Hello from an American in Ontario

Hello everyone!

I've actually lurked on this site for quite some time. It started a little before my first and only trip to Africa on a South African plains game hunt in April of 2011. As most people find out when they try an Africa hunting trip, I was pretty well hooked. I was on a nice beginners package for that trip and ended up with 7 different species and 9 trophies overall. I had brought a 300wsm for that trip.

I've since done a couple of hunts back on NA, including a fun an exciting Mule Deer hunt in Alberta this past fall.

Africa continues to call though and in the spring of this year I acquired CZ550 in 416 rigby and I've been taking a few shots off sticks with it when I can in preparation for a Buffalo hunt in the fall of 2013. It seems quite accurate although I need to either work the action enough to smooth it out or get someone to polish it a bit.

As the title indicates I'm in a unique situation as a US citizen with a residence in Ontario, Canada. I've obtained a PAL so I can have my firearms here and joined the local gun club/range.

I'll continue to monitor this site for the wonderful advice, opinions, and stories while preparing for my next adventure! I may have some specific questions of my own, especially for some of those Canadians I've seen on the site that have experience with the logistics of an Africa hunt.

Welcome to AH mw001! Nice to have you with us and please share some stories and pictures with us. Feel free to ask any question.

Welcome to the forum, mw001 !

welcome and enjoy the site mw001
do share some hunting adventures with lots of photos

Welcome to AH, mw001!

welcome to AH, and to being hooked p.s. whats a PAL, i am presuming its some sort of licence? i thought you didnt need them for rifles in canada?

Originally Posted by spike.t

welcome to AH, and to being hooked p.s. whats a PAL, i am presuming its some sort of licence? i thought you didnt need them for rifles in canada?

Possession Acquisition License PAL
Without it, no bang sticks.

Welcome to AH
If you can't find the information about the Canadian experience please feel free to ask.
I'll share my two bits.

Let's hear about that last hunt and the MD while your at it.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Possession Acquisition License PAL
Without it, no bang sticks.

thanks brick, just one more does having one of those mean you can buy as many as and when you want or are there conditions?

Welcome to the family mw001 look forward to sharing thoughts on some interesting subjects.

ENJOY!

My best always.

Originally Posted by spike.t

thanks brick, just one more does having one of those mean you can buy as many as and when you want or are there conditions?

There are limitations but quantity and timing are not among them to my knowledge.

There are different types though, restricted and non-restricted. A license for restricted guns basically allows you access to hand guns. Even if you have the restricted license you are very limited in what you can do with a hand gun. Basically you can only take one to a gun range that has given you a special transportation permit.

I have only a non-restricted version which allows me to own/obtain what most of us would consider typical sporting firearms. Interestingly, though the license is a little time consuming to obtain, once you have that it may be easier to obtain a firearm here than in the US. For instance, from Cabela's Canada I was able to order a rifle on-line and it came right to my door rather than to an FFA dealer of my choice.

thanks mw001 doesnt sound bad, delivered to your door

Originally Posted by spike.t

thanks brick, just one more does having one of those mean you can buy as many as and when you want or are there conditions?

Numbers, Have all the guns you want. Buy them as you like now.

As said, Handguns are restricted as to use and you need a Restricted PAL certification and a Transport permit.
Basically target shooting at approved ranges.

Made all my friends in RSA jealous.

a firearm delivered to your door ,i wouldnt try that in australia,especically bought on line .
thats something i cant wait to tell my hunting mates on our christmas hunting/trout trip weekend after next.
thats stumped me ....

Here are a few pictures from my first trip on South Africa:

My first animal!
DSC_0105 (800x531).jpg

More success!
DSC_0130 (800x531).jpg

Can't wait to see this one back from the taxidermist
DSCN0214 (800x600).jpg

Great stalk ending with a 50 yard crawl to a single 120 yard shot got this blue wildebeest
IMG_0491 (800x600).jpg

And here are a couple of photos from Alberta

My Dad and I with his deer:
IMG_0217 (800x600).jpg

My deer:
IMG_0225 (800x600).jpg

Welcome to the forum mw001. Thats a really nice gemsbok!
And some huge muleys!

Originally Posted by bluey

a firearm delivered to your door ,i wouldnt try that in australia,especically bought on line .
thats something i cant wait to tell my hunting mates on our christmas hunting/trout trip weekend after next.
thats stumped me ....

I'll do you one better than that. Never mind online we can send them in the mail.
Perfectly legal to post your firearm with the Canadian Postal Service.
It is the Queens Mail.

Sending via mail are ok in Norway as well, but you need to send a copy of your license to the dealer. And you need a license from the police for each and every gun you want to buy....

thats crazy brick , so have i got this right you can take a firearm right into the local post ofice show them what it is and just package it up and send it anywhere in canada ?
what about into the usa ?
surley not oveseas?
how about anywherei n the commonwealth ?