WELCOME TO
NORTH IDAHO ARCHERY
“Life At Full Draw”
WHO WE ARE
North Idaho Archery was founded in August of 2021. Originally starting out in the garage working on bows, it took roughly two years to finally find the property to fit the needs for what we wanted in an archery pro shop and ultimately what we wanted to bring to our community.
There are 3 owners at NIA, coincidentally all of them are former law enforcement officers and combat veterans that served during OEF 2012/2013. Fun fact, our owners were all fighting (enduring freedom?) in different provinces throughout Afghanistan at the exact same time, but did not come to know each other for almost another full decade. (what a small fun world we live in)
MEET THE OWNERS
JAKE KREMER
Jake is the founder and co-owner of NIA. He grew up in Idaho and graduated from Lewiston High School. Jake left his hometown and went and served his country in the U.S Army following graduation. Those who know Jake would not have guessed that archery would have grown to be his number one love, as he spent most of his days as a young man on the river banks with a fishing pole in his hands. Jake loves fish so much he went off and got his Bachelor’s degree in Fishery Resources.
Jake served as a law enforcement officer for 5 years before stepping aside to dive headfirst into his true passion, archery.
Jake spends most of his year in the woods studying the habits and patterns of the most elusive of critters; the mountain whitetail. Jake is master certified as an archery technician. You can expect him to spend time with each bow as if he was relying on it himself when that once in a lifetime shot opportunity comes to fruition.
Austin Johnson
Austin also comes from Minnesota/ Wisconsin. He moved out here with his family in 2022 to follow a dream, and because he loves hunting in the mountains.
Austin joined the Army after high school and went on to serve as a flight medic in Afghanistan in 2012. During his Army years and before he had a family, Austin also enjoyed the rodeo life. He often claims he was better at donating his money to the other riders than winning any.
Austin went on finish college, earning a degree in criminal justice and getting a job as a police officer. He worked as a city cop and deputy sheriff over the next 5 years, until taking the leap and leaving law enforcement to pursue a dream of owning and operating an archery pro shop.
Austin is very knowledgeable about archery and has been a student of the craft for the last 6 years. Spending the last few years working part time at a pro shop in Wisconsin.
From the Army, to rodeo, to police work, Austin has always been passionate about archery and is excited to share that passion with the community here in North Idaho.
JOHN FONTAINE
John, founder of North Idaho Archery is originally from the Northern Minnesota/Wisconsin area and moved out to Idaho in 2020 with his wife, Michelle, and two German Shepherds, Athena and Estella.
John grew up playing hockey, fishing and hunting whitetail in the Midwest. He is very well known for his “Low Expectations Outdoors” videos, pictures, and known for being the “okayest hunter” amongst his friends.
John enlisted into the Army when he was in high school and left for Afghanistan soon after where he conducted combat operations.
After the Army, John spent 6 years in law enforcement; primarily working patrol division and operating on the SWAT team back in Wisconsin. John got out of law enforcement to full fill a dream with his veteran brothers and that was to open North Idaho Archery.
John loves the outdoors and being away from cell service. Fly fishing, chasing elk in September, and hiking are some of his favorite hobbies.
John is also a master certified archery technician. Archery has been apart of John’s life since he was 12 years old when he got his first bow. John is extremely excited to bring NIA to the community and be the premier archery shop in North Idaho.
OUR MISSION
To bring a culture to our pro shop where people want to be to socialize, connect, and grow their tribe. A place where people can grow their skills and knowledge and be involved in the wonderful community that is archery.