I'm a junior in high school at a school in indiana, however I want to move out west for college to wyoming or montana, I would love to be able to hunt while I'm attending school and was wondering if any of you have been to schools out west where hunting is good. elk, deer, antelope, and ducks would be great if I could find a place that had this game to offer with a good affordable college near by. Another question would be how I would store my guns and what's it like to get tags for non resident elk and deer or... would I be considered resident? I've looked at colleges in bozeman and billings but would be open to anywhere, thanks in advance!!
Hunting during college
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RockyMtnMT
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What do you want to be? University of Montana Western in in the heart of the best there is. And an affordable school with an exceptional record.
Steve
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Deleted member 48126
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I hunted when I was a cadet at USMA. If I can hunt during all that BS you can hunt too. When you become a college student you can change your residency to that state since you do technically live there. Living off campus is the only way to store your guns. Usma had an Arms Room so I was lucky with regards to that.
RockyMtnMT
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I think all the colleges now require freshmen to live on campus unless they live with family. I believe they have gun storage on campus. Not positive about this though.
Steve
Scottytuned
Well-Known Member
I work at a college in a more rural area (not in your preferred area though), and have the gun storage question a lot, especially since most colleges and universities have a first-year live-on requirement. Contact the local police department or sheriff's department in the area of the college, as I've found that most will let you store your firearms there off-campus. Additionally, check with youth programs in the area to see what they would recommend. Even though you are likely older than their age demographic, they will be well-versed in resources for gun storage in the area, and may even have hunt clubs/ranges in the area that will be willing to store them. Some campus PD will even store for you if the college has one, so lots of options there where I wouldn't worry.
As for the choices, my biggest tip is choose a place that will offer you the best opportunity for educational advancement, not the best hunting. If you want to be in a western state, then awesome, but don't do it because of the game. If you find a college with an excellent track record in your major/field of interest, you will likely find jobs after college easier, make more in the future, and be able to do more hunts at an older age. After all, college location is only 4-5 years - the stuff you take away will last a lot longer. I see a lot of people pick the wrong school for the wrong reasons, and don't want to see someone fall into a trap of transferring, losing credit, and finding career. Nothing personal, just my .02 as a professional in the field.
As for the choices, my biggest tip is choose a place that will offer you the best opportunity for educational advancement, not the best hunting. If you want to be in a western state, then awesome, but don't do it because of the game. If you find a college with an excellent track record in your major/field of interest, you will likely find jobs after college easier, make more in the future, and be able to do more hunts at an older age. After all, college location is only 4-5 years - the stuff you take away will last a lot longer. I see a lot of people pick the wrong school for the wrong reasons, and don't want to see someone fall into a trap of transferring, losing credit, and finding career. Nothing personal, just my .02 as a professional in the field.
lightbulbWell said, I feel the same way.lightbulb
Kudos to you and thanks for your service to our great nation. Nothing against the OP but it takes discipline and dedication to put up with the regimental lifestyle of the MAs. Military Academy scholarship is no laughing matter and not easy to get into. My son is a 2011 USAFA grad. Now, as a young Capt with the Spec Ops at Hurlburt Fields in FL, he can hunt and play where ever he wants. I will be guiding him and his buddy this fall on a deer hunt here in MT.
Cheers!
Ed
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Deleted member 48126
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+1!! Didn't even catch that. I believe there are 4 screening criteria to picking a college.
1. Accreditation, Prestige, Standards...etc.
2. Degree you want to pursue based off of number 1
3. Price, scholarships, funding options
4. Girls
just kidding on number 4...but seriously cant hurt if you go to a college where girls outnumber guys like 1:5 or something.
D
Deleted member 48126
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Thanks. I graduated in 2010. It was hard/frustrating to say the least. lol...OP go to UGA or UF!!! Study hard but have fun because after college you have the real world and it aint pretty!
I completely agree that getting the best education possible is number one, I have my whole life to hunt, being able to in college would just be a bonus. Still not sure on what exactly I want to do yet, Trying to find a job that pays well where you get to be outdoors all the time is difficult it seems. A wildlife biologist would be something to look into however there salary deems to have a wide range depending on the employer. thanks for the help!
D
Deleted member 48126
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Quality Control/ Quality Assurance, Safety, Construction Project Manager, Forestry, and Agricultural guys are out and about a lot. Anything that involves inspections, data collection, or lower project management keeps you out of the office...or you can just join the Army, live out in the woods, and then hunt in a new state every three years...not to mention you can hunt the occasional human.
BAR BAR 2
Well-Known Member
I don't know if there are special considerations made for college students, but in Wyoming, a person has to have lived here for one (1) year to be considered a resident. Meaning, in order to buy the cheaper resident hunting license, you will need to be able to prove one year's worth of residency. And I have known of people who got a pretty hefty fine for lying about residency. It isn't worth the negative repercussions if caught.
On the plus side though, I know ALOT of ranchers who would welcome the help of a stout built college student around the ranch. In return for the occasional help, most will gladly let a person have a place to hunt once all the paying clients have come and gone.
Tex
On the plus side though, I know ALOT of ranchers who would welcome the help of a stout built college student around the ranch. In return for the occasional help, most will gladly let a person have a place to hunt once all the paying clients have come and gone.
Tex
Scottytuned
Well-Known Member
I tell students not to get caught up in the salary when looking at things to do. I'm a firm believer you can make a living-wage on most collegiate degrees. It may mean starting off low, but you can always work up if you have the skill sets developed. The example I like to give is people who start of doing sanitation riding a truck, picking up trash cans on a daily basis. Parlay that knowledge of waste management and a degree into an EPA certification job for a fortune 500 you could make six figures pretty easy. Now that isn't possible with all degrees, but advancement and vertical movement is possible in most industries such that you can enjoy a comfortable life.
Finding the passion is half the battle, and I think you are on a good track looking into things that blend love of outdoors. Things I would recommend personally:
Agribusiness - specifically commodity and futures trading on crop prices. You'll have a desk, but also the opportunity to get out and see the farms/crops as well. LOTS of money there.
Wildlife Biology - Wide variety of areas including research, foundation work (NWTF, Pheasant Forever, etc), food plot/plant specialist, even game garden positions
Criminal Justice - Game warden
Business - I normally don't recommend it a lot since it can be too generic, but you could turn this into real estate. Work for a company like Whitetail Properties selling and buying farms, ranches, and other recreational properties for others. Would give an opportunity to check out what is new, and also look for investment opportunities on your own.
Plus there are tons of others I could recommend. Definitely a lot out there.
RockyMtnMT
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My son sounds similar to you and he chose to study geology. Originally wanted to be a wilderness ranger, but decided that it would be difficult to get into that position.
Steve
Steve
Frank in the Laurels
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Well, I guess that all depends on what you want to major in, I would think any of the schools in Idaho/Montana/EasternWashington and Oregon or if you like heat and similar animals Arizona/New Mexico would be fine PROVIDING the school offers the program your seeking a degree in. That's the KEY, a top flite school offering the degree you want to get....lots of eastern schools have great programs but totally different animals BUT they are in prime whitetail/turkey/bear hunting and some elk, if you can draw but you can spend lots of time shooting awesome photograph's that last a lifetime. Heck, I hunted all my fee time hunting under grad and graduate schools, as well as 35 years of professional work and hunted all the time, it can be done with ease, just pick the right program/school. I see your looking toward wildlife biology... Penn State has as fine a program as any school in the country but the animals as similar to Indiana except we have some of the best bear hunting on the planet and all literally in the backyard... Lots to consider before making a choice..think first !
