I look at # of tags issued for all species, relative area (square miles) of public land, and lastly success rates.
Between the OTC units I've hunted and the limited entry tags I've held, the difference in pressure has been pretty extreme.
I've been probably 10 times now to various spots in various states, sometimes I've killed sometimes I haven't, but all have had hogs. Extending the trip from a long weekend to a week really helps, as I tend to spend the first couple days just marking spots off the map and figuring out what areas...
If you want a "real pig hunt", try some public land down in the SE somewhere. It's a real hunt, not a gimme by any means, but the hogs are there and opportunities exist with some research.
This won't net any more clearance, but when I leveled mine I decided to drop the rear with shorter shackles rather than lift the front. Zero affect on ride or wear of front end components.
I have one, no problems breaking or cracking yet, but the barrel channel isn't exactly even side to side. It's still free-floated, so I haven't messed with it.
I'd say Arizona. You can always buy Montana preference points closer to when you can hunt for general tags there.
Also, don't let go of your Colorado points. Tough to argue that any state offers more opportunity to a NR than Colorado does. Just have realistic expectations about point creep...
Way I look at it.. I can do 5, 6, 7 diy hunts for the cost of one guided hunt. I'm going to learn a lot more going on my own every year than going just once with a guide.
I did do a semi-guided hunt about 10 years ago.. For pronghorn. To be honest, the whole thing felt kind of weird. Just not...