Montana or Wisconsin?

[markiver54]

In reality Montana is more about CCR’s and HOA. I find a nice place there and I can’t shoot on my own property. And then they want an arm and a leg for it.

That's been a big surprise to me. I would have never guessed it, but I also saw it in reality in some of your real estate listings that you posted. I'm wondering how that ever happened?

Doesn't really make sense to me, for that area.....hmm.

[Sir Henry]

Gene, with climate change and the west getting dryer, droughts, fires, etc. I would move to a place that has seasons, plenty of good fresh, clean water and friendly people. The Midwesterner’s for the most part are that.

Agree that this is a good point. I’ve had the good fortune of living in Eastern Washington all my 64 years and the climate here is definitely changing. As Dave mentioned this past spring we had a really nice above average snow pack but the early heat wave in June wiped it out way too soon. I’ve never seen a heat wave that hot lasting that long in June. Typically June is a cool wet month for us and summer used to always start the first work day after the 4th of July holiday.

As far as Montana goes for me, I really like the Flathead Lake area. Big forested mountains with plains below. My favorite is the transition areas in between these two areas.

Forest fires and rioting and/or the combination of the two is what is motivating me to leave dodge. Last summer during the heat wave, if it had been the summer of 2020 this entire area would have burned to the ground.

[The Wiz]

Have you looked in South western Wisconsin? The geography is totally different from most of the state as if was the furthest south the last glaciers came. A lot of terminal moraine and rolling hills. Very pastoral and Swiss influenced.. Plus some great beer towns!

[Sir Henry]

In reality Montana is more about CCR’s and HOA. I find a nice place there and I can’t shoot on my own property. And then they want an arm and a leg for it.

That's been a big surprise to me. I would have never guessed it, but I also saw it in reality in some of your real estate listings that you posted. I'm wondering how that ever happened?

Doesn't really make sense to me, for that area.....hmm.

Too many people shooting up the neighborhoods and leaving trash everywhere. Shooting no big deal as there is so much public land. Trash on the other hand is a big deal. I’m not talking about 40 years of abandoned snow plows beside the barn overgrown in grass, I’m talking about old tires, refrigerators, toilets and then of course bags of dirty diapers.

[Sir Henry]

Have you looked in South western Wisconsin? The geography is totally different from most of the state as if was the furthest south the last glaciers came. A lot of terminal moraine and rolling hills. Very pastoral and Swiss influenced.. Plus some great beer towns!

That is a well known hunting area and a little too expensive for my blood. I’m thinking north of WI29 Eau Claire to Wausa. The further north the better the values and also above that line the population decreases.

[North Country Gal]

One piece of advice I can give is to check on a town to town basis as to what drives that area's economy. When you get into the north woods tourist country, don't be fooled by those low population numbers for these small towns. These small north woods towns that depend heavily on tourism can double and triple in size during the tourist season. They can be a very different place in the summer tourist season. Tourism has been very much on the increase up here with Covid. People are driving up up to the north woods in record numbers for their vacations, rather than taking the risk of flying to a more distant vacation spot.

Given what you've outlined, I would stay more to the south in farm country where population size stays more constant and stable from one season to the next.

[Sir Henry]

I still haven’t found anything. I bought a 2011 Sprinter LWB HT 350. It was a 15 passenger bus and I removed all the seats. It’s mostly loaded with things made of lead and steel. Sure is heavy. Van is only a quarter full and I’m at half weight. I’ll finish loading it with light things that take up a lot of room. I’ll need to make three trips and for now it’s to the unknown.

[Hatchdog]

Thanks for the update, I’ve been wondering how things were going for you.

[North Country Gal]

Yes, best of luck. I've been in those "in between places" situations, before, and it is not fun. Hope you get settled, soon.

[BigAl52]

Good Luck Gene I wish you well

[Sir Henry]

I just made an offer on a place I’m the back up offer. It does make the first one step up to the plate and removes their selling contingency.

[Hatchdog]

Slightly off topic but did your Washington place survive the Cyclone Bomb storm? It sure would suck to have your place sold but not closed and have storm damage.

[Sir Henry]

Slightly off topic but did your Washington place survive the Cyclone Bomb storm? It sure would suck to have your place sold but not closed and have storm damage.

No damage just a lot of debris.

[Sir Henry]

My backup offer was accepted and the seller gave notice to number one they have to come up with the cash within 72 hours or I’m number one. In the meantime I’m sorting through decades of firearm parts and accessories.

[markiver54]

My backup offer was accepted and the seller gave notice to number one they have to come up with the cash within 72 hours or I’m number one. In the meantime I’m sorting through decades of firearm parts and accessories.

Fingers crossed for Ya Gene!

[GeoBoy]

Gene, did you find a place in Wisconsin?

[Sir Henry]

Gene, did you find a place in Wisconsin?

Not yet. I’m still number two. I out bid the other buyer but I want the full 35 acres not just part of it.

I should know in an hour or a day.

[BrokenolMarine]

Keep us posted. This is an important decision. We chose last year, and I love the location and property, but I'm thinking I wish we chose the 40 acres farther north with the 60 acres additional available. LOL. Isn't that always the case? Didn't even look at the house because of the additional statistics associated with the main town located nearby. (Crime Rates too high.)

[Sir Henry]

Keep us posted. This is an important decision. We chose last year, and I love the location and property, but I'm thinking I wish we chose the 40 acres farther north with the 60 acres additional available. LOL. Isn't that always the case? Didn't even look at the house because of the additional statistics associated with the main town located nearby. (Crime Rates too high.)

Crime rates was a big concentration with me also. Some of the areas in Montana is high in crime with the biggest crime being bar fights. In a lot of the small towns it was the number one police response.

I still haven’t heard back. I’m currently packing almost every waking minute. I’m really going to be pressed for time. All my bragging about my ammo. It’s now a big pain to transport. The van is almost at weight and the van is only half full.

[John E Davies]

All my bragging about my ammo. It’s now a big pain to transport. The van is almost at weight and the van is only half full.

That is a problem many of us wish we had, I am sure there are some Puget Sound forum members who would be delighted to take some off your hands for a fair price. Or a shooting range might either buy it outright or sell it on consignment and send you a check. You CAN ship ammo, but it is a PITA since it has to go through a UPS distribution center (Customer Service Counter) and there is a max weight of 66 pounds. . You can ship some direct to me, I will watch it carefully for you, and hold it until you come through Spokane again…. Though it may be lighter when you get it.

Good luck, I know this is a bad time for you. but at some point it will get much better.

John Davies
Spokane WA