Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Newfoundland Moose outfitter?

I'll third it. I did my first hunt with them and the next will be with them.

How tough is it to clear guns into Canada nowadays? What is the process?

Now you are going to make Pugs have a stroke...

I have heard varying stories on this....

I have a griz hunt booked in the Yukon next year, and have been told to fly through Calgary and NOT Vancouver. I guess that means that there's some aspect of individualism in the difficulty getting guns across or maybe it is a province vs province thing.....like California vs. Texas.

I have no idea what cities on the east side of Canada would be more friendly than others...but this is something to think about. If you're driving, I think the concept would be the same. Go through their customs at a "good" location.

Doesn't need to be difficult. My experiences in September were good, quick and easy.
Look up the current regs on Canada's website, download the current form, & fill out according to instructions. Carefully.
If flying allow some extra time on both ends of the flight. US Customs can be a bit of a wild card as can the Canadians.
Having your paperwork in order often seems to expedite things.
My 2 cents is that you view these as a formal business transaction, keep it simple, answer their questions.
Keep your jokes to yourself, save your questions til after the formalities are done.

When you arrive at customs, leave your gun(s) in their case in your vehicle, take the above mentioned forms into the office, present them, you passport, & make payment. They took credit cards at the office we passed thru just outside Maine. An officer may/will accompany you back out to your vehicle to confirm serial numbers. Then you are on your way.

The officers we dealt with were quite pleasant and chatty. Told us to be sure and have licenses & game reports (supplied by outfitter) available on return, which made that visit quick and easy as well.
The fee covers more than one gun, if you wish to take a backup. No extra charge or paperwork.

New Foundland was easy to the guns in, coming back was a different story. Out of the 4 of us, no one had a 4457 form, good thing I worked a couple of cases with them guys or we would still would be sitting in jail!

Getting them into Canada is a piece of cake. US Customs coming home? At least in Toronto they were a morass of incompetence and indifference. Plan on 3+ hour layovers to get it done. Yes, I'm still pissed at those useless gov drones. I work with the gov every day and these were a new level of incompetence.

I've cleared customs many times with gun coming back from Africa and Mexico. I'm used to dealing with the occasional dolt on the US side. Just wasn't sure about Canada. I'll avoid Toronto if possible, so thanks for the heads up.

Appreciate the info though. I'll google around and check out Canadian forms.

Twin Lakes with Craig Pelley did me right in 2015, but heard the moose population has gone down hill! Had a blast got a great meat bull, had the meat shipped home still eating it the vacuum sealed is still good! Had no issues coming home through Toronto has the US Customs paper work before I left! Simple to get and no problems coming home!

I booked Tuckamore lodge for 2020.

We had no issues in 2014 either but last year they changed the entire procedure from one that worked fine to 3 hours of sitting and we all had our paperwork in order.

Well that new PM is a duesh bag!

I have been reading intently the comments on customs and guns and am thankful I had no issues while hunting Moose in Newfoundland. My archery equipment never got a second look except one agent wanted to know why the field points and broadheads were not on the arrows.

Where do you get the proper paperwork?

Form RCMP 5589 / CAFC 909 - http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/form-formulaire/index-eng.htm#f909 (more info - http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/visit-visite-eng.htm)

You also want to have a US form 4474 to make it easy to bring it back - https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/323/~/traveling-outside-of-the-u.s.---temporarily-taking-a-firearm%2C-rifle%2C-gun%2C

Pugs, can you not use the Form 4457 for your guns and personal items? That's the form I've used coming back from Africa and MX.

Yep. Same form. Basically proves you had the same (expensive) stuff when you left the country.

Have two buddies who hunt with this guy every two years: https://www.anglingnewfoundlandlabrador.com/plan-and-book/outfitters/21896696

I will say that neither of them are the type to hunt out of a vehicle and they want to actually get out and about. Having said that, while they will certainly shoot a monster if they see it, they are meat hunters, so don't spend a lot of time assessing trophy quality.

In any case, they've gone 3 times in the last six years and used the same outfitter. That says something.

Myself, for the money, I'd sooner go to Africa.

I've hunted with Red Indian Lake before and am headed back this October with them again. Highly recommend. Our group has gone 5 times total there. Always a great experience. I also hunted with another outfitter who I wont mention by name, they were good also, but much more rustic and a lot harder hunt for similar results. Wouldn't not recommend them, but be sure you know what you're getting in to.

Remember don't sign the Canadian paper work until you are standing in front of Canadian customs after they inspected your firearms! If you do you wasted your time and money!