I am currently in the process of booking a moose hunt in Newfoundland. My wife would like to accompany me and make a tour of Of the northeast as well. In addition we would be able to bring all of the meat home if we take our pickup instead of flying. My question is, has anyone taken the ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland? How rough is the crossing? Thank you for any information you can supply. Jim

JA,
I will begin by saying I have never taken the trip. However I was in the process of putting together a similar excursion for Spring Bear years ago to the "Rock". I only responded to advise you, I spoke with the "Mounties" up there at length, and according to the RCMP....THE THING you want to plan for is getting off the ferry in daylight. They advised me there is only one main highway for navigation on the island, and traveling it late at night is a Very Risky endeavor due to the Moose in the roadway. I realize this is a small aspect of your plans, but also could prove to be disastrous if not planned for. Hope you can put your trip together and have a nice time.

JA……. have taken the ferry and have friends who have. It is a good ride and usually is not rough. Having said that, if you get a storm it can be exciting, but they shut down the ferry……. as they do anywhere, if a dangerous storm is expected. I assume you are probably going in September or October and that is not storm ("norester") season, so you really do not have much to worry about.

It's a big 'boat'.

Thank you for the replies. It is looking like it will be mid October date as I am a little late making plans and all of the earlier hunts are filled.

JA - You will absolutely love Newfoundland, and perhaps more so, its people. I've been to 40+ countries and...Newfies are the most welcoming & friendly of anyplace I've been. The moose population up there is thriving as well. Sorry I can't report on the ferry as I've flown in on my visits. Have a great trip.

I've hunted Newfoundland twice. The first time I flew, the second I drove and took the ferry from North Sidney, NS to Port au Basque, NF. It's a pleasant 6 hour ride with lots of interesting fellow travelers. My trip out was during the day...trip back overnight. If you travel at night you can rent a room and catch up on your sleep. Newfies are very friendly and helpful folks. You will enjoy being there.

I've done it a couple times, hunting moose and motorcycle. Not too much to say because it is pretty straightforward, done both day and night crossings both ways. They are really big boats like small cruise ships so very smooth and they don't go in bad weather.

The real basic basics for paperwork: need a passport and US 4457 form for guns. Declare and get gun permit at Ca border. Have a clean legal background especially DUI as they are very strict with letting people in with backgrounds going back decades. Just need your Ca hunting license to bring the meat back across to US.

Suggest you make reservations at least 2 weeks in advance because they fill up especially in moose season. If doing the overnight crossing decide if you want a sleeping berth. There is no sleeping on the floor but the seats do recline like an airplane and most sleep in them but its a long night.

If you have time and clear weather the Cabot Trail is an especially scenic drive in Nova Scotia.

Some pics of the crossing in these albums.
Hunt:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1...lintlockMoose201002#

Bike:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1...ntry2012Northeast02#

Wow! Thanks for all of the great info gentlemen. And thanks for sharing your photo's Tundragriz, that is a very nice moose you took.

bring me a case of "Screech" back will you?

i went bear hunt 2011 near gros morne nationall park,i met group of polish hunters from USA,they took ferry,crossing as easy ,they pay i believe 150 fro car to be shiped over with ferry,i got my bear on first day,they got moose and cow,there is lot of moose,u have to be in good shape if u want better moose,dont expect big bull like u see on tv,it is posibble but moose is average,overall newfies are nice people nd fiendly,i will be back some day to newfoundlad

My wife, daughter and I drove from Fort Worth to North Sydney Nova Scotia and took the Smallwood to Port Aux Basque in Sept. of 1996, and it was a great trip. I shot a moose and a woodland caribou on that trip and brought all the meat all the way back to Texas. The only thing I did not get a shot at was a bear. On our way up I did a one day guided Atlantic Salmon fishing trip on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, did not catch anything but did make some unforgettable memories.

Would not mind making the trip again.

JA, as mentioned, get as much as possible done before you leave home, as in any reservations needed, GPS markings/maps etc., and be sure you find out about any meat processing and export. Our Customs agents are particular about importing meat. It is best if its packaged and frozen. Locate a dry ice source before you go. Most all guides/outfitters will sort this info out for you ahead of time but I advise staying on top of it yourself. Some giant Bears in Newfoundland. Good hunting!

I did it 2 years ago and am going this year as well. My son and I drive up from Pa with a chest freezer in bed of my pickup. 1. do your background work well as far as your meat. Processors are not everywhere we had to drive 80 miles to pick up the packaged moose. This time I'm going to Ray's an we will cut up our own meat into manageable size flash freeze it and leave with frozen meat and ice in our chest freezer. On our last trip using waxed boxes and dry ice our meat packs were soft after driving for two days. 2. Get a room you won't be sorry. probably won't sleep much on way there but you will on way back. 3. a real good moose is 40" in NF yes they'll show you 50" racks but they are VERY scarce. You might want to shoot one early in the hunt that measures 30" with 10 points just so the meat is done in time to take it with you.

I would be careful about "touring" some of the more anti gun Northeast states with firearms in you vehicle.

Don't advertise that you have guns, but also from experience having done this trip in 1996, up state New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine are all strong hunting areas, it is only the major cities and if a person has any sense they will detour around those.

You will have no problem transporting long guns in the northeast...but leave yor handguns at home.

Phil

When the wife and I and our youngest daughter went up there in 1996, I got to Canadian Customs from Houlton Maine and they asked me if I had registered my guns, and of course dumb ass me said no, so they showed me where to turn around at and sent us back over to the American office.

I think it took maybe 20 minutes to get my rifles registered, of course that was after the discussion about which one of the two I was taking would be better for moose.

We pulled back over to the Canadian office and I handed my paperwork to the same lady that had sent me back to get the registration done. She asked me why I was bringing guns into Canada and I explained about the hunt in Newfoundland.

She then asked me if I hunted with or owned a pistol and I said yes and she said do you have it with you and I said no and she asked me why and I said because the information I had gotten from her government said I could not bring it in to Canada.

She laughed, said good answer looked at my papers and said have a great hunt and enjoy Canada.

Sounds just like my border crossing at St. Stephen...same drill. The Canadians in the Maritime Provinces are nice folks.

Phil

The last time I drove to hunt moose in CA the border guard showed me a picture of his last moose.

It is different now than it was in 1996; now you have to PAY for the privilege of taking guns into Canada. Fill out the forms first. Last time I was there I recall it was $35 each. They did not want to see them; the Canadian customs lady just wanted the money and the form.

Anything less than $100.00 per gun is a minor inconvenience. The other option is to simply not go there.

I'm a Newfoundlander. You want to book your passage prior to travel to ensure there is a berth reserved for your vehicle. Google Marine Atlantic to check ferry schedules and book passage. They have a toll free number you can also check for updates in case of delays and rough seas. Your wife will appreciate booking a private cabin, but the reclining sleeper chairs are comfortable enough just as long as there isn't a gang of rowdy kids running around, playing and screaming. It seems like Marine Atlantic raises their prices every spring. It sucks.

If your schedule permits, book a night passage, you get a night's sleep and roll off the ferry fresh for a day of driving. The Main highway transecting the province is The Trans-Canada Highway, aka TCH or Highway 1. In the spring/summer-mid-fall there are two ferry routes in operation. North Sydney (Nova Scotia) to Port aux Basques on NFLD's west coast and Argentina on the east. (FYI: Argentia was the site of a former US military base). The Argentia run is only put on during the tourism season.

Speedlimit on the TCH averages about 100 km/h. It is divided, with two lanes running east and two west. It is heavily rutted in sections, so be careful, especially when wet/raining. Twilight is the worst time to spot moose, so adjust your speed accordingly.

Good rain gear and high top rubber boots with replaceable felt liners are a must. Bring an extra pair or two along that you can switch out as the others dry. You will get wet. If you aren't used to our cold, damp North Atlantic climate October can be pure misery for you southron' boys. With the windchill, most days can get down to freezing ranges. Good thermal layers/wool will keep you comfortable. However, don't be surprised if your guide/locals are in shorts and T-shirts. Anything above 10C counts as T-shirt weather for us!

Hope this helps.