{"id":42431,"date":"2015-07-15T18:39:59","date_gmt":"2015-07-16T01:39:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/?p=42431"},"modified":"2015-07-15T18:39:59","modified_gmt":"2015-07-16T01:39:59","slug":"22-things-people-always-ask-when-youre-from-montana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.movoto.com\/blog\/22-things-people-always-ask-when-youre-from-montana\/","title":{"rendered":"22 Things People Always Ask When You\u2019re From Montana"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. \u201cSo These Burgers Aren\u2019t Beef?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User C Henrik Anderson<\/div>\n

While the rest of the country can\u2019t get enough cow meat, Montanans tend to have a taste for gamey proteins. If you\u2019re ordering meat out, you\u2019ll usually be able to choose from several animals, including creatures like bison, elk, and deer.<\/p>\n

2. \u201cIs The One-Finger Wave What I Think It Is??\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Marco Arment<\/div>\n

Seeing as most Americans don\u2019t know anyone from Montana<\/a>, most vastly underestimate the friendliness of everyone in Big Sky Country. A side effect of the general sense of community that exists around the entire state, the one-finger wave while driving is constantly used as a polite way to acknowledge the few people you pass on the roads.
\nIt\u2019s simple, you raise one finger from your 10 and 2 grip briefly as a car approaches in the distance until you get the same thing from an oncoming driver in return.<\/p>\n

3. \u201cEver Seen An Alien? What About Bigfoot?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Doug Kline<\/div>\n

With much of Montana consisting of vast wilderness, it\u2019s no surprise that this state has some of the highest report rates of UFO and Bigfoot sightings. Thus far, the claims have yet to result in any physical evidence.<\/p>\n

4. \u201cDo You Get Cell Coverage Out There?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Ralphman<\/div>\n

Put simply, sometimes. In major cities, you\u2019ll have no problem getting service. However, the further away you get from concentrated populations and the more intense the terrain gets, the less connected you\u2019ll be to the outside world.<\/p>\n

5. \u201cWait, Huckleberries Are A Real Thing?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"Huckleberry<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Navin75<\/div>\n

A huckleberry isn\u2019t just a famous character invented by Mark Twain, it\u2019s an actual edible fruit\u2014most Americans just won\u2019t find it at their local grocery store. Native to the region, these berries tend to be a staple in Montana desserts and can be found in plenty of pies and jams in diners across the state.<\/p>\n

6. \u201cWhy Do You Always Drive So Fast?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Herkie<\/div>\n

Speed limits in Montana max out at a very high 75 mph with talks of increasing this limit to 85 mph currently in the works. Even though these limits might not seem too restricting to most Americans, Montanans still find a reason to cruise at even faster speeds on a regular basis.
\nIt\u2019s probably the many hours that it can take to drive anywhere that has turned the residents of this state into speed demons.<\/p>\n

7. \u201cWhat\u2019s \u2018Too Spendy\u2019 Mean?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"Monopoly<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Philip Taylor PT<\/div>\n

When a Montanan says something is \u201ctoo spendy\u201d, it basically just means that something is too expensive. A state known for having plenty of frugal residents, this term gets thrown around quite a bit.<\/p>\n

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8. \u201cPeople Live In Montana?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User jmater1129<\/div>\n

Despite the popular belief around the country that Montana is just a vast wilderness, this is far from the truth. With over 1,000,000 people in this state taking advantage of the awesome scenery that stretches out in seemingly every direction, since it\u2019s the 44th least populated state.<\/p>\n

9. \u201cDoes Everyone Around Here Own A Gun?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User m01229<\/div>\n

It\u2019s totally normal to hear shots firing off in the distance while you\u2019re out exploring Montana. Over time, most locals have become used to their backcountry sounding like a battleground. Just hope the barrels aren\u2019t pointed in your direction.<\/p>\n

10. \u201cAre There Cities In Montana?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Katie@!<\/div>\n

It\u2019s been said that Montana consists of one small town with really long roads. While this description can seem pretty accurate during the half-day drives between tiny speed traps, there are a few bigger cities. Billings has over 100,000 residents and Missoula<\/a> has around 70,000. Cities in Montana might be few and far between, but they\u2019re there.<\/p>\n

11. \u201cDo You Hunt Much?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User tofslie<\/div>\n

The opening day of hunting season is basically a holiday in Montana. People will take off work and skip school just so that they might have a chance at bagging a big animal. In other words, yes, people hunt a lot in Montana.<\/p>\n

12. \u201cHave You Ever Seen A Bear?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User U.S. Geological Survey<\/div>\n

Tourists\u2019 common fear of encountering a bear while in Montana is actually somewhat warranted. Sightings tend to be pretty frequent, especially on the Western side of the state. With an estimated 800 grizzlies wandering around Big Sky Country, they\u2019ll even occasionally make their way into town.
\nThough bears tend to avoid humans as much as possible, it\u2019s still always a good idea to keep some bear spray nearby.<\/p>\n

13. \u201cDoes Everyone Have A Beard?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User elvissa<\/div>\n

Since before hipsters could even grow hair on their chins, Montanans have been growing massive beards that tend to take over their entire face. With all the crazy weather in the state, it can seem to be a necessity at times.<\/p>\n

14. \u201cDo You Know Hannah Montana?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"Miley<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Mike Schmid<\/div>\n

Outsiders love to bring up the fact that this popular television character shares her fictional last name with the state. Just like Indiana Jones, Miley Cyrus\u2019 alter-ego has nothing to do with this state and the jokes are getting old fast.<\/p>\n

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15. \u201cHow Are You So Good At Dodging Potholes?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User aarongunnar (cropped)<\/div>\n

Long stretches of roadways and intense winter storms tend to wear out the infrastructure of Montana at a very rapid rate. It\u2019s totally normal to see someone seemingly swerving from side to side across the center line in this state and think nothing of it. Other drivers know they\u2019ll be doing the same thing soon, dodging the same massive holes in the road.<\/p>\n

16. \u201cDo You Guys Even Have Sports?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User woody1778a<\/div>\n

When it comes to sports fans in Montana, they\u2019re no less committed than they are anywhere else. Most people around these parts tend to throw their support behind the closest college team, whether it\u2019s the University of Montana Grizzlies or Montana State University Bobcats.<\/p>\n

17. \u201cYou Guys Don\u2019t Have Any Pro Sports Teams, Right?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User PhilipRobertson<\/div>\n

One of 24 U.S. states without a professional sports team, Montanans don\u2019t use this or the sense of isolation that comes with their state\u2019s massive size as excuses to skip out on professional sports.
\nPeople here usually tend to cheer for the biggest team in a nearby state. Come football Sunday, expect to see plenty of Denver<\/a> Broncos or Seattle<\/a> Seahawks fans depending on where you\u2019re it at in the state.<\/p>\n

18. \u201cWhat Are The Winters Like?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Elizabeth Albert<\/div>\n

The huge size of Montana means that there are tons of different climates around the state. However, one thing that\u2019s consistent is that most winters get pretty darn cold. The average temperature during the day in January is below freezing at 28 degrees, but that\u2019s nothing compared to the record breaking cold temperatures of -70 Fahrenheit that were recorded several decades ago near Rogers Pass.<\/p>\n

19. \u201cWhere\u2019s \u2018Big Sky Country\u2019 Come From?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Jaix Chaix<\/div>\n

It doesn\u2019t take a genius to figure out how Montana got this nickname, just take a look around. The vast openness of Montana skies outshine any other sky scene across the country. Just wait until you see one of the sunsets.<\/p>\n

20. \u201cIs There Anything To Do In Montana?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Zach Dischner<\/div>\n

While most Americans seem to assume that Montana is the most boring place on Earth, they couldn\u2019t be more wrong. Montana is home to tons of natural beauty around every corner including famous places like Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. It\u2019s even home to one of the coolest ski resorts in the world, Big Sky.
\nTo answer this question, yes, there are plenty of adventures to be had in this state.<\/p>\n

21. \u201cWhy Do You Keep Looking Up At Night?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User Andrew Curtis<\/div>\n

Regardless of where in the world a Montanan is, they can\u2019t help but stare up towards the stars come nightfall. Big Sky Country might be best known for its blue skies but its nighttime counterpart is equally as mesmerizing. When a Montanan looks up after the sunset, they\u2019ll expect nothing but perfection.<\/p>\n

22. \u201cWhy Would You Ever Live In Montana?\u201d<\/h2>\n

\"Mountain<\/p>\n

Source: Flickr User U.S. Geological Survey<\/div>\n

Believe it or not, Montanans actually have one of the highest satisfaction rates with where they live compared to the rest of the country, so much so that 77 percent of the residents in Big Sky Country are confident that their state is the best place in the country to reside.
\nThis might seem strange to someone that\u2019s never had a chance to visit Montana, but one trip will quickly have any tourist wishing they could relocate.
\nLike This Post? You\u2019ll Definitely Love These:<\/b><\/p>\n