Best Outdoor State 2024
HoosierHawgs reply :
IYO. What is the best state for outdoor activities? (Fishing, fresh and salt, camping, hunting, ECT.) I know its not Indiana, even though we do have a few things going for us..
CRANKENSTIEN reply :
it's not IL. Around here I like Wisconsin and Minnesota but I am going to give Missouri the nod.
Catt reply :
In my head 
the reel ess reply :
SC's good. Not exactly Alaska or FL. But we have beaches, coastal plain, piedmont, mountains, salt & freshwater fishing and hunting. And a pretty good year round climate.
NJSalt reply :
Vermont
Derekbass02 reply :
Hawaii
HoosierHawgs reply :
Also, wanted to add... This is taking into account the availability of said activities, state laws restricting or increasing access (including land provisions, gun laws, and budgets). Just to make it more interesting
southernson1989 reply :
Georgia 
onetime reply :
Texas, if you're an outdoorsman, you get year round "decent" weather.
Kevin Beachy reply :
Virginia
Specifically the Shenandoah Valley!
~Kevin
OkeechobeeAngler reply :
Florida, period.
Mccallister25 reply :
On 5/13/2015 at 1:40 AM, the reel ess said:SC's good. Not exactly Alaska or FL. But we have beaches, coastal plain, piedmont, mountains, salt & freshwater fishing and hunting. And a pretty good year round climate.
I'll agree. I'm in NC so I'll just say the Carolinas.
Fresh water, salt water, deer, turkey, lots of other game birds, bears, a Lil bit of everything!
J Francho reply :
VA is one of the nicest places I've been. NY is pretty great, but I live here and generally make the most of it.
atcoha reply :
On 5/13/2015 at 3:34 AM, OkeechobeeAngler said:Florida, period.
Agreed.
Shockwave reply :
I gotta go with Wisconsin. We may not have the monstrous deer that Iowa has or an abundance of Volkswagen sized bass like the southern states but for a good all-around time fishing/hunting along with copious amounts of other outdoor recreational opportunities, Wisconsin is really hard to beat. When I'm able to buy a vacation home, It'll be somewhere in the Northwoods!
Choporoz reply :
Wisconsin? I couldn't get out of WI fast enough. Maybe in consideration if you only look at June and October.
I've only been in VA for five years, but I gotta admit, it has a LOT going for it for the outdoorsman.
Steveo-1969 reply :
West "By God" Virginia of course!!!!!! 
Jd_Phillips_Fishin reply :
Texas.
Salt water you can catch a 48 inch bull red
Fresh water you got Toledo Bend, Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn, Falcon Lake, Amistad and others.
Hunting you got big dear, big turkeys, big hogs and some good dove huntin and good gun laws
geo g reply :
Florida has to be #1 on any unbiased list of the best. We have thousands of lakes all full of bass, peacocks, and just about every exotic fish found in an aquarium. Then the entire state is surrounded by some of the worlds best off shore fishing, with everything from 600 pound Goliath Groupers, to huge sharks, Tuna, Marlin and Sail Fish. We have one of the biggest live coral reefs in the world. We have world class inshore flats fishing with 200 pound tarpon, 80 pound redfish, snook, barracuda, cobia, and thousands of other inshore fish.. We have 100 miles of Keys that jet out just mire miles from the gulf stream. We can fish throughout every month on the calendar, comfortably! We have more coast line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico then any other state in the lower 48. Need I say more!
I forgot, we have wild boar, bear, deer, 180 Panthers still living wild in the state, a million gators, the American Crocodile, and the Skunk Ape! Great place to live if you love the outdoors.
CJ reply :
Hands down it's Texas. Florida has lil' deer. Cali has crazy laws. Kentucky and Tennessee lack salt water but KY is coming on with monster whitetail and the fishing isn't shabby.
Dogmatic reply :
Colorado or California.
greentrout reply :
There's a reason Louisiana is called a Sportsman's Paradise: It is what it is.
Old school basser...
FishTank reply :
Tennessee hands down. Once you have fished, hunt, biked, skied, swam, snow skied, 4 wheeled, and hiked all in the same day and in the same place, I can't think of a better place. My favorite spot is LBL.
CJ reply :
On 5/13/2015 at 9:16 AM, FishTank said:Tennessee hands down. Once you have fished, hunt, biked, skied, swam, snow skied, 4 wheeled, and hiked all in the same day and in the same place, I can't think of a better place. My favorite spot is LBL.
I must agree LBL is an outdoorsman's paradise. It has a sad history but no need to get into that.
hatrix reply :
Ohio is fairly decent I suppose. It is kinda big when it comes to hunting and deer. There is a few fresh water species of fish like steelhead, musky, Erie smallmouth. I know there is a place people go to get trophy deer and pay upward of 10k for them.
Joe. reply :
I'm partial to my home, Michigan
Snakehead Whisperer reply :
Just about every place I've been to has something that is all it's own. My favorite 'outdoor state' is any place on Earth.
Surfcaster reply :
North Carolina is my home and I believe the Carolina's (NC/SC) as a whole offer some of the best outdoor options in the country. Beaches to the east and mountains to the west and a lot to offer in between and all four seasons (for the most part). However, I went to Washington last May to a friends wedding and we flew into Portland, OR and drove to his house in Centrailia, WA and that was some beautiful country. We drove right past Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. Beautiful rivers also.
MIbassyaker reply :
I have lived in MN, ND, CA, NJ, and MI, and visited every other state in the lower 48 at least once. Some I like better than others, to be sure, but every state I think has something to recommend it to outdoorsmen (even the small crowded ones, on occasion)...but I haven't seen any place that quite compares to CA, just in terms of the sheer magnitude and variety of outdoor recreation opportunities.
Jd_Phillips_Fishin reply :
On 5/13/2015 at 12:00 PM, Surfcaster said:North Carolina is my home and I believe the Carolina's (NC/SC) as a whole offer some of the best outdoor options in the country. Beaches to the east and mountains to the west and a lot to offer in between and all four seasons (for the most part). However, I went to Washington last May to a friends wedding and we flew into Portland, OR and drove to his house in Centrailia, WA and that was some beautiful country. We drove right past Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. Beautiful rivers also.
Dude, I've lived in Texas and NC. There aint no comparison between the two.
HoosierHawgs reply :
I don't know... I feel like the Carolinas offer maybe a little bit more overall. They do have all 4 seasons as seen in the Classic lol! And honestly I really like the ambience of a little fall/winter hunting. But I also agree with the guy that said everywhere has something to offer! Sheesh, better start saving now, I may end up having to travel all over the US!On 5/13/2015 at 2:05 PM, carolina bassin said:Dude, I've lived in Texas and NC. There aint no comparison between the two.
Sam reply :
Louisiana.
Fresh water, salt water and great hunting.
Nice people and the food will knock your socks off.
"Come to Louisiana - Leave Different"
Matthew2000 reply :
The carolinas hunting isn't very good. The deer are like large dogs, the ducks are alright unless you have private land you are kinda screwed. The only place that has major success is the santee river, it's flooded with guys staying over night in their boat, you can't even find a spot. The turkey hunting is fair nothing spectacular but a healthy population with some good size. The beaches around here are disgusting, all have a nasty green water and the fishing isn't all that great unless you go to the outer banks. Bass fishing is pretty good, we have some nice big lakes, but most get SUPER crowded with rec boaters. SC winters suck, everyone goes nuts and everything gets whut down over an inch of snow. Summers are 100*+ and humid. Its spring and 90* here, I walk outside and start sweating.
BasshunterJGH reply :
Really surprised no one has said Alabama yet.
fisherrw reply :
Probably Colorado. Or northern Cali cuze there clear lake Shasta lake and trinity lake
Surfcaster reply :
On 5/13/2015 at 2:05 PM, carolina bassin said:Dude, I've lived in Texas and NC. There aint no comparison between the two.
I know, I like NC better too. Especially the Red Drum fishing at the outer banks. Where the world record Red Drum was caught at Hatteras Island off the surf.
BasshunterJGH reply :
On 5/13/2015 at 11:01 PM, fisherrw said:Probably Colorado. Or northern Cali cuze there clear lake Shasta lake and trinity lake
California's definitely one of the top states for bass fishing. But hunting and gun laws are another story. Plus the drought could change things if it continues for another year or two. 
wytstang reply :
My home state of Fl has it all and then some, SC is no push over either but the fishing offered in Fl is really a cut above all other states. LMB & Peacocks in the same waters, gin clear salt water fishing/snorkling in the keys, all the water activitis that go with it as well.
WRB reply :
California has everything for the outdoor sportsman ranging from high Sierra mountain range to the coastal ocean and islands. You could surf and snow ski the same day, hunt elk, deer, pigs, upland game birds chuckar, quail, pheasant, partridge, turkey and waterfowl, it's all here.
Why do people leave? Easy answer is we have the most liberal state government in the country who tax, regulated and created such a high cost of living that it strangles outdoor enthusiast, making it difficult to enjoy the wonderful outdoor activities we have.
Tom
iabass8 reply :
On 5/13/2015 at 3:50 AM, Shockwave said:I gotta go with Wisconsin. We may not have the monstrous deer that Iowa has or an abundance of Volkswagen sized bass like the southern states but for a good all-around time fishing/hunting along with copious amounts of other outdoor recreational opportunities, Wisconsin is really hard to beat. When I'm able to buy a vacation home, It'll be somewhere in the Northwoods!
100% agree but its a tie between Minnesota and Wisconsin for me. The weather isn't great year round but when it is, theres few places I'd rather be.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Yup, I lived in San Diego for 4 years.. I liked it pretty well.. I was far too busy to hunt or fish.
Indiana has great whitetail & turkey hunting, if you really know what your doing.
Florida is my pick! Great fishing, both salt & fresh.
Great turkey hunting, scuba, a person can get to anywhere in the state in less than a days drive.
Great gun laws, allows "open" carry if you really must! ( not for me ) lots of beachs & beautiful women. Yea, that's my choice..
Catt reply :
There aint no best!
As long as I can get outdoors I'm happy!
I hate cities
scaleface reply :
Missouri . Second is a tie by the eight states that touch Missouri .
BassinLou reply :
I am little biased on this one. Born and raised in South Florida. Freshwater and Saltwater fishing can be done on the same day a few miles apart. Water sports/recreation galore. Beaches on all 3 sides of the state. It's a fisherman paradise for sure. 
EvanT123 reply :
Hard to beat salt, fresh, mountains, small towns, big cities, and 4 seasons. Plus poisons snakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and other calamities are rare but taxes are a b^tch.
C0lt reply :
The arguments for florida are solid, however im going to have to go with texas. I think the factors that put texas over florida are the mountain ranges and highlands in texas, the deserts, and a little less humidity. I might be biased because my girlfriend is a texan, but I like the people better too.
Jar11591 reply :
From what I've heard, you can't beat Wisconsin or Minnesota, although NY is pretty good with the Adirondacks and all. But if I had a choice of what state to go to for an outdoor adventure, I choose Alaska.
RB 77 reply :
On 5/14/2015 at 10:45 PM, WRB said:California has everything for the outdoor sportsman ranging from high Sierra mountain range to the coastal ocean and islands. You could surf and snow ski the same day, hunt elk, deer, pigs, upland game birds chuckar, quail, pheasant, partridge, turkey and waterfowl, it's all here.
Why do people leave? Easy answer is we have the most liberal state government in the country who tax, regulated and created such a high cost of living that it strangles outdoor enthusiast, making it difficult to enjoy the wonderful outdoor activities we have.
Tom
The actual physical state has it all. Surfing, sailing, boating, hiking, biking, hunting, and of course fishing. You can ski in the mountains, ride in the desert, and surf in the ocean all in one day. The fishing is truly world class. Almost half of the 25 biggest Largemouth have been caught in So Cal alone. Trophy salt water bass fishing. Tuna, Yellowtail, Dorado fishing is excellent.
However... and this is a BIG however; California has to be the most liberal state in the entire country. The laws, rules, regulations are insane! A fishing license for both salt and fresh water will run you upwards of $52 bucks. Permit and launch fees everytime you hit the lake. The most expensive rent, gas, groceries, etc. It all adds up. It really is paradise out this way most of the time, but you pay the price. A heafty one at that. A true double edged sword...
livemusic reply :
"The Sportsman's Paradise" is on my license plate -- Louisiana. And it is. But if I could live in only one state, it would be Texas. My gosh, there's an entire country over there, that sucker is BIG and the terrain and weather varies in the various regions.
Jeff H reply :
Every place has the same issue....too crowded. It's best to pick a place to live and then have time and money to travel and experience the many opportunities around the country. I want to experience some incredible striper and spotted bass fishing and the answer ain't my home state of MN!
I agree with Catt....I HATE cities...and traffic! I avoid going downtown as much as possible
Starchalopakis reply :
I would have to agree with my other Californians!! Not many places you can you can go snowboarding/hiking and then in 2-3 hours be at the beach surfing. RB 77 pretty much summed up the fishing with this one sentence
On 5/15/2015 at 8:21 PM, RB 77 said:Almost half of the 25 biggest Largemouth have been caught in So Cal alone.
bassh8er reply :
I live in Nebraska and have to say that the fishing in South Dakota has me driving 4 hours every weekend, both on hard water and soft. I don't target lmb there but catch pike, walleye, smb and panfish, really nice panfish.
DrKnew reply :
Can't beat Minnesota, Wisconsin , and Michigan. Minnesota is called the land of Ten Thousand Lakes, thereare..s actually more than that. I live in the northcentral part of Minnesota near Nevis....There are well over 100 lakes in a 20 miles radius of my home, and all hold bass, walleye, sunfish, crappie, and most have northern pike, and some contain musky.....You cant beat the quality of the fishing here, and spring, summer , and fall are great weather.......December thru March is the for sure winter, with several feet of snow and temps to -40 f ....Winter sports like snowmobiling, ice fishing , and about anything outdoors .........Seldom are there hot temps, 90 f ,rarely , usually cool nites during summer......The bass fishing here is great, with 5 lbers fairly common, 8-14 is the state largemouth record, 8-0 for smallies.....Beautiful scenery and friendly people.....While you won't catch a 10 lb bass here, good chance you will catch a good stringer of quality fish.
diesel51 reply :
Not Wisconsin. This state's hunting and fishing description is "Mediocrity at its Finest". But it is a great state if you're one of the types of people who thinks sitting in a stand for one week a year in November makes you Jeremiah Johnson. Thank god I'm booking for Oregon
Crappiebasser reply :
Alabama
brgbassmaster reply :
IMO definitely Michigan. Since I have been active duty military I have been to a lot of different states. Still nowhere compares to Michigan when it comes to hunting, fishing of any kind and beauty. I have bass fished a lot of places and still haven't been somewhere where you can just pick a random lake and catch 4-5lb largemouth and smallies out of the same lake. Ya we don't have a ton of DD bass and ive actually never heard of anyone catching 1. But for consistence of good healthy 4-5lbers we got it made. Hope I can go back one day.
joeblowwwww reply :
I'm sure every State has some good Bass fishing... I have fished a couple of the better 1's like CA, FL,GA, PA, NJ, NY, MI, MN and they are all special in their own way but like I said I couldn't imagine a bad 1. that's why i like to pond fish a lot. because every State in America is stacked with them and they are hard to compare on a State to State basis like lakes or rivers that are more known thru history or fishing media.
But if you had to pick 1 State it would have to be Ca. just for diversity and square miles alone. (drought not included)
Jrob78 reply :
I'm going to say Texas. Great freshwater fishing, great saltwater fishing, great hunting, 12 month a year climate and great diversity in environment types/habitats.
Brnnoser6983 reply :
You want year round outdoor wilderness Minnesota has it. In the winter there is ice fishing plus any other outdoor sport you want. Spring and summer go up north to the BWCA and get you share of wilderness. While we lack 10lb bass we make up in monster 52in Muskie 40in northerns, and some of the best bass lakes around. There is no shortage of lake either. With well over 100,000 (I think the number is actually closer to 130,000) you could try a new lake ever day.
And for the hunters we have good game life, deer, bear, Turkey and they are all good size.
Yeah our state bird is a mosquito, and they seem to wear parkas in the winter. Minnesota has a lot.
Gotfishyfingers? reply :
i travel a lot and it's hard to beat the Carolinas for all around seasons and a lot to offer as far as outdoor activities. Florida would win for sure if only it didn't get so hot, Alligators were nonexistent, and it had mountains!
mikeeasttn reply :
Tennessee
tomustang reply :
On 5/15/2015 at 8:21 PM, RB 77 said:The actual physical state has it all. Surfing, sailing, boating, hiking, biking, hunting, and of course fishing. You can ski in the mountains, ride in the desert, and surf in the ocean all in one day. The fishing is truly world class. Almost half of the 25 biggest Largemouth have been caught in So Cal alone. Trophy salt water bass fishing. Tuna, Yellowtail, Dorado fishing is excellent.
However... and this is a BIG however; California has to be the most liberal state in the entire country. The laws, rules, regulations are insane! A fishing license for both salt and fresh water will run you upwards of $52 bucks. Permit and launch fees everytime you hit the lake. The most expensive rent, gas, groceries, etc. It all adds up. It really is paradise out this way most of the time, but you pay the price. A heafty one at that. A true double edged sword...
All this coming from the state that has to truck in sand for their beaches. No thanks they can keep it all.
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