Entering Canada with a firearm

[vermontbuild]

I realize this topic has been discussed but I thought I’d relate my experience with crossing into Canada with a firearm. Canadian authorities are concerned about tracking all firearms entering their country. The list of acceptable guns is simple : no handguns, no semi automatic rifles or shot guns, barrel length is minimum 18”. I approached crossing with a pre filled out firearm form I downloaded on line. My unloaded shotgun was stored in a case with a trigger lock. After asking me the standard questions ( booze, tobacco, guns ? ), the Border patrol agent asked me to park and come inside with the firearm. The firearm form I had downloaded had 4 or 5 reasons why I was entering Canada with a gun. I checked “ in transit “ . After recording my guns serial number, the officer reminded me that firearms are not permitted to be used in most parks etc. He also said I couldn’t sell my gun in Canada. The whole process took less than a half hour. It should be noted that this is not the time to joke with the agents or make other unnecessary comments. While crossing back into the Yukon from Alaska and repeating the above process on our way home to Vermont, I witnessed a pickup from Texas ( I was told agents profile certain states as probable gun carriers ), agents asked driver to step out of vehicle and proceeded to search truck. They then pulled a couple of rifles from behind seat and immediately handcuffed the Texan. Moral of the story, don’t even think of sneaking a gun into Canada. Play by their rules and it’s no big deal.

[Skoit]

That’s interesting. Thank you for relaying your experience.

[WorldCat25]

Semi-auto shotguns and rifles are permitted. In fact, on the Canadian Firearms Declaration form, semi-auto is one of the boxes to check when describing the type.

From the form:

"A Prohibited Firearm is:
A handgun with a barrel length of 105 mm (4.1 inches) or less.
A handgun designed or adapted to discharge 25 or 32 calibre ammunition.
A rifle or shotgun that has been altered to make it less than 660 mm (26 inches) in overall length.
A rifle or shotgun that has been altered to make the barrel length less than 457 mm (18 inches) where the overall firearm length is 660 mm (26 inches) or more.
An automatic firearm and a converted automatic firearm.
Any firearm prescribed as prohibited."

[Sandy Swede]

I crossed into Canada(Carway) last year from near Glacier NP with a pump shotgun. No go. I had to take it back into the U.S. to store. Finally, the border agent agreed to hold it in a secure area and I could pick up on our return. Unfortunately, we were entering the U.S. at a different location due to the horrible route from Glacier. After our trip to Calgary and Banff, I made a 100 mile RT from our campground in Lethbridge in the toad to pick it up. Yes, I had downloaded and filled out the Canadian form. You can only cross into Canada with an approved firearm if you are going to and from Alaska ("in transit").

[vermontbuild]

Thanks for that update Sandy. I am currently planning a fishing trip to The Yukon and BC. I had planned on bring my pump shotgun “ just in case “. Looks like I’ll be leaving it at home. On my last trip thru Canada on my way to Alaska, I was chased by a large “ curious “ black bear during a roadside stop in the British Columbia Rockies. I made it to my truck ahead of him and never pulled out my gun. When discussing “ negative human/bear interactions “ with an Alaskan game warden, he requested I not start any confrontation with shooting the bear. If shouting and waving arms doesn’t deter the bear, a single shot fired into the air will deter bears 90% of the time. Keeping a clean campsite and avoiding surprising any bears is effective. I spent 2 months in the bush and never got my gun out.That being said, Alaskans told me the best protection from wilderness bears is to bring a gun and someone slower than you.