I happened to find an old issue of Outdoor Life the other day that ranked the top 200 cities in America for hunting and fishing opportunities.

OK, it made me jealous; I'd like to have that job.

The good news: North Dakota had four towns crack the top 60.

Aside from just outdoor opportunities, the article's authors ranked, on a scale of 1-10, towns with 4,000 people or more, on certain things such as the state of the local economy, taxation, unemployment rates, crime rate and cultural opportunities.

Those things were factored into the rankings when they were included with fishing and hunting opportunities.

As far as the top spot, that went to Mountain Home, Ark.

Other cities than ranked high on the list were no surprise: Lewiston, Idaho; Sheridan,Wyo.; Cody, Wyo.; and Pocatello, Idaho, rounded out the top five.

Bismarck nailed down the No. 10 spot, to some surprise, according to the magazine.

The magazine cited the huge diversity of fishing on the Missouri River and Lake Oahe, as well as the relative ease to locations for hunting.

The Bismarck area scored 7 of 10 in hunting and fishing species availability, 6 for trophy potential, 8 for public land access, 4½ for year-round opportunities and 10 under the category of gun laws.

We who live and play here have known this is an outdoor-lover's paradise all of our lives.

Yes, there are trade-offs for living in a place where there are only two seasons - winter, and winter's coming. But there are so many advantages in living in a place where neighbors look out for one another and every time you turn around there is a pancake and sausage benefit for someone who needs help.

A while back, I got an e-mail from a guy in Texas named Cletus who wanted to know about the upland game hunting here.

He said he was blessed to have the big three when it came to hunting: time to do it, a buddy who could twist off and tag along, and a very understanding wife.

From the tone of the e-mails, Cletus said he's been around a few other states and liked North Dakota because it had some good "dog-friendly" motels, decent mom-and-pop cafes and better-than-average beer joints for after the hunt.

While a majority of the top towns were from Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and the like, Williston came in at No. 18 and Jamestown tied for 54th with Nebraska City, Neb. Dickinson came in at No. 60.

North Dakota probably would have had a few more make the list, but with so few towns of 4,000 people or more, it's tough.

But then Mobridge, S.D., (pop. 3,231) made the list in 62nd place.

It's always interesting to read the readers' comments on such a piece, and more than one reader expressed "surprise" that Devils Lake and Pierre, S.D., weren't listed.

I was surprised Mandan didn't make the list, too.

But, as with most things, it's relative.

As a few readers noted, they were glad their favorite spots didn't make the survey. Leaves a little more elbow room for them, I suppose.

That's a whole different survey on that subject, a survey I would suspect we'd do OK on as well.

(Reach reporter Brian Gehring 250-8254 or brian.gehring@;bismarcktribune.com.)