Moving out west and would like advice.

[Minesweeper3433]

I am working overseas right now saving money to move out midwest. I plan on purchasing property and building a house on it. My question is what advice can the fellow members on this forum give me about living out west. I want to stay east of the Rockies and west of the Mississippi. I have NFA items so must move to a NFA friendly state. I plan on opening my own gun shop on the property with private range for diagnosing rifles that "won't shoot". I don't mind seclusion from rest of world but would like power to the house. Living <70 miles from a town is desirable but not required. I have never traveled or lived out west so don't know what type of weather to watch out for or what states are more convenient that others. Hell I don't even know the right questions to ask when getting property. Anyway any help or advice would be appreciated from those that have actually lived there.

 

[Nomad47]

I've lived in PA, OH, and AZ. I now live in a motorhome and have spent at least one night in every one of the original 48 states.
There is a huge difference in weather between south TX and northern ND. So could you provide a little more criteria?
For me, if we ever get tired of our nomadic lifestyle (which is doubtful), we will likely buy property in Arizona, the other side of the Rockies. If I had to stay east of the Rockies, I would look at southeastern New Mexico.

 

[Browningguy]

Texas, north if you like a little cool weather, south if you never (almost) want to see frost on the ground. The Hill Country around Sanantonio to Austin is very nice, although getting expensive.

 

[mattri]

Look at Wyoming. They have the best hunting and are the most fire-arm friendly place I've ever been. They also have excellent public land access.

 

[kjcpoint]

Look at the Pierre, South Dakota area. Excellent hunting and fishing and access to lots of public land.

Kyle

 

[necchi]

Look at Wyoming.

+1,
Casper, Glenrock, Douglas, Bill

 

[dtucker]

Make sure where ever you build your house it will be high and dry. I would not buy any property that does not drain well. Get a back up generator and hook it up so when and if power goes out it will automatically come on itself and you will have power to run everything until it gets fixed.

 

[Catfish]

Don`t get in a big rush. Take some time to travel around and see the different areas. One thing to rember is that the farther you are form town the few customers you will have. If you don`t mind alittle cold weather check out Alaska. If I had known what it was like when I was younger I would have be there.

 

[shortgrass]

THE top question that should be asked when you find that place is the availability of water!

 

[Nodak7mm]

Minesweeper,

May I inquire if you plan to work or got something lined up? I know a lot of people would be living the dream out west (further anyways) if we could make a decent living? Just curious.

I grew up in the sticks and never thought of being out in the middle of nowheres. But now as I am alot older, I think of my kids, getting groceries, running to home depot, etc. Another thing to consider is I hope your better half is an extroidinary person, takes a special woman to be way outta town...

Rod

 

[Minesweeper3433]

I don't mind cold at all. Considering drainage was something I hadn't thought of so thanks for that. I have already sent emails to sheriffs depts. in South Dakota and Wyoming to ask about there policies and to get contact info for the land zoning office. Land in SD and WY I have found really good deals on. I have a girlfriend but if she wouldn't want to move out there thats her problem. I have been alone before for a very long time and wouldn't mind it again. I am not to worried about work. I am working on getting pilots license and helicopter licensing. I can do carpentry work, plumbing, machining, gunsmithing, contracting for DOD, police and fire certs I got when working volunteer. If there is a job I'll do it. Hell I'll pick someones garden weeds if it pays minimum wage. I can't do electrical work to well however so I would have to contract that out to someone proper for that. For water I am a big believer in ground water but I haven't done research into the water tables out west. My time line is research for at least a year before even looking at property and then I won't let myself spend less than 6 months looking physically at property before considering a purchase. I have said in another post before I work jobs with a lot of computer sit time so I do more research than most people wish they could do. I just don't always believe what I read till I see it myself. Thanks for all the responses I didn't honestly expect this many so fast. Keep them coming as they have been helpful so far.

 

[shortgrass]

More to the point about my post about water. I was speaking of ground water. I'm in Western Oklahoma,,, my well is 175 ft. deep. I understand few have to go that far on the other side of the Mississippi. Lots of nice space in the "west". But, water can be a major concern, some places there just isn't any or it's way to expensive to get to. I have some close friends who retired to Colorado. Beautiful place. But they had to haul water to their home. They sold it and came back home. Ya' can't do anything without water. What seems like cheap land might not really be so cheap, after all.

 

[jamesh]

Nebraska Sandhills.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_Hills_(Nebraska)

If you want to get away from people that would be a good place, plenty fresh water too.

James

 

[Minesweeper3433]

Were could someone research water tables?

 

[jamesh]

Were could someone research water tables?

For Nebraska, The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

James

 

[.260 james]

I live in North Central wyoming and There is alot to be said for public hunting access and the quality of game here. That being said there are few people here, also a good thing, but the economy here goes up and down as the energy industries go. Now is not a bad time but when the wells are drilled and pipelines run the jobs will disappear. I live in town and the drinking water is excellent. Infact on the other side of the mountains it is bottled and sold to city folks as Natural spring water. If you live on the prairie just outside of town, the water is Horrible. Just imagine drinking puddle water on a 100 degree day........ I truly love the surrounding area here and the lack of people on a large scale. One other thing to consider inWY. is no state income tax, like texas and relativly cheap property taxes. And the best part here is residents can buy up to 6 antelope tags and the is a general elk tag available!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yeah and unlimited whitetail does tags on private land in some units around here. Oh one last thing ,, you can keep 16 brook trout a day!!!!!!!!! I think you get the idea.

 

[Rtheurer]

Mine Sweep

For Ground water information go to the USGS. You can find all kinds of info there and since you have time to research you can see about water wells and rural living.

Quality of water is important too so keep that in mind. A well driller isnt cheap and the deeper he has to go the more money it costs. Plus if its a deep well then you have to push the big water column up to the top and that takes power, the deeper it is the more HP it takes to pump which means more money on that pump. Short grass is correct on this.

Here is a link.
http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/

RussT

Found the other one I was looking for.

http://www.agwt.org/

 

[Minesweeper3433]

Thanks for that link it should prove to be some interesting reading. Plus I prefer sites like that as you can use facts for inquire into certain areas. Also on weather I grew up in florida and not a real fan of heat. I was stationed at Ft. Drum and loved every bit of it.

 

[Minesweeper3433]

So I looked into Alaska on a whim and have some questions for those that have done this. If someone moves to Alaska and drives there you have to pass through Canada at least for a short time from the looks of it. How hard is it to drive through Canada with suppressors SBR and rifles/pistols? I see moving to Alaska if I chose that route to require flying certain things instead of loading up the truck.

 

[BigHorn WBY]

Don't listen to .260 James, he is my younger brother and knows nothing.

Don't come to Wyoming. Its terrible. No people (least populated state), low property taxes, no state income tax (thou there is 15% self employment) lowest average gas prices in country, lots and lots of public land and tags. Like I said terrible..... ;D