Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Undiscovered Gem(s)

I have been researching places to spend my last twenty years on this earth. I am not an AZ native but once upon a time figured that I would live out my days in the Chandler/Gilbert area of the PHX metro area...... I have been living here since 1998 (transferred with work) but I no longer recognize the AZ I fell in love with in the late 90's. The influx of out of state liberals and a completely corrupt political machine has got me thinking it is time to get the hell out of AZ.

I really couldn't care less about closeness to 21st century medical facilities (seems like the only thing the geriatric crowd gives two $hits about is their weekly trip to the doctor for their latest 'script for whatever) nor do I give a damn about airport proximity as I don't give a $hit about how often ungrateful and/or libtaard family members call on me. LOL

I grew up on a farm in central ND so do understand rural living and cold weather.

I can prepare better food than the vast majority of restaurants so the whole dining out thing is meaningless.

I do want to live somewhere that has an access to public land(s).

I think an attribute of an undiscovered gem is how unlikely the area succumbs to growth. Also I am ruling out states where the liberal state politics are dictated by one or two metro areas like OR, WA, MI, MN, CO, WI

OK boys and girls ..... undiscovered gems, what say you?

Chadron, NE
Spearfish, SD
Worland, WY
Lewiston, MT
Ekalaka, MT

How about people with opinions on OK, ME, TN, KY, SC?

Spearfish

TN... look around the cookeville - Crossville area...

Cantwell or Paxton AK. Manley Hot Springs. Glenallen, Delta Jct. Some other places. Move in with Vern or Mainer.....

Keep in mind we are over-run with summer tourists in many places. The Kenai Pen gets pretty sucky in the summer.

Oklahoma is decent. Good gun culture. Sales tax is high. Conservatie government. Hot summers. Have no idea on property values. Moved here7 yrs ago and have ignored everything.

I'd like to go to southwest Kansas but the wife is not interested.

kwg

I've been to Ekalaka 8-10 times.
I like it alot!
Beautiful area.
Spearfish/Belle Fourche is another great area. Nowhere near as rural as Ekalaka!

You should add some places in WVA to look at as well.

^^^This^^^

Moved from TX to OK in '02.
Lot'sa lease property, but alot of old farmers are pretty lenient about allowing an oldtimer a little hunting space.

Hint:
If you move to a smaller community, find a local church and get to know the people. Sometimes that will lead to hunting opportunities you won't find anywhere else! It's what I did!
Good luck!

P.S. - the best folks in OK are west of IH35, along and within a few miles of Red River.

Bucksnort, TN

Add Colorado to liberal state politics are dictated by one or two metro area.

My problem in moving anywhere east the Mississippi is the humidity and those folks, to me, have whole other outlook on life I can't tolerate.

One thing to remember, you might be healthy now, but closeness to 21st century medical facilities gets to be little more important as you age.. A stroke, heart attack, or even common maladies like arthritis will give you a whole new outlook on that. BTDT.

Then there is health insurance. Unless you stay with medicare and opt to pay the 20% they don't cover, the selection will be very limited in a rural area.

Those colder states of WY, or MT will work on you a lot harder as you age and as more and more people flock to them from areas you don't like the politics, their politics will change into the same.

Screw the politics. As you age,they will mean less and won't effect you as much. Find the area where you like the climate . Might look around Taylor, AZ on the Mogollon Rim

Public lands?

https://www.usgs.gov/news/technical-announcement/mapping-public-lands-united-states

I’ll second Crossville, TN area but Cookeville is very cliquish. Tennessee has no state income tax.

If the five you are looking at and wanting to be some what remote.

Go with Ekalaka Montana appears to be the top pick reading your post.

2nd going to Worland, wy and Lewiston, mt .

Chadron, ne i do not think you would be happy there

Spearfish area, was being taken over 20 years ago by a California rush, pushing housing out of the locals ability to purchase. To the north is belle fourche and it is a nice area. It is more off the beaten path, they have a trap club and nice rifle range near by.

You SOBs quit trying to get folks to move to Tennessee!

Top place on your list for me would be Lewistown MT, by a large margin.

Lewistown sucks. No shopping, housing in short supply, few restaurants, long way to go to get to sizable town to shop, hard to find places to hunt. Cheyenne, WY would be better.

Jesus hunts?

I may have to re-think!

Personally, if'n I was to leave AK, I'd do my damndest to get to Yellow Pine, ID! Or that bigger town (Frenchie name, down the pike a bit.)

Or Calder, Red ives.... Hell I'd even settle for St Maries, if it hasn't gone all to hell since 1968- the last time I was there.

I would not choose anywhere in Montana unless you love, LOVE very cold weather and plowing and moving snow all 7-8 months of winter. Retirees don’t move here, and theres a reason for that. Having said that, if you still think you might like winters here, check out Twin Bridges and Sheridan (MT).