My brother Scott lives in AZ now...he loves to bird hunt but would much rather big game hunt. He's taken several large mule deer, antelope and a Dall sheep in AK.

It is...just can't convince my wife :crying:she loves the beach and no snow

Exactly what I am fighting here. But our kids are 13, 17, 19 so have a ways to go. We were married in Maine and love it, and I asked "What about a small rustic cabin in northern-ish Maine?" And she said, "What about a larger modern home on the water on the lower coast of Maine?" I said, "That's a heck of a LOT more money honey.." to which she replied, "What am I going to do when you're hunting???" I asked, "Who said you were going with me!!!" :rotf::rotf::rotf:

I have the opposite issue. My Wife having been born and raised in Kodiak, AK, would be perfectly happy to live there full time. I think I'd eventually go nuts being a nine hour ferry ride to the mainland. Don't mind spending summers there, but we haven't been able to go the last two years. I had all the reservations made for our drive up and the ferry ride last spring. First thing that happened was the hotel in Whitehorse, YT, canceled our reservation, then the State of Alaska shut down the ferries. The other reservations tumbled after that.

Spring visitor in our yard --

Attachment 92564

We are right in town along the channel into the harbor.

I Love the Finger Lakes Region of Western NY. We do have 4 seasons but I enjoy the change in seasons. I have the ability to move anywhere in the country but I made my life here and have all my friends and other connections to the community. I have good fishing, upland, waterfowl and deer hunting in close proximity. I travel to the west and southern states to experience what I can't hunt here. Taxes are high and regulation is a pain but picking up my life and starting over at 71 is not appealing to me.

I understand this completely Craig. It is a beautiful area around the Finger Lakes. I'm sure a lot of people who aren't from NY would be blown away by the beauty of upstate. Then they'd high tail it outa here when they got their tax bill. A good friend put his Skaneateles lake home up for sale when his tax bill hit $40,000 a year. Nice home, but that's just criminal.

Tennessee
 

A local Police Officer charted the National Weather Service and other means to chart the mean average temperature across the US every day for ten years prior to his retiring. His conclusion was Eastern Tennessee for the least fluctuation of temperature. How the hunting and fishing is, is another question.

Its a no brainer the upper peninsula of Michigan until December then either Arizona or New Mexico for three species of quail, more fishing and maybe some deer hunting as well.

Rich, that would be a great combo, have to speak to the wife about the southwest.
Are you back from Georgia?

Andy:

On the Hauseman’s thread you asked if there were other Bone-fishers on the forum. This thread may be more suitable for my answer.

I generally fish for what I can eat (which is bad form in Bone-fishing), even if most of what I generally catch is released. But I did sample a day of Bone-fishing on a chartered trip, out of Islamorada, in the Florida Keys. It was many years ago.

That Bone-fishing is a sight-fishery appealed to me, making it as much a hunting as a fishing trip.

We were spin-fishing, not that such a "crude” method in our case made it any more “effective”, as my friend and I did not hook one.

We saw a huge Tarpon underwater on the edge of the bank that we stopped to fish on, and most exciting of all was seeing a moving Permit cutting its fin out like a Swordfish would. It was working its way across the reef at so rapid a clip that our guide could not pole fast enough to keep up with it. Thus, the elements were present of hunt AND chase.

It was an enjoyable and memorable outing, with all the “Conch” atmospherics – pastel colors, sun, and warmth -- that one would expect in those climes.

In reading through this entire thread, it does look like we are fortunate to have a myriad of hunting and fishing opportunities in this country, from sea to shining sea. I wish you luck in settling on a destination that is best for you and your wife.