Moving Questions regarding the Ozarks of Missouri or Idaho

[hawk9506]

Retired cop, not afraid of work. I inherited dad's house two years ago. Its in the suburbs of Denver. Paid off, owned free and clear. I have it fixed up / updated real nice. Prior to this we have always lived in the country on a little acreage. While I am thankful for this home its not quite a good fit. We miss the country, shooting off the back porch, raising animals, growing food and being left the hell alone. Denver and Colorado have become leftist havens. I see encroachment on individual rights and freedoms. I could go on... I very much subscribe to the pirate mindset, Im no longer interested in politics (GFT), I want to live with like minded - live and let live folks. I have been researching the Ozarks of Missouri, I know its hot. I have been researching Idaho, I know its cold. Obviously stay away from KCMO and STL but i read something about gang activity in some parts of the country in Missouri? Please answer up with your experiences in these locations. THANKS

[Badger]

Born and raised in MO. Moved away for about 15 years for work, military, etc. “Ozarks” is a surprisingly broad term. The Lake area is a massive summer party spot. One of the biggest in the nation. That’s good and bad though depending on what you are looking for. Some of the more rural areas have meth issues as well...as does just about everywhere these days. It’s still not impossible to find a nice, isolated area with some ground, near some decent nightlife, shopping, etc. I’d recommend going to Lake of the Ozarks, Branson, Tablerock Lake, etc. for a mini vacation. You’ll get a good sense of the area pretty quickly.

And....it's not so much the heat as it is the humidity...

And, if you’re a veteran, you’ll be close to Ft. Leonardwood for PX, etc.

[hawk9506]

Born and raised in MO. Moved away for about 15 years for work, military, etc. “Ozarks” is a surprisingly broad term. The Lake area is a massive summer party spot. One of the biggest in the nation. That’s good and bad though depending on what you are looking for. Some of the more rural areas have meth issues as well...as does just about everywhere these days. It’s still not impossible to find a nice, isolated area with some ground, near some decent nightlife, shopping, etc. I’d recommend going to Lake of the Ozarks, Branson, Tablerock Lake, etc. for a mini vacation. You’ll get a good sense of the area pretty quickly.


NOTED - THANK YOU!

[charliemike1]

Currently living in south central MO, just outside of Fort Leonard Wood in the Mark Twain National Forest. I am really happy with the amount of "left alone" that I have. My one and only complaint about MO is the sheer amount of ticks that carry lyme, rocky mountain spotted fever (wife and daughter got it in the same season from sitting on a lawn), and alpha-gal. They are so bad, I stay out of the woods until the first frost. I love doing 3 and 4 day hikes, but the ticks around my area are too thick.

As for shooting, we have two large outdoor ranges that do several types of matches. One does C.O.R.E., F Class, and defensive pistol and the other does USPSA and Steel Challenge. Aside from that there is a public range set aside at a quarry. It is also commonplace to see steel targets set up on railroad ties in people's backyard with no issue. MO is Constitutional Carry. If you carry into a store and they happen to see they can only ask you to leave, no call for "violating" their sign.

Nightlife near the base, there are a few clubs that the local military go to. Officer and NCO course students and permanent party, so there are usually new faces. Aside from that there are a lot of breweries and wineries in MO and near me there is the Big Piney Brewery's Barn. A great place to go to drink their beer on tap, have pizza, and listen to music. It is off of a dirt road that is off of a back road, so usually locals only. There is a science and technology university near FLW and the college town night life that goes with it, but only the STEM student version.

If you are thinking about this area let me know, I can go into more depth about specific areas.

I have never been to Idaho, so I can't speak to that.

[Hasher]

Grew up I. Eastern Ks and spent a ton of time
all
over the Ozarks. I deer hunt every year bear Marshall which is just north of what is considered the “Ozarks”.

Great place to visit but after 20 years in Colorado inwoukd never want to live in that humid tick haven.

Have you taken a look at places such as Casper, Wy?

My longer term plans involve me moving to WY which is about as free as you can get in the lower 48.

Is it cold? Yes but not Idaho/Montana cold.

Fairly dry and no tornadoes to speak of. Great fun laws and NFA friendly (So is MO).

Good VA’s in Cheyenne, Casper and Sheridan (work takes me to them on occasion).

[Duck52]

Living in SE Missouri the ticks and methheads can be issues, it’s a matter of applying the proper repellent. 40% DEET spray is my goto for ticks. I haven’t had any non-official issues with methheads personally but prepared just the same. The area I live is as close to Mayberry as any place I guess. I’m about 2 1/2 hours from St Louis and Memphis which is good or bad depending. Locally medical care is poor and I usually travel to St Louis or Nashville for anything other than minor stuff. Humidity in the summer definitely takes some acclimation. I would suggest south central or southwest Missouri if I were choosing as I am familiar with those area. Springfield/Branson area has a lot to offer and plenty of rural country within a reasonable distance.

[hunterjoe]

I’ve lived in MO since 1970. Currently live in West Central MO about 65 miles SE of KC. There are plenty of areas here that you will be left alone. We live in the country on 7.5 acres. Have a 50 yard range on our property. Also near a large COE lake that is surrounded by 55,000 acres of public hunting land and great fishing. Yes, there are plenty of ticks around and snakes but there are ways to handle both. The humidity can get bad but you get use to it. Land in the country is still reasonable.

[IANative]

As mentioned, "Ozarks" takes in a lot of territory, stretching from central MO to northern AR. One thing to consider is the northern half of MO, north of I-70. Temps are a little cooler, just as rural, though the geography is more rolling, agricultural terrain vs. the rocky bluffs and hills of the Ozarks. Excellent deer and quail hunting, and even some wild pheasant populations in far north of the state. Some excellent fishing lakes up there- Henry Sever, Long Branch, Thomas Hill Reservoir, Mark Twain Lake, etc. The HWY 36 corridor connects many small- to mid-sized towns, going east-to-west, and can get you to either side of the state fairly quickly. Plus, you're still in fairly close proximity to Lake of the Ozarks.

[BillyOblivion]

Denver and Colorado have become leftist havens. I see encroachment on individual rights and freedoms.

Denver is a leftist shithole, as is Boulder, but the rest of the state is...pretty much not.

Like Hasher I've got my eye on Wyoming if things keep getting worse.

[hawk9506]

@IANative as far as northern MO goes are the ticks and snakes less up there? It is also important to the wife we have some sort of fresh water on the property for horses and a few head of cattle and such. She wants decent topsoil to garden and homestead and have animals, but also have trees as much as possible. Thoughts? Anyone else?

[IANative]

@IANative as far as northern MO goes are the ticks and snakes less up there? It is also important to the wife we have some sort of fresh water on the property for horses and a few head of cattle and such. She wants decent topsoil to garden and homestead and have animals, but also have trees as much as possible. Thoughts? Anyone else?

I'm from southern Iowa, near the MO border. I've been all over MO, as I have numerous family there, from north to south. Northern MO/southern IA are basically the same, geographically. Far fewer poisonous snakes. I've only ever seen one rattler in my life in southern Iowa. An occasional water moccasin, though people usually mistake the non-venomous brown water snake for mocs. I do know northern MO can have the occasional copperhead, but they are typically found closer to the Mississippi and other larger rivers. Ticks can be bad, but I use Repel on my clothes and shoes/boots, and Off or Cutter on my person when mowing or going into the timber. Also, I'm allergic to tick bites, so if I can handle it...

Northern MO is great horse and cattle country, especially along Hwy 136 west of Kirksville. A mix of rolling grassland/tillable ground and timbered draws. Very easy to build a pond, assuming the ground you buy doesn't already have one. Very good topsoil ground for cultivating, whereas a lot of Ozark/southern MO ground tends to be poor, reddish soil, thinly spread over rock formations.

WY and MT have a lot of appeal to me, too, I just happen to have considerable more experience w/ MO.

[Sleestak]

I live in OKC but I really love the Ozarks and their foothills. If you draw a square from Pittsburgh, Kansas East to Springfield, MO South to Fort Smith, AR and West to Muskogee, OK I bet you could find some land you like near a small town you like with a church you like with like-minded neighbors nearby. Also, I'll come shoot and cook out with you now and then.

[Ragsbo]

The main problem is with folks moving into these areas to "escape" the liberal crapola and end up bringing it with them! ( And I am NOT saying you would do that!!! Just stating a fact.) I live just across the Mississippi River in Southern Illinois and there is not a lot of difference with the folks and all. Good people mostly, of course there are some bad guys.

[Forklift]

Northern MO is great horse and cattle country, especially along Hwy 136 west of Kirksville. A mix of rolling grassland/tillable ground and timbered draws. Very easy to build a pond, assuming the ground you buy doesn't already have one. Very good topsoil ground for cultivating, whereas a lot of Ozark/southern MO ground tends to be poor, reddish soil, thinly spread over rock formations.


I'm south of there but the area he mentions around 136 is really nice, quiet, good area.

[SoCal1]

I moved to a small town just northeast of Joplin Missouri from Southern California in November. Land is 3k-6k an acre depending on how tillable/grazable it is. The soil is a bit rocky as mentioned in an other post but we plan on raised beds to help deal with various ground based critters for our garden the first year or two. The people are friendly and welcoming to outsiders.

PM me and I can answer more specific questions if you would like.

[mike28w]

I've spent about 25 years in Idaho and like it. Winters in many parts of Idaho are not as bad as Denver (where I have friends). If you are insistent on moving into the higher altitudes , in the mountains , you will definitely find lots of snow and long winters.
If you stay away from the touristy areas , you'll find lot's of good, solid people. I now live in a county that has the same square miles as New Jersey, with a total population of 15,000 people in the county. I live outside of the largest town in the county ( pop.3000). One stoplight in the county. Nearest Walmart is 70 miles. Very little "hoopla" about Covid. All stores are open. very few masks. Lots of gun folks and hunters and fishermen (salmon and steelhead). Very few bugs. I haven't put on Deet for at least 5 years. Lots of folks don't lock their homes and leave their keys in the car. When you go to the grocery store in the winter, many of the cars are simply left running in the parking lot. In the summer , you'll find kids riding their bikes and running around doing kid stuff, unattended and unhindered by adults ( reminded me of the 1970s in South Dakota).
Sorry , this became longer than I expected.

[H60DoorGunner]

From a natural resources standpoint, the Ozarks and Appalachians are superior to the vast majority of Idaho. The land you get in the Ozarks would be far more useful for almost all purposes

You'll definitely get more bang for your buck there too, so to speak. I'd be willing to bet you could get 2x or 3x as much on the Ozarks as you could ANYWHERE in the NW. And as an added bonus, the lefties aren't flocking to these areas in quite the same numbers as they are elsewhere.