Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Canada border crossing

A few small things I have noticed when I used to hunt Canada.
Do not get your firearm out until told to do so.
Have all information with you and ready when you pull up.
Only give them information when asked, and then only give them the information they ask for.
When you cross during off hours, late at night, early in the morning. Have exact change, in Canadian currency, or a credit card to pay your fees.
Be nice, but don't talk unless asked a question.
Hope you have a enjoyable hunt.

I transported about a dozen long guns on my way to AK some years ago; no real issues. I don't recall that they even looked at them, just asked if they were unloaded. Paid the $, and on my way. I have had other crossings that took a bit of time, I am apparently a profiled person. Older white male, short hair, travelling alone. They always want to know if I am "meeting anyone in Canada", and then 4 questions later "Who did you say you were meeting in Canada?" then the sixth question later, "Are you SURE you are not meeting anyone in Canada?" Have had a few grouchy white Canadian customs girls act a little cranky but nothing too bad, overall.

I hunt Ontario every year and have never had issues going in and out of Canada. As others have said, be truthful and polite.

I believe it makes a difference where you cross (going both ways). I have friends who have flown into Toronto and it can be a pain (so can JFK). It is not an "outdoorsy" location. On the other hand, get off the plane in Saskatoon or Edmonton and they understand hunting.

our experiences over the years, if you do the research and follow the rules, getting into Canada for a US citizen is usually smooth and easy.

As a US citizen getting back into the US is a major PITA... even in April as we crossed into Alaska below Tok... what a prick with questions... Canada, nice, to the point, friendly. I basically hate our own border folks. I've not had a single nice one ever, and I've had some real smart asses and rude ones.

Obviously we have not done it a lot, but probably 15 or so times over the last years.

FWIW the entry was 3 hours getting to the shack in April this year, but once there nice and smooth, even though it never dawned on me I'd need paperwork for the airboat. But they we easy and good with that. Never even wanted to see the guns. Asked about AR15 mags with the AR15s, I said no, I knew that some were illegal and as such I had shipped all my mags. They said thank you.

The worst thing to me was saying about using a gun for animal protection along the way in CA was ok, but not against a human. I know the socialist BS stuff so all I said was yep totally understand and I carry a big fire extinguisher for humans....led into a funny discussion and they had no clue a FE works great for most human situations.

Canada does not view personal protection as a viable reason to have a fire arm. This is from the Canadian Customs web site and a friend of mine had to mail his shot gun home from the border after he told them it was for personal protection. You can have "bear spray" for bear protection, but you can not have it for protection from bad guys. Ya can't make this stuff up.