:)lonewolf, it was interesting reading the replys to your questions. Okla. has always interested me. Maj. Charles Askins settled there because of the super bird shooting. Now they have added deer and wild turkey also. I think they were both gone in the Major's time. Anyway, it has been my good fortune to have traveled around the U.S. quite a bit. So far I have made it to all the states except Del., N. J., and Rhode Island. Have no desire to go either.
I did quite a bit of reading and thinking about a move like you are considering. For me it would have to be a state that permitted rifle hunting for big game, here is what I found. West Va. had maybe it still does, lots of deer, some bear, turkey, lots of upland game. The fishing was very good for warm water fish. Gardens did super. Land in some areas was still reasonable. People were clannish, but once you were known as a good guy, you were in. It is warmer that Pa. and lands farther north, but not as bad as the deep south. They have some bugs, but not horrible. Also they had rattlesnakes and copperheads, but not every mean snake known to man like some of the southern states.
Don't take offense, southern boys, but snakes make me real nervous. Both for me and my dogs. Also, no alligators to eat you or your pets.
A second option was mentioned in the magazine FUR-FISH-GAME. Hope this is ok mentioning this mag.
? A guy moved out to he hills as you are planning, I believe he chose Wis. or Minn. He was far enough north that gardens still worked, but you had to be on top of it. He felt that area was a good pick, he did a rerun a couple years ago. I think the title was "We Took to the Woods", In the second article, he mentioned some of the things that had learned in the years they had been living in the hills. It was neat.
I probably have both articles, if I could only find them. Hope this helps. Let us know what you decide. As someone said the West is pretty harsh. I live here and like it, but I would NOT want to try and live off the land?
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