Tik,
In the end it comes down to lifestyle choices. I live in western Colorado and grew up in eastern Colorado. I make a bit less money than I might elsewhere but I live in God's Country. We own our own home and border BLM land. My Wife and I are outdoor enthusiasts and spend our weekends spring, summer, and fall, in the nearby mountains. We hunt, hike, fish, camp and ride Mountain Bikes. In the winter we can choose between skiing the best snow in the United States (the backcountry is free) either lift served or backcountry. Or we can head west into the Utah desert/canyon country. Archery hunting for elk is over the counter in most units and 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons are also OTC in a great many units. First and fourth rifle are draw only but most can be drawn on a yearly basis. There are also multiple units in which you can get as many cow elk tags as you care for. Mule deer hunting is not quite as open as it is draw only in all units. I can draw my backyard with no points every year (unit 41). There are turkey and other birds (upland game birds are not abundant in most places). Neither of us could imagine living anywhere else and that's a good thing. You could get a job in the Grand Junction area in your field as it is a regional hub (at 120,000 people it is the largest city for four hours driving time in any direction). There's more to do than hunt but it's a place where you can get as much of hunting as you want. Zoning and building permits are a good thing, otherwise it might end up, well, like I imagine Arkansas to be like.
BeanMan
