Move to MT?

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Thanks for all the positive and welcoming comments. Based on this feedback, and some personal requirements, for now I've started narrowing our search to the area south of Helena. My wife and I love to fish as well as hunt, and I have a 17' Lund deep-V. As a result, the Townsend area near Canyon Ferry Res. looks pretty ideal. Townsend is the right size town for us, and more than 70% of the population voted red in the last election. We wouldn't live in town, but look for an acreage a few miles away that provides privacy and some solitude. Game unit 380 is in the backyard here, and from what I've read offers some exceptional hunting.

Next question, are there any realtors/land companies that somebody should absolutely avoid?

 

[hobbes]

Thanks for all the positive and welcoming comments. Based on this feedback, and some personal requirements, for now I've started narrowing our search to the area south of Helena. My wife and I love to fish as well as hunt, and I have a 17' Lund deep-V. As a result, the Townsend area near Canyon Ferry Res. looks pretty ideal. Townsend is the right size town for us, and more than 70% of the population voted red in the last election. We wouldn't live in town, but look for an acreage a few miles away that provides privacy and some solitude. Game unit 380 is in the backyard here, and from what I've read offers some exceptional hunting.

Next question, are there any realtors/land companies that somebody should absolutely avoid?

I'm just north of that in Helena. I like Townsend, but don't want to drive that far to work everyday. The lakes through here sound like something that you'd be interested in with that boat. I don't know of any specific realtors to avoid, but someone else may. 380 has its share of elk but the bull permit is incredibly difficult to draw. However, you can hunt spikes in the general season with a general tag if packing a freezer is your main interest and you can go in any other direction and hunt with the rest of the mob for brow tined bulls. They are proposing changing the current cow tag structure so that may affect draw odds, but the current north and south cow tags aren't too difficult to draw. The district wide cow tag is more difficult.

I did look at some property online a couple months ago that was listed as Townsend. I think it was southeast of town, but is just too far of a drive for me.

 

[HutchWV]

I'd love to live out there. I almost bought a house in Idaho in september

 

[Mt Al]

Thanks for all the positive and welcoming comments. Based on this feedback, and some personal requirements, for now I've started narrowing our search to the area south of Helena. My wife and I love to fish as well as hunt, and I have a 17' Lund deep-V. As a result, the Townsend area near Canyon Ferry Res. looks pretty ideal. Townsend is the right size town for us, and more than 70% of the population voted red in the last election. We wouldn't live in town, but look for an acreage a few miles away that provides privacy and some solitude. Game unit 380 is in the backyard here, and from what I've read offers some exceptional hunting.

Next question, are there any realtors/land companies that somebody should absolutely avoid?

Great choice! IMHO, you picked one of the greatest places in Montana.

 

[Dust Rider]

S Clancy mentioned what most others haven’t = wind. The south Madison Valley is a wind tunnel most days. Sustained winds can beat you down. West Yellowstone has the lowest temps in the lower 48.
In that part of SW Montana you never lose your wife, you just lose your turn!

 

[wingmaster]

Got to love the comments about MT being full, my county in California has quadruple the amount of people and I can still find public land to get away from people if I wanted to.

 

[hobbes]

Got to love the comments about MT being full, my county in California has quadruple the amount of people and I can still find public land to get away from people if I wanted to.

I'm glad that you can, but we'd prefer to not experience that number of people here. That sentiment isn't about to change, but I don't fault people for wanting to move here, I did. I just thought I locked the gate behind me 10 years ago.

 

[bobr1]

Thanks for all the positive and welcoming comments. Based on this feedback, and some personal requirements, for now I've started narrowing our search to the area south of Helena. My wife and I love to fish as well as hunt, and I have a 17' Lund deep-V. As a result, the Townsend area near Canyon Ferry Res. looks pretty ideal. Townsend is the right size town for us, and more than 70% of the population voted red in the last election. We wouldn't live in town, but look for an acreage a few miles away that provides privacy and some solitude. Game unit 380 is in the backyard here, and from what I've read offers some exceptional hunting.

Next question, are there any realtors/land companies that somebody should absolutely avoid?

Should we go look at the house and property for you too?

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Should we go look at the house and property for you too?

I never asked, but I will look you up once we settle on a place.

 

[Southforkguy]

To the OP, the area you’re considering is not like a winter you have probably experienced in Iowa. The amount of snow, cold, and length of the winter is not something you should underestimate.

Also, the weather in Montana is something that takes its toll on people. I’ve personally seen dozens of people/families move to the state and leave after a winter or two. You can talk yourself into anything, but also don’t underestimate what being cooped up for 8 months of the year will do. Cabin fever and seasonal affective disorder will most definitely set in. Some people will try to deal with the short amount of daylight, grey skies, wind, and the amount of snow by heading to bar or drinking. This may not be something you’ll do, but the amount of depressed drunks you’ll have to deal with will amaze you.

Anyway, here‘s a couple of pics that should give you an idea of the amount of snow you’ll be dealing with.

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Sounds quite alot like Northern Wisconsin, many people move out after one or two bad winters when the wife doesn't have enough social life or amenities within an hour drive

 

[Southforkguy]

I never asked, but I will look you up once we settle on a place.

If you need a good realtor in that area give me a shout. My company has a nationwide network that will take care of you and I will personally make sure that happens

 

[Kleos]

We were sick of living in Miami. Hitched up our Airstream and took a year off and traveled 34k total before falling in love with Boise. Lived here two years now and still love it, but longterm goal is Dec-Feb live in Key West. Dont mind the cold but inversions suck, need more sun. We spent some time in Montana and it was a disappointment. Casinos in every gas station and not as much pure wild as we have in Idaho along with more grey skies, similar to BC or north Idaho. I would recommend checking out Idaho or border of NM and CO. Angel Fire, Chama into south edge of CO has spectacular country low population density and great weather. They also have plenty of Elk.

Shhh keep Idaho a secret. We don't need any more people from California.

 

[Andy Stephens]

Good luck- my youngest son got a scholarship to MSU - he was seriously considering it - born and raised in AZ I think he would be in for a complete system shock- part of me was really hoping he would go to experience a completely different way of life ... my wife hates the cold so all I could do is think about it LOL

 

[Deadfall]

Northern California is aersome

 

[rooster440]

Shhh keep Idaho a secret. We don't need any more people from California.

No state needs more of those people!


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[Tesoro]

You dont need a map to drive to Montana. Just follow any car with cali plates towing a u-haul!

 

[manitou1]

Got to love the comments about MT being full, my county in California has quadruple the amount of people and I can still find public land to get away from people if I wanted to.

Hell, we can't find any public land to get away from people here in Wyoming any more. Maybe we should hunt/recreate in Cali! I have neighbors who built houses and moved here from East for the hunting and they are sorely disappointed... as am I. I didn't know what overcrowded public land and pressured animals were until we moved here from the Midwest! Gotten a lot worse the past few years.
Buddies and I are planning to whitetail hunt back East next fall to escape the over-crowding here.

 

[Tesoro]

Hell, we can't find any public land to get away from people here in Wyoming any more. Maybe we should hunt/recreate in Cali! I have neighbors who built houses and moved here from East for the hunting and they are sorely disappointed... as am I. I didn't know what overcrowded public land and pressured animals were until we moved here from the Midwest! Gotten a lot worse the past few years.
Buddies and I are planning to whitetail hunt back East next fall to escape the over-crowding here.

south oregon coast where I live. farthest place away from any metro area on west coast. 2 hrs on shitey roads to 1-5 freeway. banana belt climate. 10's of 1000's of acres of public land full of blacktail, elk and piles of bear on one side. plus we have this thing called the ocean on the other side. noone travels here to hunt but they do for the ocean but it has alot of space. not worried about posting this cause housing is limited and overly expensive.

 

[Gobbler36]

The more people want to move out west the worse living out here will truly get. Idaho, MT, Co are turning into Californian shit holes.
All the best if you decide to move, the phrase “broke with a view” comes to mind.
That was from the show Yellowstone lol

 

[wingmaster]

Shhh keep Idaho a secret. We don't need any more people from California.

Every other person I talk to here in CA who doesn't own a house is already considering moving somewhere cheaper. Enjoy the CA exodus, it will last our whole lives.