nampa, I still have connections in Pocatello too. I guess having grown up there and seeing how much it had changed soured me on Idaho.

This is the new strategy and eventually you’ll run out of places to run. Keep that in mind.

 

[huntsman]

So what’s the matter with NW PA? Get far enough south to avoid lake effect maybe Albion area.

If I were to leave Northeast Ohio I’d go down to Columbia county, still plenty rural/farm country without the clanish attitude of Appalachia.

 

[George P]

I lived in N NV for several decades and raised kids there. It has gone purple and some areas that were family friendly are now gang bang areas. But, if you get away from the Reno/Carson City are, closer to Smith valley, Walker River etc outside of Yerington, you'll find some neat places.

 

[Hasaf]

I am in the process of settling in Kansas. I will tell you, I was staggered by the property tax. I think I got spoiled by the tax situation in California. The property taxes are close to three times a similar home (in price) in California, that is matched by slightly higher income taxes here in Kansas.

The only salvation is that the house is a lot less than a similar home in California. In addition, as many have commented, the firearms laws are much more . . . liberal.

That being said, I don't think that this is where I will retire to. That assessment comes from the property tax rate, it would just eat too much of my pension.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Deleted. Irrelevant.

 

[Galil5.56]

@kmw1954: Your situation and outlook seem very sound, and how wonderful that you have family around to help. BTW, my brother was born in Appleton, and my mum always spoke very highly of the area, its people, and hospital in the area. Good solid folks in WI for sure. Medical issues, especially insurance cost is a huge deal, and also my biggest PITA. It's the first thing I research, as my Obama care coverage sucks, is VERY costly, especially in some areas of the country. God, it used to be so much easier to relocate years ago.

@crestoncowboy: I lived in Clinton TN, and it was nice to be able to head up to a higher elevation for some relief in the summer. It is some beautiful country, and I really enjoyed fishing Melton Hill dam... Caught a huge gar one time, and had a blast catching Tennessee Tarpons. Came really close once to my perfect, ideal job that was in TN. Got a job offer from Accurate Arms Powders when they were in Bucksnort, but it was rescinded when the president hired an old college buddy for another position, and funding dried up for my position.

@ Huntsman: I know Columbiana Co. very well - Grew up 5 miles from the Columbiana Co. border in Beaver Co. PA, and my family had a beautiful 40 acre parcel just outside of Elkton. I had a few years ago looked very hard at the Salem and Columbiana area, and may once again. I see Rodgers Flea market is just getting bigger and bigger, and traffic on my road was TERRIBLE Fri afternoons, with the huge crowds heading that way.

@GeorgeP: Thanks for the tips. I have not seen much more of N. NV other than maybe 20 or so miles west of Wendover, before heading back home to UT. The Ruby mountains look beautiful, as does much of the area in a stark, "Western" kinda way.

@Haysaf: I have heard the same as for RE taxes in KS, and like you it is a real turn-off. SLC to KS seems quite the change? I know when I moved to Orem in 1992 from S. IN it was like night and day... Boy do I miss heading out to the dessert with a couple coffee (decaffeinated ) cans full of ammo, and having a great time. I'm amazed at the incredible sprawl this part of UT has undergone... Absolutely unreal that it is basically one huge continual development from Provo to SLC along I-15.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Depending on what your plans are and the acreage you are looking into there are ways to lower taxes in most areas. Farmland preservation in NC. TN has a similar program "green" something. Can make a huge difference. Also if you can have 8 or 10k in profit (i can't remember which as our cattle are higher so it doesn't matter but it's changed from the few hundred dollars a few years ago which makes it much harder) in potatoes/hay/etc you can get taxes tags etc cheaper. I'm sure most areas have similar things to look into

 

[RE-15]

What range goes to 500? The only one I know of is MCRC and it ain't exactly easy to become a member.

To the OP: Of all the places I've been I think Kentucky and South Carolina are my favorites. I think when I retire I'm going to talk my wife into moving to the Western half of SC. Beautiful country in the mountains, decent weather, not heavily populated, gun friendly.

It's easy, just have a current member sponsor you letter from a professional touching for you, wait your turn about 6 months you will be invited for membership.

 

[George P]

To the OP: Of all the places I've been I think Kentucky and South Carolina are my favorites. I think when I retire I'm going to talk my wife into moving to the Western half of SC. Beautiful country in the mountains, decent weather, not heavily populated, gun friendly.

Better check the taxes and costs. My mom lives in SC and the roads are some of the worst, certain things are taxed that aren't in FL or GA

 

[crestoncowboy]

Depends on the area too. Go to some places in sc and there is a tourist tax. I noticed when I ordered two bacon egg and cheese biscuits for 3 dollars and was charged nearly 4 bucks. (12% extra in myrtle beach iirc) I go through charlotte, pineville, Matthew's and that area a lot. Not my cup of tea but not NY city or DC by any means. If I never see those again I'll be fine with that. Same with Tampa. Lol

 

[Iggy]

You might consider Wyoming. This is my shooting range out at the ranch. The backstop is that grey strip 12 miles in the distance.
They been diggin' dinosaur fossils out of there since 1868..

Better hurry though, we're purt near full..
Colder than a frog's butt in January in the winter though.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

View attachment 827501

You might consider Wyoming. This is my shooting range out at the ranch. The backstop is that grey strip 12 miles in the distance.
They been diggin' dinosaur fossils out of there since 1868..
View attachment 827502
Better hurry though, we're purt near full..
Colder than a frog's butt in January in the winter though.

I got pulled over on Hwy 220 once between Casper and Rollins. When the cop asked for my insurance and registration I had to tell him it was in the center console in my vehicle manual, under a loaded 357.

I told him I’d need to move the gun, and I had a concealed carry permit if he wanted to see it. His response was with a snicker “Nah, that’s ok. This is Wyoming.”

I spend a lot of time in Wyoming. I like it. If you want few people and quiet, that’s the place.

You ain’t kidding about the cold though. Whiteouts get damned dangerous too.

 

[SharpDog]

Any rural location in a red state with a suitable backstop should do. Had one for 25 yrs in Texas just outside of Houston. Beware of local ordinances. I got a deal on the property because of the pollution caused by the backyard range

 

[JTHunter]

We're considering North Carolina or eastern Tennessee. They have lower taxes and milder winters but a change in the seasons which we like. The taxes and antis are driving us out of Connecticut. Making a move at 70 isn't easy but we can't afford to stay.

FYI - a chart I have from the Tax Foundation shows the combined state & average local sales taxes from 7/2018. TN had the highest sales tax rate at 9.46% while NC was 24th at 6.95%. I am not aware of what the property taxes are like.
On an additional note, NC has no tax on Soc. Sec. benefits while TN taxes neither SS or income.
Back in '03, my g/f and I went through Chattanooga where we met one of my internet friends. She warned us to watch the driving on the hilltops as the low clouds could make "black ice" on those hilltops. She also said that many of the people who lived in the area just did NOT know how to handle slick, icy roads. We also noticed how the gas prices in TN were MUCH higher than Georgia, where we spent the night.