I am going fishing on Biscotasi Lake this summer. Will be driving across the border and staying for a week at Grey Owl Camps. I would like to bring a rifle along for bear protection. What are the rules on bringing a rifle into Canada and carrying it with you while in the bush?

It is my understanding that black bears are most prevalent but I am an East Texas boy and we don't go into the woods without a gun.

Thanks for any information.
Jeff Collins

East Texas Boy or not, a gun for "bear protection" is a problem waiting to happen.

As a fellow who tramps across the border, all of 1/2 mile from my home, probably a dozen times a year in pursuit of fish and such in the bush country, except in hunting season I don't carry. Neither do ANY of the guides I've engaged.

Saying that, if you must carry, the rules are relatively simple. NO handguns. Register long guns at the border crossing station and pay the man.

Oh, and if anyone in your party has had a problem with the polizei, be prepared to have them refused entry. This goes for DUI, OUI, simple assault, and a pile of other things we call misdemeanors in this country.

Think about it a moment-- you are going to be in boat except for shore lunch and then in a cabin/lodge. Do you really want the additional scrutiny of a full on inspection because you are an East Texas Boy who couldn't leave his gun at home?

Thanks for the info, I have a few months to make my decision.

I appreciate that bringing a rifle does complicate things at an international border but I am one of those who believes that it is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it. I believe in being prepared for any situation that may arise.

I am just researching things to see if the trouble involved in bringing a rifle with me is to great to make it worth while.

Do you know if cell phone service is available up that far north or should I look into renting a satelite phone for the trip?

Any information would be helpful.
Jeff Collins

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jnc91:
Thanks for the info, I have a few months to make my decision.

I appreciate that bringing a rifle does complicate things at an international border but I am one of those who believes that it is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it. I believe in being prepared for any situation that may arise.

Just recognize, that if you use that rifle, you had better be prepared to make a damn good case for your actions, or you may end up in a pile of shit.
Grizz

quote:

Originally posted by Grizzly Adams:

Just recognize, that if you use that rifle, you had better be prepared to make a damn good case for your actions, or you may end up in a pile of shit.
Grizz

You are right. I carry a handgun with me every day here in Texas. Carrying a gun for self defense whether it be from two legged or four legged critters is a great responsibility.

It is incumbent on any one who carries a gun to take every step to avoid any situation where using the gun is necessary.

Deadly force should not be used unless every other option fails.

When the shit hits the fan, however, I would rather be judged by 12 than to be carried by six.

regarding the cell phone...

new towers are being put up all the time. I'd give the folks at Grey Owl a call and see if they have cell service. If not, I'm betting they have a sat phone that you could use as needed-- and that would most likely be a heckuva lot cheaper than renting one.

Take a nice 12guage with short barrel and slugs. Maybe a 5 pack of buck for 2 legged critters. I'm not a texas boy-- but I like to carry my hangun everywhere also. That alone kinda rules out canada

"...Biscotasi Lake Park near Sudbury..." As in Biscotasi Lake Park near Sudbury, Ontario? Or at a private fishing camp? No firearms in the Park at all.
In Ontario, you're assumed to be hunting if you have a firearm in the bush. No hunting licence, you'll be charged with hunting without a licence. Have a firearm chambered in a calibre not suitable for whatever game is in season(no bear season in the summer), you'll be charged with hunting out of season. Your host very likely won't let you carry a firearm anyway.
You'd be better off leaving your firearms at home. In any case, Yogi is not interested in you. You smell of nothing but trouble to him.

The best bear protection you can have is an older,fatter fishing guide you can outrun.

Stayed at Grey Owl Camp in village of Biscotasing. Cabin was on the south end of the lake about an hour boat ride from the base camp. Pike were biting. Walleye were kind of slow on the south end of the lake, best luck trolling crawler harnesses. Caught enough fish for shore lunch each day and dinner in the evening. Definately prefer walleye to pike for eating. Had great time.

quote:

Originally posted by sunray:
"...Biscotasi Lake Park near Sudbury..." As in Biscotasi Lake Park near Sudbury, Ontario? Or at a private fishing camp? No firearms in the Park at all.
In Ontario, you're assumed to be hunting if you have a firearm in the bush. No hunting licence, you'll be charged with hunting without a licence. Have a firearm chambered in a calibre not suitable for whatever game is in season(no bear season in the summer), you'll be charged with hunting out of season. Your host very likely won't let you carry a firearm anyway.
You'd be better off leaving your firearms at home. In any case, Yogi is not interested in you. You smell of nothing but trouble to him.

jnc91, bears typically aren't that scary or aggressive and personally I wouldn't worry about the hassle of bringing a gun up. Go enjoy the fishing trip and don't worry about things that go bump in the night. You are far more likely to be killed in a car accident on the way up than have an encounter with a black bear. Buy yourself a canister of bear spray if you are really worried.

Just got back. Based on the posts on this site and researching the candadian gov websites, I decided not to bring a rifle. It would have been just too much trouble. The only bear we saw as in the city dump on the way out of town. I left my pistol in Michigan at a friends home for the trip north. The canadian border security agents asked if anyone in my vehicle owned guns and upon recieving affirmative answers from everyone, they proceeded to search my jeep. Of course no one was stupid enough to try to sneak a gun across. The funny thing is they opened up the main compartment of my Maxpedition Jumbo bag but failed to search bags gun pouch. I could have easily snuck my pistol in.

quote:

Originally posted by nkonka:
Do you really want the additional scrutiny of a full on inspection because you are an East Texas Boy who couldn't leave his gun at home?

I left my rifle at home and was searched anyway because we answered truthfully when the border guard asked us if any of us owned any firearms. We also informed him that we left them at home but I guess he wanted to make sure.
Jeff

That's pretty typical, actually. My neighbor was a border patrol, and he said a lot of Americans with carry permits would hide their guns in their cars as they crossed the border as opposed to leaving them at home, so they were instructed to search their cars anyways. It's always better to be honest and cooperative with them no matter how much it seems like a hassle, sounds like you did the right thing! Glad you enjoyed the trip, and I agree about the walleye vs. pike debate!

When I go fishing I normally just carry a can of bear spray and go with a fishing buddy, and having spent some 15 years afield myself I've never seen a bear I wasn't hunting for myself.