CANADA: First Hunt In Canada

[Ontario Hunter]

I've been through Vancouver twice and it wasn't bad. Have the Canadien forms filled out but not signed. After collecting your bag and gun case, you go to another place within the baggage area. Pay the fee, sign the forms and I doubt they even make you open the gun case.

On your return trip, you will clear US customs in the Canada. So have your 4457 handy.

Just remember 1) gun cannot be loaded (duh ... they will usually ask and often check, especially in airports ... which makes sense) and 2) NO AMMO IN GUN CASE. Definitely not allowed on planes but not sure about driving across. Never a good idea in any event.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I don't know about the skeeters and flies, when I went up to BC at the end of May a number of years ago for a bear hunt I didn't see a single one. But then it rained 9 out of 10 days and I lived in my rain gear.

If you haven't been you should have a great time. Is it over bait or spot and stalk? My hunt in BC was spot and stalk and my main animal was a grizzly but we only saw a single one at close to 600 yards and I just didn't want to risk a shot. But we did see a number of jet black black bears and I screwed up and shot a younger one instead of the bear that chased it out of the woods.

My experience with Canadian Customs was on the sour side. I drove up and crossed just north of Eureka, Montana. I told the agent that I had a rifle with me and where it was located at. He had me pull into the inspection area and wait inside as they tore my truck apart along with my bags that I had packed for a 23 mile horse pack in. Two hours later they were finished and I signed the rifle form, paid my fee and I was on my way. I had to completely repack everything since I had packed so that the weight was distributed between the two bags. They just stuffed my gear back into which ever bag was close.

Have a great hunt, can't wait for the report.

I think it was just your turn to be inspected. I've only had them go through my stuff coming back from Montana once. I acknowledge that the agents simply don't have time (usually) to put everything back exactly as they found it. Yes, it is an inconvenience and they invariably apologize and I always respond the same: "No problem. If it would help win the war against drugs and gun running, I would agree to a strip search every time I crossed."

 

[JimP]

I think it was just your turn to be inspected. I've only had them go through my stuff coming back from Montana once. I acknowledge that the agents simply don't have time (usually) to put everything back exactly as they found it. Yes, it is an inconvenience and they invariably apologize and I always respond the same: "No problem. If it would help win the war against drugs and gun running, I would agree to a strip search every time I crossed."

The only thing that the agent said to me once everything was done was not to keep my ammo with my rifle.

The only problem was that I was in a standard cab pickup so no matter where I placed my ammo it was going to be with the rifle.

It was early in the morning and I guess that he had a bad night and I was the first hunter for the day.

On my way back in on the US side the agent didn't even look at my 4457 but just asked if my rifle was listed on it. But I had to go inside to fill out some forms to import my bear into the US. That agent was quite friendly and asked about my hunt as we were filling out the forms.

 

[CAustin]

Have a great hunt Charlie.

All the best.

Thanks Buddy

 

[HankBuck]

Saturday morning will take a drive out to the brand new Kansas City Airport and travel to Edmonton Alberta. Black bear with color phase opportunity will be on the menu and Sherwood Outfitters will be my hosts. I bought this hunt last year at auction from my Kansas City Chapter of Safari Club international. This is a seven day hunt out of a remote tent camp set up and I am stoked. My good friend and AH member @Art Lambart II went with me to the range to dial in my trusty Ruger #1 in 375 H&H and it is already locked in the case. Traveling via Denver on United Airlines for this trip and all arrangements were made by Travel With Guns out of Texas. If anybody has any tips for traveling United with guns please chime in. Also tips on entering Canada with a firearm. I have the proper form filled out and am told that getting that declaration approved is pretty simple upon arrival.
So stay tuned for the trip and hunt report.

Good Luck on both your Hunt - United Airlines/TSA & Canadian Customs — for me it is always Three (3) ADVENTURES. Although I’ve never had a “disaster” and 90% of trips went smoothly - but i’m Never relaxed until I land and have my firearms & gear back in possession. Here are a few things I do to try and minimize any problems:

1). Have two printed copies of both the FAA & Airlines travel policy for Firearm/Ammo. One example where this can help - FAA allows ammo packed with the firearms inside the firearm case but some airlines do Not - and the Agents often don’t know the regulations (TSA also unreliable).
2). Canadian Customs is usually very nice, I’ve found them more polite then U.S. Customs. However, if you have a DWI conviction in the last 5 years (Not implying that you do) they will NOT let you enter the Country. I’ve twice witnessed Hunters denied entry into Canada for this reason, once driving in and once flying - this was 5 & 10 years ago but don’t think it’s changed.
3). I try to put as much “gear & clothing” into my carry on that would allow me to HUNT ——assuming they lose my checked luggage BUT my firearms/ammo gets thru. This saved me “once”.
Now, in 14-15 hunting trips by Air - never had a real disaster but packing like this gives me some piece of mind....and it’s really all I can do to control my circumstances. I’m sure others have good tips and even better ideas

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Got this from a friend on the Alaska Peninsula. Crazy warm!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The only thing that the agent said to me once everything was done was not to keep my ammo with my rifle.

The only problem was that I was in a standard cab pickup so no matter where I placed my ammo it was going to be with the rifle.

It was early in the morning and I guess that he had a bad night and I was the first hunter for the day.

On my way back in on the US side the agent didn't even look at my 4457 but just asked if my rifle was listed on it. But I had to go inside to fill out some forms to import my bear into the US. That agent was quite friendly and asked about my hunt as we were filling out the forms.

My ammo always goes in a separate ammo case. I think that's good enough for them. Even wrapped in a bag would probably be fine. Think about it. You go inside the truck stop to get a coffee and some nefarious type looks in the truck window and sees gun and ammo sitting there. Everyone is suddenly at risk. Bad enough the tweeker might break a window and grab the gun but shouldn't be easy for him to make use of it.

 

[IdaRam]

Good luck on your hunt and have a great time! Do you know the general area you’ll be hunting? Curious if there’s grizzly in the area. I’m really looking forward to hearing about your hunt!

 

[CAustin]

Good luck on your hunt and have a great time! Do you know the general area you’ll be hunting? Curious if there’s grizzly in the area. I’m really looking forward to hearing about your hunt!

Not aware of any grizzly in area. Just Black bears from blonde to jet black.

 

[Just Gina]

Thank you Bob. Yes sir two bears and a wolf if one presents itself. Give my regards to @Just Gina

Praying for a safe, successful hunt, and safe travels for you, Charlie!

 

[ActionBob]

Charlie i was up there shortly before they closed grizzly. Early May if I recall correctly. I got a nice big black bear. And a blond black bear with the most luxurious coat ever. Saw a total of 8 grizzlies. Two momma bears with 2 cubs each. A boar 1600 yards away on a path heading down towards us but through some thick stuff and then the path Y'ed and we could only watch one side. We chose poorly Then a beautiful silver tip that at first the outfitter thought was a big black but I had my two black bears already..... He screwed up and didn't stop cussing himself.

We had seen wolves on a carcass and rather than stalk them (I think it would have been doable) the outfitter gunned the truck right at them and stopped at about 200 yards and told me to jump out and shoot. Of course they were running and a big one stopped at 300+ yards and looked back and I shot clear over his back. In the excitement I had forgotten to turn my scope up. It was on 2x.... I'm still sick over that so the moral of my story is be ready for anything, I shot both blacks at close range. Probably 25 and 75 yards. That's why my scope was turned down. I should have kept that 2-12 on about 6.....

Back to grizzly.... Again he just kept driving towards the bear instead of getting out to glass and stalk. This grizzly was on that same carcass as the wolves. So we kept checking back and in the last hour of the last day the whole pack of wolves were back on it! The Outfitter would not let me shoot because he wanted to wait to see if that grizzly would show up. This time we stalked in to about 200 yards. It was a gas well clearing so we kept seeing wolves come in and out. The mature wolves apparently had their fill and this one young one kept going to the side to relieve himself then coming back to eat more

The last 5 minutes of legal shooting light (really dark) he says ok shoot a wolf. All that was there was 2 young ones and told him to hell with that. I was waiting the 5 minutes for a mature wolf or that bear. Of course I got neither.

Best of luck, hope the warm weather doesn't screw up your hunt. I'm sure you will see bears. O saw a total of 41 bears by the time I got home. But 2 of them were rummaging through the garbage at a lakeside restaurant less than a mile from where I lived in Minnesota at the time

 

[CAustin]

Praying for a safe, successful hunt, and safe travels for you, Charlie!

Thank you Gina!

 

[CAustin]

Hey anyone else having problems loading up pictures to the site?

 

[CAustin]

Checking in with United this morning went very well. Young man at counter was knowledgeable. So here we go!

 

[gillettehunter]

Good luck. Have fun and shoot straight!
Bruce

 

[MarkB]

Good luck on your hunt. A day with J. Alain Smith would be high on my bucket list of people to meet. Love that guys shows and books.

Bears should be out thick with this warm weather and rut approaching. Have a safe and successful great hunt.

MB

 

[375er]

May the thunder of the .375 bring you good things!!

 

[Nyati]

Wish you the best of luck, Charlie

 

[IdaRam]

Hey anyone else having problems loading up pictures to the site?

Yup, I do. Something to do with i-pad? I have wondered if it’s just me.

 

[IdaRam]

Charlie i was up there shortly before they closed grizzly. Early May if I recall correctly. I got a nice big black bear. And a blond black bear with the most luxurious coat ever. Saw a total of 8 grizzlies. Two momma bears with 2 cubs each. A boar 1600 yards away on a path heading down towards us but through some thick stuff and then the path Y'ed and we could only watch one side. We chose poorly Then a beautiful silver tip that at first the outfitter thought was a big black but I had my two black bears already..... He screwed up and didn't stop cussing himself.

We had seen wolves on a carcass and rather than stalk them (I think it would have been doable) the outfitter gunned the truck right at them and stopped at about 200 yards and told me to jump out and shoot. Of course they were running and a big one stopped at 300+ yards and looked back and I shot clear over his back. In the excitement I had forgotten to turn my scope up. It was on 2x.... I'm still sick over that so the moral of my story is be ready for anything, I shot both blacks at close range. Probably 25 and 75 yards. That's why my scope was turned down. I should have kept that 2-12 on about 6.....

Back to grizzly.... Again he just kept driving towards the bear instead of getting out to glass and stalk. This grizzly was on that same carcass as the wolves. So we kept checking back and in the last hour of the last day the whole pack of wolves were back on it! The Outfitter would not let me shoot because he wanted to wait to see if that grizzly would show up. This time we stalked in to about 200 yards. It was a gas well clearing so we kept seeing wolves come in and out. The mature wolves apparently had their fill and this one young one kept going to the side to relieve himself then coming back to eat more

The last 5 minutes of legal shooting light (really dark) he says ok shoot a wolf. All that was there was 2 young ones and told him to hell with that. I was waiting the 5 minutes for a mature wolf or that bear. Of course I got neither.

Best of luck, hope the warm weather doesn't screw up your hunt. I'm sure you will see bears. O saw a total of 41 bears by the time I got home. But 2 of them were rummaging through the garbage at a lakeside restaurant less than a mile from where I lived in Minnesota at the time

I was up there in ‘87 hunting grizzly and black bear on the Simonette River and Smoky River.
Bob, where did you hunt?