More Shooting Options: Boise, ID vs Coeur d'Alene, ID Area

[Evergreen]

I have been considering relocating to the Boise area , but still have been considering Coeur d'Alene. Living in Oregon most of my life, I really am attached to the greenery, forests and mountains. Even though, Boise looks like a great place to live, I have been attracted to the beauty and lush landscape of the CDA area. I'm aware CDA is very expensive place to live, which may be another reason I won't live there..

The one thing that sucks about living in Western Oregon is lack of places to shoot. Our local range in THe Dalles was shut down a few months ago, leaving me to drive 1.5 hours to go to a decent range. Shooting in the forest here is iffy, both with the lack of good backstops, but also lot of people living in rural areas/private land issues.

Anyway, I was wondering which area has more shooting ranges. The Fernan Rod & Gun club looks so spectacular I was at awe after talking with the woman on the phone at the range office. She says is is open 24-7, there is lighted bays, for night shooting and that the range goes out to 600 yds. She also was telling me the ranges are well covered when shooting in the rain or snow. I also see there are lots of nice indoor ranges for shooting during those very cold months. I haven't yet checked out all the clubs in Boise, but there seems like a good number as well. Also, I am sure there is a great advantage with finding shooting spots to being near BLM land and having the desert around you.

I'm just wondering from people's assessment what area they think has better ranges and outdoor areas for shooting: Coeur d'Alene area or Boise. I suppose you can throw Spokane into the mix, since it is so close in proximity to CDA.

 

[strmday]

Sorry I can't help as I'm back east. But I had to comment on that range you described. Open 24/7 with 600+ yards for rifles. Holy cow! That sounds nice. If they have trap/skeet then I'm moving west!

 

[moonman16]

Crazy John from 1911 Heaven is from CDA, it can't be too bad there. Give him a call.

 

[KingMedicine]

I've lived in Cda and currently live in Boise. I don't think its much of a decision. Boise has tons of options, Cda had a few, but Boise in my opinion is many times better. Tons of easy access, a few ranges, tons of are to shoot with the military range 20 minutes away, and a great community. Winters are better here too. Cda kinda shuts down.

 

[longdayjake]

Boise is ugly. CDA is beautiful. Boise is warm. CDA is cold. Boise has a lot more options as far as guns go. CDA has closer hunting grounds. I myself would not be too upset to live in CDA. However, I have learned to put up with the adverse political climate.

 

[Evergreen]

These have been some helpful and insightful responses. Thanks much..

Jake, I do realize Boise is the ugly duckling, but it does seem to have better weather and host a lot more shooting options from what I have been researching now. It seems the general consensus is Boise is a shooter's paradise, but that might be were paradise ends.. NOnetheless, I'm thinking that since Boise is cheaper and has lot of shooting options, I might be more inclined to move there. Also, I like the fact the Sawtooths are nearby.

Maybe living near a lot of forest makes shooting difficult. I live in ORegon, which is a beautiful place, but it seems most of the forests are off-limits for plinking, either because they were shutdown by the government or too many people have built houses nearby. I guess having the desert around is a great advantage to a shooter.

I just hope all that dust and dryness doesn't make me long for the trees again. I know Boise is the "City of Trees", but really, after living in Oregon, I highly doubt it will feel very foresty to me. However, it would be nice to see the sun again.

My shooting range in Portland, Oregon, which is now over an hour from me, has open pistol bays without any sufficient cover from the weather. Considering , it rains 8 months of the year, I hardly have the chance to go shooting there. And, in the summer when it is 90F and 50% humidity, it is not particularly fun shooting in the open bays either. The overcrowded rifle range and indoor 22 are the only feasible options for me at my range. 3-Gun, free-style rifle shooting and other skills are prohibited. Also, big bore shooting is a pain as they prohibit that at my gun range too.. Did I mention I cannot shoot on weekends because My AR has a flash hider? I'm only allowed end benches and they are usually full.

A few people told me that Fernan's pistol bays are on the small side. I guess I don't know all the details about the club. However, it is nice to have a club that allows you to perform any type of shooting skill you like, that is, as long as it is safe. Also, the proximity to town sounds nice.

Boise does sound like utopia for shooting. There also seems to be a nice community there.