relocating (Duluth, Warroad, Baudette: houses, rent, lease)

[lungbuster]

HI,
IM AM SINGLE PARENT WITH A 13 YEAR OLD SON. WE ARE INTO ARCHERY AND FISHING. I WOULD LIKE TO BUY A HOUSE IN OR AROUND BAUDETTE MINNESOTA. I HAVE NEVER BEEN THAT FAR NORTH BEFORE. AND I KNOW IT IS COLD.
QUESTIONS:
HOW IS THE BEAR AND DEER HUNTING?
IS THERE ALOT OF JOBS?
HOW IS THE WALLEYE FISHING?
IS THE COST OF LIVING HIGH?
IS IT LEGAL TO DRIVE 4 WHEEL ATVs ON THE ROADS, AND IN TOWN?
IS THERE ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO ICE FISH?
COULD A PERSON RAISE A FEW HEAD OF STEERS WITHOUT BEARS HURTING OR
KILLING THEM?
PLEASE LET ME KNOW
THANKS

[Robert P Stewart]

You like being remote, do ya?

Many of the questions you asked are regularly answered in a magazine column by an author named Jackie Clay in a magazine called Backwoods Home. She lives in/around Cook county and deals with remote-livin' topics of Northern Minnesota on a regular basis.

Hope that helps!

Yeah sure, ya betcha -

Robert

[MidniteBreeze]

Hunting/Fishing: pretty much in your backyard. Lake of the Woods/Rainy River is one of the best walleye fisheries in the world. Yes, lots of people ice fish. We go ice fishing up there at least once a year. There are many resorts that cater to icefishermen (and women!) many have sleeper houses where you can stay out overnight on the lake. Of course if you have your own shelter you can do that too. It's fun to see how creative some people get with their fish houses!

Pretty much everyone deer hunts up there. Bear hunting is a little harder to get into, there are only a limited number of licenses available each year. You'll have to apply early if you want to hunt the following fall. Moose hunting is a "once in a lifetime" lottery type deal.

ATV's- Some towns in MN allow them in town (on designated ATV routes), some don't...I'm not sure about Baudette. Generally speaking you're not supposed to ride on paved roads, but you can usually ride dirt roads and ditches without being hassled. Best to check locally to be sure though. I would bet there's an ATV and/or snowmobile club up there that could help you out. I DO know it's legal to ride on frozen lakes (both snowmobiles and ATV's) and obviously on designated ATV trails.

Cost of living: quite affordable, unless you have a fancy house on a lake. Non-lakefront land is still pretty cheap.

Jobs: it's a small, isolated town, so your options are obviously limited. The economy is pretty much centered around the fishing/resort/outfitting industry. If you're willing to drive or live a little further out, there might be more opportunities in the town of Warroad (Marvin Windows is the big company there.)

Steers/bears: I'm no expert, but I don't think black bears typically attack large animals like cattle. We don't have grizzlies up here. I have a friend who owns some cows north of Duluth...he's had some minor trouble with wolves, but not bears. (I'm not sure about the timberwolf population around Baudette...I think they're mostly in the NE part of the state.)

Good luck!

[Yorkie_Mom]

Baudette is a very nice area, we were up there fishing, and you will not have a problem catching your limit, also very good eating.
I don't know much about the town, but people up there are very friendly, if you love the outdoors you will love Baudette. My parents go up there every chance they get, and they can't get enough of it. Good luck on your search.

[mudmuffin]

I know people in northern MN raise cattle cuz I almost hit one the other night on the road east of Black Duck. I think most of the cattle up there are dairy though and not beef. Black bears usually aren't a problem unless you or your neighbors leave a food source out for them (dog food, garbage). And yes there are timberwolves up in that area.

[willfrommn]

I was just curious if you were still moving to Baudette. I look forward to hearing back from you!

Sincerely,
Wyatt JOhnson