RE: best wester state hunting opportunities
I think it all depends on what you want....
monster gameanimals? with poor draws?
or less hunter pressure?
or just ample game, all around, and able to draw annually?
I think all western states have their advantages vs disadvantages.
Course I'm looking at them all from the outside as a non-res, not sure the benefits of each state as a res vs non res.
AZ is tough to draw just about any tag, but if you do you have a chance at a monster/WR!
CO has more elk than any other western state, but produces less monsters than others....
I think CO is where I'd pick and just have it be my base of operations.....centrally located, could travel to just about any western state efficiently from there. Also more developed than other states, if being near a big city matters to you. Course maybe you want to get away from that. I like being near civilization most of the time though.
good luck, I think you really can't go wrong with just about any of them.