I'm looking into a job that I'll strongly consider in north Idaho, coeur d'alene to be exact. Wondering about any insight on the area, life, housing, schools, hunting/fishing, and perks of resident hunting. It seems like it may be a bit warmer than MN, as in fewer days below zero. Seems like should be able to hunt WT and MD as well as elk, and birds including waterfowl. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Possible move to N. Idaho
- Thread starter johnsd16
- Start date
Musket Man
Veteran member
CDA is a pretty nice area. You will get some snow but not alot of below 0 weather. There is decent whitetail and elk hunting if you get to know some of the mountains around it. There are not many muleys in the pan handle. You can get otc deer and elk tags!
tim
Veteran member
CDA is a great place to live. But I doubt you will make the same money here as you would, where you are. Wages are just less here.
A very common mistake people make is expecting to move here and make the same amount of money as you would in most other places. Plan ahead for that. Also, it is boom time here, housing prices are going up.
We do not go below zero very much in CDA. But outlying areas do. We do get snow and than it rains and than it snows and than it rains. so lots of ice. Hunting is decent if you are willing to hunt hard. there is a lot of mountain men here that do hunt hard though.
For me personally, CDA has grown a lot, probably to much, but a lot of people who move here from bigger places love the small town feel. sometimes CDA just seems real big to me, other times it is all who you know. I do live here in CDA, not in the city limits, but my address is CDA. Ask questions and I will answer to the best of my abilty.
A very common mistake people make is expecting to move here and make the same amount of money as you would in most other places. Plan ahead for that. Also, it is boom time here, housing prices are going up.
We do not go below zero very much in CDA. But outlying areas do. We do get snow and than it rains and than it snows and than it rains. so lots of ice. Hunting is decent if you are willing to hunt hard. there is a lot of mountain men here that do hunt hard though.
For me personally, CDA has grown a lot, probably to much, but a lot of people who move here from bigger places love the small town feel. sometimes CDA just seems real big to me, other times it is all who you know. I do live here in CDA, not in the city limits, but my address is CDA. Ask questions and I will answer to the best of my abilty.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
One thing, if you are a bird hunter, southern Idaho has some great upland bird hunting. Pheasants and Chukar hunting can be exceptional. Good luck............
ILbowhunter17
New Member
- Dec 23, 2012
- 40
- 0
Idaho is a very fine state love it out there. MY opinion a very good place to live and hunt plenty of game! just like any other state you will have to work too fine them and don't forget a wolf tag!!
We have yet to come out for an interview but it is scheduled for next month. The pay will be interesting to see, as the northwest pays the best in the country for my profession, but that can vary a lot by job. We have been looking at housing and it does seem to be in the higher end. As far as city size, I like it small and we are coming from 110,000 but my job does not exist is small towns so CDA is about as small as I can get.
just something for you to think about , post falls is just a wee bit west of CDL, YOU MAY FIND IT A MORE INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE FOR HOUSING COSTS.
So we were out for a visit last weekend into this week and loved it. I am strongly considering a move to CDA. I get that the game densities and trophy potential are not the best compared to other places but the sheer diversity of outdoor opportunities was amazing. The job and realestate situation was great too.
Any additional insights into the area. I would have to hunt on NR tags this fall, and would probably hunt MT as well for deer/elk right along the border. Lots of grizz?
Any additional insights into the area. I would have to hunt on NR tags this fall, and would probably hunt MT as well for deer/elk right along the border. Lots of grizz?
Amen, tough to beat all our opportunities. I haven't seen a Grizzly yet in 20 years of stopping around up here. We've baited lots of years and have only had one issue about 15 years ago. We never saw him, but looked like someone brought a backhoe into our station. It was pretty impressive.
Well, it looks like I'll be moving the family to CDA in August. The plan is for good too. Been looking at deer and elk tags for the panhandle and think I am starting to get some grasp on how the tags/seasons work. It looks like there are really only a few controlled hunts and with a general tag you can do a lot of hunting. I'm thinking I may just start out with a deer tag and not try to do too much. I may still buy a MT tag too possibly the big game combo and hunt a couple hours west as well.
Happy to hear about any tips on the area or also input on waterfowl hunting in the panhandle. I'm coming from an area where Canada hunting is big and would like to keep doing it but imagine it will be quite different. Looks like water hunting or traveling a little to get to any fields. We saw a few ducks when we were there in January but didn't look like huge opportunities there either.
As far as lions go, is it hard to find guys with dogs that want to take shooters out. In WI across the river from where I grew up it was 5-8 years to get a bear tag so the hound guys were always looking for tag holders since most years they or their family didn't draw. I'm guessing with it being OTC it may not be that way. I'm not a bear hunter though, grew up around them And have enjoyed baiting and getting trail cam pics of them at my dads but have no real desire to shoot one. Maybe the spirit will move me in ID though.
I still have some wolf traps set up from when we briefly had a season here in MN. That is something I'd like to make a run at after getting geared up for the mountains more. I figure I'll probably need a snow machine or tracked vehicle to access areas with wolves in the winter.
PMs or comments welcome. Really looking forward to moving out west.
Happy to hear about any tips on the area or also input on waterfowl hunting in the panhandle. I'm coming from an area where Canada hunting is big and would like to keep doing it but imagine it will be quite different. Looks like water hunting or traveling a little to get to any fields. We saw a few ducks when we were there in January but didn't look like huge opportunities there either.
As far as lions go, is it hard to find guys with dogs that want to take shooters out. In WI across the river from where I grew up it was 5-8 years to get a bear tag so the hound guys were always looking for tag holders since most years they or their family didn't draw. I'm guessing with it being OTC it may not be that way. I'm not a bear hunter though, grew up around them And have enjoyed baiting and getting trail cam pics of them at my dads but have no real desire to shoot one. Maybe the spirit will move me in ID though.
I still have some wolf traps set up from when we briefly had a season here in MN. That is something I'd like to make a run at after getting geared up for the mountains more. I figure I'll probably need a snow machine or tracked vehicle to access areas with wolves in the winter.
PMs or comments welcome. Really looking forward to moving out west.
Last edited:
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Congratulations. I hope it is everything you want. When I retired 17 years ago, we made the big move from southern California to SW Colorado. Hard to leave the place where you were born and friends and family. Good luck to you and your family, keep us posted .
mnhoundman
Veteran member
Congratulations!! I someday would love to live out there.
We have lots of dogs, but that's a long way away (1100 miles). We also go to Wisconsin and Chase bear with them, lots of fun. Other than the wolves!
We have lots of dogs, but that's a long way away (1100 miles). We also go to Wisconsin and Chase bear with them, lots of fun. Other than the wolves!
tim
Veteran member
north Idaho is about opportunity, lots of otc tags.
you should have a good time here. Lots of country to explore. I can not comment on waterfowl hunting as I have never been.
One thing is, you will need a winter activity. If not, you will go stir crazy.
you should have a good time here. Lots of country to explore. I can not comment on waterfowl hunting as I have never been.
One thing is, you will need a winter activity. If not, you will go stir crazy.
Lifelong Minnesotan so the snow shouldn't be too much of an issue. Whole family downhill skis, we love to ice fish and trap as well so winter should be ok.
If your a trapper, you need to check out the Foundation for Wildlife Management when you get here. They started in Sandpoint to help those serious about trapping wolves to be able to afford the cost. Great program that is endorsed by the Idaho Fish and Game and the RMEF. This program is making a difference for all of us.
foundationforwildlifemanagement.org
foundationforwildlifemanagement.org
Thanks for the link. Some interesting reading there. I am a trapper and am set up for wolves from when we briefly had a season here. MN has more wolves than all the other lower 48 states combined and I have seen first hand the impact on deer here. When muzzleloader hunting our land in central MN it is now reliable to cut more wolf tracks after a fresh snow than deer. Just plain crazy. I look forward to hooking up some wolves and helping the elk and deer of ID.