Tell me about Wisconsin...

[Wyomufhunter]

Greetings. I know a few of you guys on here are from Wisconsin. I want to know about it.
Some back story: My wife was diagnosed with a neurological disorder a few years ago and we aren't sure how much longer she'll be able to work. I am also transitiong careers to something I have always dreamed of doing. I am currently going to school to become a Game Warden and I want to spend the last 12 or 13 years of my career doing something I love. My wife and I have always wanted to own a small farm and Wyoming has become too expensive, especially if we drop to 1 income. We have 2 kids that will become teenagers within the next few years.
How are the schools in rural areas? Do they have regional sports? I know there is a lot of public land, so whitetail and waterfowl hunting will be available, along with plenty of fishing. Is it better to ditch a side by side for a boat? Any reason to keep a camper? My goal would be to be stationed on the west/southwest side of the state, but it would be dependent on openings.
I appreciate any insight. Thank you.

 

[Jack Ryan]

If Wyoming is expensive you better start shopping NOW BEFORE committing to WI. PLan on a property tax bill equal to a mortgage on the same property in Wyoming.

 

[Nick87]

Greetings. I know a few of you guys on here are from Wisconsin. I want to know about it.
Some back story: My wife was diagnosed with a neurological disorder a few years ago and we aren't sure how much longer she'll be able to work. I am also transitiong careers to something I have always dreamed of doing. I am currently going to school to become a Game Warden and I want to spend the last 12 or 13 years of my career doing something I love. My wife and I have always wanted to own a small farm and Wyoming has become too expensive, especially if we drop to 1 income. We have 2 kids that will become teenagers within the next few years.
How are the schools in rural areas? Do they have regional sports? I know there is a lot of public land, so whitetail and waterfowl hunting will be available, along with plenty of fishing. Is it better to ditch a side by side for a boat? Any reason to keep a camper? My goal would be to be stationed on the west/southwest side of the state, but it would be dependent on openings.
I appreciate any insight. Thank you.

Buying a small farm (depending on your definition of farma nd small) is more affordable in wisconsin than wyoming imo) depending on what you want tk do with it. Lots of recreation for all kinds and the schools are pretty good. I dont live there in just a FIB from just south of the state line. @johnp or @seeth07 @Chad Gus or @Treeshark all call it home and woukd probably be helpful. Good luck.

 

[Treeshark]

Wisconsin has great schools, and yes the rural communities have a great sports culture in most places (better than the larger cities in many ways in my opinion).

I’d 100% ditch a SxS for a boat. I’d hang onto the camper, lots of uses for that here for sure.

Southwest WI is the coolest part of the state in many regards (Google Driftless Region to see why), but it is also the poorest part of the state. Western part is a great area to be, but so is most of the state- Southeast probably wouldn’t be a good fit for what it sounds like you’re looking for.

La Crosse (on the Mississippi River) and Stevens Point (on the Wisconsin River) are areas I suggest you look into. UW-Stevens Point has a very good natural resources program as well.

 

[BigHornRam]

I went to high school and college in SW Wisconsin. Been living in the west for 36 years now. No way I would still be interested in hunting, if I still lived back there. I still have family back there, taxes and RE prices are high. 6 million residents there, so finding a place to recreate on considerably less public land will not make you happy after having lived in Wyoming. Winters are gray, cold and miserable. Find a way to stay in Wyoming would be my advice.

 

[seeth07]

La Crosse area hands down is the absolute best region in WI for someone who enjoys the outdoors. Too far south in that region and public land gets scarce and populated. Taxes for recreational and personal property is high but it is very easy to become agricultural zoned in most townships and it drops your taxes by 75% or more. I produce maple syrup and have chickens and phesants i grow and sell and was able to get my 9k of taxes down to just 2200 by going to a township meeting and making the request.

Ignore big horn ram. He is completely wrong about the public land here and ability to find places to hunt and fish. People here are extremely lazy and I never have a hard time finding my own places along the Mississippi on millions of acres of public land. That region also has a lot of power company and timber forest law lands open to public hunting and you can easily scout and find your own honey holes pretty easy if you approach it with the effort of a wyoming elk hunt.

 

[Wyomufhunter]

I went to high school and college in SW Wisconsin. Been living in the west for 36 years now. No way I would still be interested in hunting, if I still lived back there. I still have family back there, taxes and RE prices are high. 6 million residents there, so finding a place to recreate on considerably less public land will not make you happy after having lived in Wyoming. Winters are gray, cold and miserable. Find a way to stay in Wyoming would be my advice.

I love hunting and living in Wyoming. Problem is, 20-40 acres of desert with a house is almost a million dollars pretty much across the state. Even with both incomes thats at stretch at 6%. Also, being a Game Warden in Wyoming requires you to live in their housing in most locations... which definitely isn't a farm of any kind. Id rather my wife drink coffee on the porch of her little farm than put her through the stress of trying to work full time with her condition.

 

[seeth07]

O and winters are cold and miserable anymore. We hardly get snow anymore and the amount of days with highs below 10 degrees is down to like 20 per winter lately. And opportunities galore to ice fishing, phesant and rabbit hunt in the winters. Also, lax area has some top tier Brooke trout streams with seasons now almost year round with some new catch and release seasons

 

[Treeshark]

20-40 acres of desert with a house is almost a million dollars

I haven’t really looked at real estate like that in a while, but I would imagine you could find something decent like that here for under $500k in a lot of areas.

 

[Treeshark]

We hardly get snow anymore and the amount of days with highs below 10 degrees is down to like 20 per winter lately.

True story, and for someone who likes to ice fish it’s actually bumming me out how warm our winters have been lately.

Winter here is cool if you make it cool. Hard to think of a much more fun way to spend a winter day than chasing tipups with the kids.

 

[seeth07]

Quick search of the type of stuff that may be available for you

W15599 State Highway 54, Melrose, WI 54642 | MLS #1966909 | Zillow

This 2650 square feet Single Family home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. It is located at W15599 State Highway 54, Melrose, WI.

www.zillow.com

 

[Wyomufhunter]

Treeshark, Seeth, Nick... I appreciate your guy's input. I've chatted briefly with you before I deleted my old account last year.
My goal would be to buy 20-30 acres. Nothing huge. Run a few cows/goats, maybe have a little food plot. It would be awesome to have my kids run around in actual green grass. The west side of the state is priced really reasonable in comparison to Wyoming. There is like 6 million acres of public land, so I can't imagine having a hard time getting away. I frequently put on 10-15 daily for elk hunts. Im glad to hear the schools are good and there is a sports community. I want my kids to be involved in some way. I definitely want to avoid anything east of Tomah. But again, it would depend on where the openings are. I have enough college credits to apply for next year's April hiring cycle and we plan on taking a trip out there in early April to explore. I've never been, but have always wanted to go.

 

[mtmuley]

Wyoming to Wisconsin? No. mtmuley

 

[seeth07]

Treeshark, Seeth, Nick... I appreciate your guy's input. I've chatted briefly with you before I deleted my old account last year.
My goal would be to buy 20-30 acres. Nothing huge. Run a few cows/goats, maybe have a little food plot. It would be awesome to have my kids run around in actual green grass. The west side of the state is priced really reasonable in comparison to Wyoming. There is like 6 million acres of public land, so I can't imagine having a hard time getting away. I frequently put on 10-15 daily for elk hunts. Im glad to hear the schools are good and there is a sports community. I want my kids to be involved in some way. I definitely want to avoid anything east of Tomah. But again, it would depend on where the openings are. I have enough college credits to apply for next year's April hiring cycle and we plan on taking a trip out there in early April to explore. I've never been, but have always wanted to go.

Visit the lax area in October. Fall colors and millions of ducks fill the skies every early morning and late evening. It will blow your mind

 

[Treeshark]

My goal would be to buy 20-30 acres. Nothing huge. Run a few cows/goats, maybe have a little food plot.

That’s pretty much exactly how I grew up, and I am forever thankful for it. It kicked ass.

 

[Wyomufhunter]

Visit the lax area in October. Fall colors and millions of ducks fill the skies every early morning and late evening. It will blow your mind

I havent waterfowl hunted in about 8 years, that would be awesome to see. Ill have to get into ice fishing, its miserable in wyoming with 30 mph winds, so I don't do it here.

 

[Wyomufhunter]

Wyoming to Wisconsin? No. mtmuley

Family priorities over living in a particular state for me. Ill miss Wyoming for sure, but I feel like there are better opportunities out there.

 

[Jack Ryan]

I only spent 5 years in Wisconsin, 0 in Wyoming, but the 5 years I lived in Janesville you could drive a truck on the lakes more days than you could boat and the running comment was "Sumers are great in WI when it falls on a weekend".

 

[mtmuley]

Family priorities over living in a particular state for me. Ill miss Wyoming for sure, but I feel like there are better opportunities out there.

Understood. I left Montana once. Never again. mtmuley

 

[Wyomufhunter]

Understood. I left Montana once. Never again. mtmuley

I grew up in Montana. Left in 2009 for the USMC, haven't been back since. It got too expensive for me as well, but I do miss it. I've spent my whole life in MT, ID, and WY. Life changes though.