Outdoor Life magazine ranks Lewistown, Montana sixth in nation as sportsman’s paradise

The 925,000 readers of Outdoor Life magazine have just been told that Lewistown http://www.lewistownchamber.com/ is the sixth best place to live in the United States if you are an outdoorsman.

“Affordable access to a full spectrum of hunting,” is how the magazine headlines its section on Lewistown in its April 2008 issue, in which it ranks the top 200 towns for hunting and fishing. Outdoor Life is the second leading outdoors magazine in America. Its sister magazine, Field and Stream, is first.

by JIM DULLENTY
News-Argus Staff Writer

Beating out Lewistown is the town with which it is most frequently confused, Lewiston, Idaho, ranked No. 2 in the nation largely because of its fishable species. No mention is made of the aroma from the pulp mill in the Idaho town.

Mountain Home, Ark., is ranked number one in the nation, with Sheridan, Wyo., number three, Cody, Wyo., at number four, and Pocatello, Idaho, at number five. Rounding out the top ten, Marquette, Mich., is number seven, Dillon, Mont., is eight, Page, Ariz., ranks number nine and Bismarck, N. D., is at number 10.

Lewistown gets an A-minus for huntable species, B-minus for fishable species, a B for proximity to public land and B for trophy potential. It rates an A for gun laws.

“From this Central Montana town, a quarter tank of gas puts you in elky timber, pheasant-rich sloughs and spring-fed trout water. Antelope, black bears, wild turkeys and impressive numbers of both whitetails and mule deer are visible from the hills above town.

“Drive a little farther and you’re into bighorn sheep, walleyes and even prehistoric paddlefish in the vast Missouri River Breaks,” the Outdoor Life article says.

The Outdoor Life writer continues that Lewistown “is not only in the center of Montana; it’s at the center of a galaxy of hunting destinations. And the town has managed to preserve its mix of historic authenticity, affordability and small-town charm. Four mountain ranges rim the horizon around town, and Montana’s High Plains roll off their foothills.

“The diverse landscape creates abundant opportunities for varmint hunting, ice-fishing, turkey hunting, fly-fishing and the full spectrum of big-game hunting,” the article says.

Dave Snyder, at Don’s Store, is quoted as saying, “We have everything here. There’s so much to do just outside of town that if you’re a hunter or a fisherman, there’s never a downtime.”

Blue-ribbon Big Spring Creek flows right under at least one glass-floored bar in downtown Lewistown, letting you gaze at the trout while you enjoy a libation, the magazine said.

In a separate article, the magazine told how it judged 200 towns in America to be the best, including Lewistown in the top 10. The Outdoor Life staff surveyed all population centers of 4,000 people or more. They looked at growth rate of the local economy, unemployment rate, degree of taxation, commuting time, crime rate, housing prices, median household income and the variety of cultural opportunities within easy driving distance.

All of this information was put into a massive database and a formula was used that gives slightly heavier emphasis (60/40) to the sporting opportunities over quality-of-life rankings, the magazine said.

The magazine also said Lewistown has a population of 6,083, the median house price is $75,400, and amenities include a town “big enough to have essential services but small enough to remain affordable.

“Bottom line: Million-dollar views on a blue-collar budget and a dizzying diversity of distractions for a sportsman.”

http://www.lewistownnews.com/news3.html