Moving to North Dakota

[Slowpoke Slim]

My wife is accepting an offer (Tuesday) with the North Dakota Dept of Health. The position will be in Bismark, ND. It looks like we will be moving about the 2nd week in November. We are looking at housing now, and it looks like we'll be able to find a nice house to rent, well within our budget. We have one now we're waiting for the owner to email us back on. Our initial plan will be to move up and rent for a year or two, and look around during that time to decide where we want to live permanently, and purchase then. Some of the outlying area real estate, looks fantastic.

 I will be moving up and looking for a job when I get there. The job market looks good, and there is an open utility co. job posted in my job experience now. I will be applying online probably tonight or tomorrow night.

I've perused the N.D. game and fish website a bit, so far I like what I'm seeing. Hunt seasons are longer than they are here in AZ. I know it's a lottery system up there, as it has been down here for as long as I can remember. I should be well situated for applying by the time the draw rolls around next year. 6 month residency only for "Resident Hunter" status. Hopefully the chance of draw up there is better than here. It's been pathetic here, even for decent deer area, for years.

Other than comments about the cold, (I know), anyone have any useful advice? My wife's from Wisconsin, and I was stationed in Denver for a year and a half, been to Thule, Greenland, and lived in the Mtns east of Alamogordo, NM when I was stationed there. The cold will not be an issue.

Anyone from the Bismark, ND area that can chime in with some good to know info?

Thanks.


During transition, I will likely not have internet access for a few weeks. Probably from 1st of Nov, to middle-end of Nov.

[bulletstuffer]

The cold will not be an issue .  Probably not unless you stay for the winter    The hunting is awesome there for just about everything.  I love that state. 
 
I just drove through the Williston area and it felt like I was driving through Chicago with all the trucks and traffic!  I heard it was busy but I was not expecting that!  You will love the people there!
 
Good luck!
 
Bulletstuffer

[Empty Quiver]

I would consider yourself blessed. The temperatures weed out the bad seed for the most part. Everyone I have met and worked with are very friendly and accomidating.


Cold? Quality light to medium long underwear every day. Not too long you feel naked without. I hate the Columbia system type coats, they are like wearing Celophane at temps below 20, I hate the noise and in my opinion are "fadish".


Consider installing a block heater in your vehicles, especially if parking outdoors. I have one in one of my vehicles, I put it on a timer to activate about 1 1/2 hours before the girl goes to school to avoid the heavy power draw. My Expedition has started at -33 without one, this with a 5 year old battery. Make sure the coolant is tested very soon for adequite protection. No need to Idle for 30 min either, give it about a minute and go SLOW for the first few miles and you will be fine. Use Mobil 1 oil, it is honestly better in cold starting. Carry some gear in the vehicles for a breakdown or stranding. Soon you will find yourself dressing relatively light and to be caught out would be bad. I generally have a pair of insulated cover-alls, a heavy hat and Chopper mitts as well as some old Sorrels in the back. A sleeping bag is a good idea as well. The wife will no doubt appreciate a remote start for her car however. I know, you said you are familiar with the drill but...


Scheels is a pretty good hunting, fishing retailer. I much prefer them to G. M. Do not over look ice fishing. Quite affordable to get started. A mentor early will help. I would look at portable shelter, Buddy heater, and a power auger to start. Quickly add a Vexlar or comparable sonar, a GPS with lake mapping and you will be good to go.


If you try to take advantage of the opportunities that are available rather than only think of what you can't do in winter you will be much happier. Winter does drag on up here.


Don't know about your situation but consider buying lifetime license in Az. if you intend to travel back and forth. I made this mistake when I left Il and IN and it cost me dearly. I won't even hunt there anymore.

[BUGEYE]

the only thing between Bismark and the north pole to block the wind, is one barbed wire fence.

[curteric]

I live in Minn., but have family all over ND.  My Sister lived in Bismark, and I have a cousin that lives there. South end of town by the park and river.  At one time had to stop the car and shoo the deer off the street.  Have Hunted pheasants south of town, as well as other parts of the state..


Empty Quiver is right about block heaters ( the term is block heaters, don't do anything else ) and timers. I'm retired and my wife still works. She comes home and parks her vehicle along side the garage and plugs in the block heater and the electric heater in the cabin. The elect heater is so that she doesn't have to scrape windows' or get into a cold vehicle. They only run about an Hour.


Some sayings that hold true.
North Dakota State Trees run along side roads and have wires strung between them.
The wind always blows.
When It snows, all the snow goes to Town.
Why not Minot? Freezen's the reason.

[Slowpoke Slim]

Thank you all for the replies so far. I was wondering how hard it is for a ND resident to get drawn for deer, antelope, elk, and moose in the state? I know it's all a lottery draw system, but how often do you get drawn?

It has gotten just ridiculous to the edge of impossible to get drawn in AZ. Sure they have tags, sure you can put in for them, but to actually GET one, is nearly impossible.

So, just wondering, before I get TOO over-excited about the hunting, what is the draw success percentage for each?

And, Thanks for the reminder about the engine block heaters! Man I had forgotten about those. They have timers now? I didn't remember those. When I was stationed in Denver, I used to pull the battery out of my old Dodge and bring it inside at night, when it was 0 or colder out.

When I was in Thule, Greenland, we had to build a FIRE under the belly tanks of the mission vehicle to heat the diesel fuel enough to even START the 1st generator, so we could then switch on all the tank and engine heaters, and get the rest of the equipment up and running. Good times.

Thanks again for your info.

[Empty Quiver]

I buy a timer intended for outside use. It is mounted near an outside outlet, plug the extension cord into it. I generally program it to come on at 0600 and turn off at 0800. The block heater runs at about 1500 watts and I could see the results on the power bill very easily.


Modern fuel injection has certainly made the block heater less necessary, at least in my vehicles.


Going out on a limb here but likely the moose and elk are once in a lifetime deals. The elk herd is out in the badlands primarily and again don't quote me, but I believe is mostly a native thing.


You will be close to great big game states at least. Learn to love your shotgun, birds are where it's at in N.D.

[snowbird]

We spent a few days in Bismarck this summer when we went back for vacation. It is a real nice city.  I used to live within an hour of it before moving to TX.  Great people around there.  It is a little expensive on property taxes, not unlike most cities these days though.  Bismarck has grown a lot in the last few years, especially to the north and east. 


You wont be far from prairie dog towns, fishing on the big lake.  I could go on and on......  Oh one more thing by a snowblower and carharts. 

[Slowpoke Slim]

UPDATE-

Well, the move is complete. We arrived last Thursday, got the truck unloaded, and everything is in the house, but still boxes everywhere. Lots left to unpack. Just got the internet up and running today. Had to get new cell phones, as Tmobile doesn't have service up here, and we were "roaming" the whole time. Can't wait to see that bill! Went with Verizon, not much choice here for that.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Slowpoke, hope you love it there..new places are always exciting...keep us posted on the activities there...best wishes...

[charles p]

Can you speak their language.   Lutheran-English

[painted horse]

I have a friend that lives up in Botten..Botanenu..Bottenieu..well, it's a town way up in the northern part of the state. He can stand on his back porch and pee into Canada.  I talk to him a couple times a month. He has told me however, that ND only has two seasons, Fall and Winter and with a little luck Fall will happen on a weekend..   kidding aside...Good luck with your new home and I hope you have many happy years there...

[yooper77]

Congratulations Slowpoke Slim,
 
I was stationed at Grand Forks AFB, ND for over five years and deer hunted in Linton, ND which is 50 miles south of Bismarck, ND.
 
Mule deer and Whitetail deer live together in your area. It is awesome walking draws and kicking out both species and teams of pheasants. I drew antler less any species deer license successfully ever year I applied. I love license lottery draws, since it's an attempt of real game management.
 
Moose, Elk and Big Horn sheep are once in a lifetime draws for ND residents only.
 
You will find the people have a strong work ethic, friendly with a willingness to help others.
 
If I ever need to move away from Upper Michigan, then North Dakota is the place for me.
 
Interesting fact: The North Dakota Attorney General's office said 15 homicides occurred in North Dakota in 2009, up from four in 2008 -- the lowest on record. The 2010 statistics were not yet available, but the state has averaged about 11 homicides annually.
http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/North_Dakota_Homicides_114882644.html
 
yooper77