quote:

Originally posted by groundtender:
It's pretty easy, particularly if you are driving across. Just make sure you stop at US Customs before going to the Canadian customs. The US agent will inspect your firearm and give you a form that describes it. You WILL need this to get your firearm back into the US on your return. If you are flying, get to the airport real early and request US Customs to do this form, because in my experience the airline won't mention it. These forms remain good if you travel out of the US again with the same firearm. I used one three years apart.

Some people recommend adding expensive cameras, binocs, jewelry, etc to the US form so that US Customs does not try to say you bought it out of the country and charge duty.

The Canadian Form 909 should be all filled out, but unsigned, and undated upon your appearance at Canadian customs. Get it well in advance, or print one online.

If you are flying, different airlines have different regs and restrictions. Air Canada really sucks. For example, United permits ammo to be in the locked case w/ your firearm. Air Canada requires that ammo be in a separate checked bag, with an excessive additional fee. If your return flight back to US leaves Canada and lands in another Canadian city for a connection, you will be required to get all your baggage and then go through US customs at that city, and then go back through all the initial check-in and security checks before boarding your connecting flight. So book a return flight that goes directly to a US airport from the city of your departure from Canada.

Take my advice, drive! It's a hell of a lot easier.