Hello from Missouri.
I did my state report in 5th grade on Montana. I got a taste of the mountains when I visited Colorado back in 2008. Right now it is a toss up between Montana, Wyoming, or Idaho. I am leaning more towards Wyoming or Montana.
I would have about 4 days travel time, 2 there and 2 back. I would like to spend a week where ever I end up, 11 days total when I get my vacation/comp time built up enough to be able to take off that long.
What places should I avoid? I plan on camping out of my vehicle/pitching a tent. We don't have bear issues where I live. A cougar was spotted and killed about 50 miles west of me last year. I don't want to settle in for then night with a hundred or more other idiots either.
How is public land? Do I need any permits? I don't really plan on doing any hunting or fishing. I would like to bring my rifle out and shoot past 1100 yards. I would like to kayak a few rivers, no rapids for me, something easy and peaceful with no bros. We have a river here in Missouri, the Huzzah, that you don't go on unless you want to get shit faced drunk with a bunch of bros from St. Louis. One and only time I went there you could hardly see the water it was so full of rafts and beer cans.
What time of year is best? I was thinking early fall.
I will probably have about $1-1.5k to spend total on the trip. Without a hotel, besides for the trip there and back, I think that will be enough.