Top 10 States for Hardcore Outdoorsmen: Where Does Montana Rank?

When it comes to the best places in the country for people who live and breathe the outdoors, there are probably a few states that instantly come to mind. Depending on your personal interests—whether it's hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, or just exploring wild places—some states might shine in one area, while others seem to offer it all.

I recently stumbled across a TikTok account, @TinLidHatCo, that shared their take on the Top 10 Best States for Hardcore Outdoorsmen. Now, as we all know, "outdoorsman" can mean a lot of things depending on who you ask. But what I appreciated about this list is that it wasn't based on scenic beauty or Instagram-worthy views.

It was judged on more practical, real-life factors: land access, percentage of public land, the quality of hunting and fishing opportunities, hiking and camping options, trail systems, terrain diversity, how strict state regulations are (especially for off-grid living and permits), and overall outdoor lifestyle culture.

When it comes to choosing a place to move or even just visit, these are all things I personally weigh heavily. It's actually part of the reason I chose Montana over somewhere like Utah—because, for example, hunting licenses are much tougher to draw in Utah.

That may not be how everyone makes decisions, but for those of us who spend our lives outside, it's more than just scenery—it's about access, opportunity, and how a place supports that way of life.

The 10 Best States For Outdoorsmen

#10. MICHIGAN

• Approximately 4.6 million acres of public lands.

#9 WASHINGTON

•  More than 1 million acres of publicly owned land and about 475 water access areas.

#8 OREGON

• Approximately 53 % of Oregon's 61 million acres is federal land.

#7 CALIFORNIA

• 48 million acres of land in California (46%) are government owned.

#6 COLORADO

• BLM manages more than 8.3 million acres of public lands.

#5 UTHA

• Approximately 71 percent of Utah consists of public lands. That's over 38 million acres.

#4 WYOMING

• 48% is federal public land, and the State of Wyoming owns another 5.6%.

#3 IDAHO

• 34.5 million acres of land is managed by the federal government.

#2 MONTANA

• Montana has over 30 million acres of state and federal lands, nearly 1/3 of the state.

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#1 ALASKA

•  65% of Alaska's land is owned and managed by the U.S. federal government.