Hello,

I am going on a Moose hunt to Alberta in September. Two of us are flying to Edmonton and two of are driving across the border at winnnipeg. Are we going to have any trouble if the two that are driving takes the guns? We are traveling back together.

I am worried that we are going to get to the border on the way home and have 4 moose and the guns in just 2 peoples names.

Any help would be appreciated,

ddj

Don't know about the guns but you have to make sure that the two of you aren't caught with the four moose. UNLESS you have written permission by the other hunters that you are transporting the game for them. I know you plan on riding together but it might be best to make that letter just in case.

the chef

That is the reason we are going to ride back together. We are just wondering if we are going to have any trouble coming back if 4 guns are in 2 of our names and we have shot four moose.

Thanks for any help,

ddj

In 2007 I crossed at Pembina North Dakota. You need the Canadian forms and they will check them. I would contact Canadian customs on enetering with firearms that are not yours.

Also leaving you will need to have a form for US customs, so you can show they are yours and you are just returning with them. When I came back we had two moose in the truck. We stopped filled out a couple of forms for the moose and were checked right through.

Your outfitter will know. You most likely need an export permit for the moose. Usually free at the game branch. We have to sign the back of a tag which goes with the animal then another beside the shooter can transport the game..
Watson Lake

Crossing the border with standard hunting firearms is pretty easy. Where I've crossed, the border police do it all the time (Baudette, MN). Be pleasant, honest, and let them drive the procedure (they like that).

At the crossing, tell them you're hunting and need to declare some firearms. They have some forms you need to fill out (you can save some time and get these off the 'net and fill them out, but don't sign them until you get there).

On this form you need to declare each firearm you are bringing across the border. You can declare more than one. You need to list model, cartridge, serialnumber and barrel length. They will want to inspect/verify each one you declare (have then unloaded, cased and available).

After this, you pay a fee, and they issue you a possession permit. What they've told me is that you NEED that piece of paper on your person if you are in possession of the firearm. I think this is where you might run into trouble. If your buddy is carrying a firearm you declared, he doesn't have the permit. If you were checked, I s'pose it would come down to the discretion of whoever is checking. I wouldn't do it.

OH, don't bring any handguns, those are a no-no. There are other restrictions on barrel-length and I think on magazine capacity (you need to check). Also, if anybody in your party has had a DWI in the near past, be prepared to be turned around at the border.

On the way back, you probably won't need to stop on the canadian side of the border at all (I've never had to). You will need to stop at the US border patrol of course, but they could care less about your canadian paperwork. If you have moose, you'll need to do paperwork on that (I've never done moose, only deer). For deer, they make you fill out a import form (and again pay a fee).

Where in norwest IA? I was born in Sanborn, still have lots of relatives thereabouts.

-nosualc

nosualc
Is 100% right. You must declare your firearm and have the paper work on you at all times.I have taken more than one rifle into canada that my partner and i have both declared. that way if something happens to one of our gun we can use the spare leagly.

You also need to have a form 4457 filled out for U. S. Customs for when you bring your guns back into the U.S.A. If they check and find that the information on the form 4457 shows the guns belong to someone that isn't present, there is a good chance they won't let them back in. They've wanted the form 4457 each time I returned from Africa.

I am going to Saskatchewan, Canada goose/crane & predator hunting, leaving tomorrow. I'm registered (form 909 & 910) & got approved to bring in firearms into Canada, but I have'nt found what I need to do for the US authorities. Is there anything I'm missing? Traveling abroad in the past, I've never had any trouble abroad, but coming back, the US has been a bigger pain than anyone.

You need to download form 4457 from the internet and complete it. It's a form that documents you owned the stuff you're taking out of the country and want to return with. You could put several guns or possessions on one form but, since they never expire, I list things separately on the forms so I can use the form another time if I like.

After completing the form, take the form and your guns or other possessions to a U. S. Customs office (they'll probably have one at a major airport), show them your stuff, a U. S. Customs officer stamps and signs the form and you're good to go.

Also, be aware that without a special export permit, it's illegal to take more than 3 firearms out of the U.S.A. Also, it's illegal to take military style weapons out without a permit but then it's probably illegal to take them into Canada anyway.