Living in Idaho Recommendations

[Deadman's Point]

I'm interested in firsthand opinions from those that live or spend a significant amount of time in Idaho, where should I focus looking for my new home? Elk hunting is my thing, and my doggies are itching to go after some upland birdies.

My job is going to force me to move into the state, but there is no stipulation as to where. I'm not a city guy either. Any recommendations for regions to look into for us hunting minded folks?

 

[Fridaythe13th]

Lucky guy, I wish my jobs made me move to Idaho. Lol I just read about some house on the biggest lake in idaho for sale only 9 million.
Sorry not much help just more jealous.

 

[Deadman's Point]

Don't be too envious... Coeur d'Alene mansions are a bit out of my price range. Maybe I should ask the question a different way: if you were going to live/ranch near your hunting area, where would it be?

 

[jtl]

Most parts of the state check the elk and upland birds box. Whether you are a rifle or archery hunter will dictate the availability of OTC tags. I would look at the Lewiston/Palouse area (good upland bird hunting, decent elk hunting), and then the central mountains like Salmon/Challis (decent upland hunting, good elk hunting).

 

[lif]

No advice on where to live but I would suggest not telling anyone there that you moved from out of state, or Boise for that matter. That states getting overwhelmed with transplants right now and they are not happy about it. Real estate is going through the roof right now and keeping locals from purchasing affordable housing. I feel for the folks in all those small areas right now. Their way of life is getting changed as much as anyone’s right now. Good luck on the move though.

 

[cboom]

I have friends in Idaho and they said it is changing really fast with all the people moving in.

 

[280Ackley]

Montana!

 

[P Carter]

Idaho lifer here, pm if you'd like.

 

[TheTone]

Big things to me would be type of climate you want; big differences exist between south East, south west and the northern half. Also what type of upland hunting are you interested in? I would say generally upland hunting, outside of chukar, in the state is on a quick downward trend. Farm ground is getting eaten up and most farms are so “clean” bird habitat is gone. Do you want to live somewhere you can be hunting in 20-30 minutes from home or okay with driving a couple hours each way?

 

[Terrapin]

I’ve lived my whole life in Idaho (minus a couple years in Oregon and Minnesota for work). Idaho is darn near beyond help at this point. People are flocking here. They are bringing absolute whack job politics on both fringes. The hunting population has more than doubled and the available hunting land has been whittled away. The wolves have drastically changed the elk and deer hunting. Fish and Game is still refusing acknowledge the shifting numbers and implement changes that would improve the hunting and fishing... instead just pandering to the loudest (and wealthiest) critics. No logging on federal ground has made an unhealthy patchwork of overgrown timber loaded with dead falls, and absolutely nuked clearcuts on private timber grounds.

It’s the worst in the panhandle. Massive population growth coupled with large numbers of out of state hunters, all on a fairly small land mass. I actually found better hunting in Oregon if you can believe it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mitchellbk]

You're right about the climate differences. Maybe a good first stage is to decide how much snow you want to deal with in your driveway and local area.

 

[rooster440]

Don't be too envious... Coeur d'Alene mansions are a bit out of my price range. Maybe I should ask the question a different way: if you were going to live/ranch near your hunting area, where would it be?

Lots of folks from CA in CDA as well...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ODB]

I’m a 3-time Idaho immigrant. It’s changed a lot since I first stepped foot here 20+ years ago. I’ve found that it’s more the attitude of those moving here that natives detest versus simply the numbers. I know many California transplants that are the most vocal against the left-leaning folks flooding here. They hate having their local news told by Orange County natives. Then again, if you don’t want to work in the news room it’s difficult to tell the story you want to hear.

one thing to think about though is...where is it getting “better?” Which states are seeing dropping populations and better hunting access? Middle of the road policies where we dont have to have agendas shoved down own throats? Places where out of state money isn’t directing initiatives that people vote on that can severely affect the landscape? Rich land buyers blocking access to great once-open lands? House values that are inline with what the average job holder can afford?

If there is such a place, I’d like to hear about it. Until then, I’ll continue to enjoy, as a local, all that Idaho has to offer. If I have to move at some later point for whatever reason, oh well. I might even work a deal where I spend half the year in Kenya anyway.

 

[elkguide]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Peaks&Creeks]

People like this guy telling all the Californians like himself to move there.

Enjoy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ODB]

People like this guy telling all the Californians like himself to move there.

Enjoy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

what in the living hell?

he wants more elbow room and space? Guess what? So do the effing people already living in the towns he’s talking about!

i hate it rhat Idaho and other places are seen as ripe for the picking. “Come get your little piece of heaven!”

And goddam social media...all of it.

 

[mtnbiker208]

idaho is a big state. rougly 10 hours of drive time, north border to south border. You might want to narrow it down a little.

I am in a wierd position, i make a living off of people moving in. I hate the traffic, the congestion that they bring. alot of us are in this position.

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

I live in North Idaho... work in Spokane. It’s pretty sad, but I would ray rather drive around Spokane than Coeur d alene. The infrastructure around there is well beyond capacity. Stuff like the DMV, courthouse etc.... it’s unbelievable.

you would probably like it down around grangeville.

 

[lif]

People like this guy telling all the Californians like himself to move there.

Enjoy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good F ing grief.

 

[lif]

I live in North Idaho... work in Spokane. It’s pretty sad, but I would ray rather drive around Spokane than Coeur d alene. The infrastructure around there is well beyond capacity. Stuff like the DMV, courthouse etc.... it’s unbelievable.

you would probably like it down around grangeville.

i. I can assure you from first hand knowledge that folks in grangeville don’t even want out of towners to buy gas in their town as they are passing through, let alone move there.