"(empty 7 out of 10 years!) You need a new hunting spot... not a new state."
Those are not my odds. Those are published odds for the "average" hunter.
In Montana, I have been there 3 times and I am 100% (two elk, 1 bear). In Colorado, I average probably slightly better than 50% but that is for probably 25 hunting seasons.
And the Montana long seasons are great..........for residents. Nonresidents have to come and hunt and get home. I certainly don't have a month to hunt. If I did, I could find a way to afford Montana.
Hey, come to Texas. A $350 nonresident tags gives you 5 whitetail, 1 mule deer, 4 turkeys and unlimited hogs and exotics. And you can come back and hunt turkeys in the spring on the same tag! Our season runs from October 1st until the first weekend in Jan. Oh that is right, you have to have a place to go in Texas with that pesky private land thing. Well, there is always something isn't there!
That is why I do swap hunts! Have swapped in Alaska, Montana, and Colorado. Will swap for Utah if I ever get picked!!!