Posted: 8/7/2010 6:39:47 PM EDT
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Hey, I am just starting to plan a drive from CO to Alaska. I'm retired, and AK is the only state I have never been to. Looking at the map, I am trying to get answers to 2 questions: 1. Going through Canada, what are the laws regarding firearms? I'm hoping to carry my .44Mag revolver, a Benelli 12 Ga., and a .30-06. Will I get through customs with this? 2. Are there any restrictions going through Canada with my dog? Some countries have restrictions, even just passing through. Thanks much for your help. I can't wait for Spring to get here. GC |
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1- no on handguns and if that Benelli holds more than a hunting load of 3 rounds, no on it as well. The .30-06 is ok as long as it's not some hi-cap, belt fed semi-auto of some type. Bolt action hunting rifles are good to go. That being said, there are forms you need to fill out in advance (available on the Canadian Customs website) and have with you to declare when you arrive at the border. Unless you are hunting (again with permits/more papers filled out), the rifle will have to be unloaded in a locked case while transporting it through Canada.
2 - dogs/pets are fine - but you'll need animal declaration forms filled out, as long as current medical/shot records with you to show at the border crossings. When were you going to do the drive? |
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Thank you very much! Great info, even though I had hoped for better news.
Those are tough laws. I would have guessed that there was some way to legally get the .44 through. I assume that I had better wait until Spring. May-June time frame. Any suggestions to the contrary? Thanks again. GC ETA: If I have plug in the Benelli would that work? As I recall it holds 7+1 without the plug and 3 with it. |
Regarding the benelli, you'd have to pull up their site and read the fine print thoroughly - it might fly if it's plugged....but then again it is an evil semi auto
May/June is a beautiful time to drive up! Last time I did it was early June - gorgeous drive and gets you here in time for some fishing. Typically our summers are nicer on the early end than they are now (which is being proven by non-stop rain). I think we had our summer the last week of May this year. |
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What Benelli?
I've gone into Canada to hunt with a SBE and an SBE II multiple times...no problem. They never looked to see if they were plugged or could hold more than 3 rounds. I can't remember if we plugged them before crossing the border or after (we were hunting pheasants and crossed to hunt snows). For the pet, make sure you have the travel health certificate from a vet and it has to be less than 30 days old when you enter. If you're going to spend a lot of time in AK (ie all summer), you may have to get another one before going home. ETA: This is from the Canadian ATF equivalent website on Benelli Shotguns Link "Prohibited Weapons Order No. 11: The firearms of the designs commonly known as the Benelli M1 Super 90 shotgun and the Benelli M3 Super 90 shotgun, and any variants or modified versions of them, with the exception of the: * M1 Super 90 Field; * M1 Super 90 Sporting Special; * Montefeltro Super 90; * Montefeltro Super 90 Standard Hunter; * Montefeltro Super 90 Left Hand; * Montefeltro Super 90 Turkey; * Montefeltro Super 90 Uplander; * Montefeltro Super 90 Slug; * Montefeltro Super 90 20 Gauge; * Black Eagle; * Black Eagle Limited Edition; * Black Eagle Competition; * Black Eagle Slug Gun; * Super Black Eagle; and * Super Black Eagle Custom Slug." |
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Good info already given, I will simply add that in my opinion its not worth the hassle of taking any firearm. I've done it a few times (12ga) but the paperwork and $50 fee was not worth the 4 days max I'd spend getting the hell in and out of Canada. Last time my wife and I hated it so much we traversed from AK to MT in 2 days going virtually straight through. The dog should not be a problem either, just get the forms all squared away from the vet.
I would wait and come up next spring/summer myself. The drive is still Ok for another month but after that I'm not a big fan. Some small gas stations don't run during the winter and there are a few long stretches during the off season, so depending on your rig you may or may not like that. With my RV I need gas every 200 miles or so and in the off season I nearly got caught off guard one trip. |
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Don't have any pistol parts. They went ape shit over my Ciener .22 beretta conversion and my 15 round mags. Lots of threats of arrest, imprisonment, and not being allowed back into canada (that one didn't sound so bad). My mossy 500 and .22 rifle were fine though. The best part was when they were taring my truck apart looking for the pistol i didn't have, the chic opened a bleach bottle i was using in the middle of the night for a pee bottle. She opens it and takes a big whiff.  Me and my dad could not stop laughing. She was not amuse.can't remember if she kept it or gave it back.  |
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Quoted:
Don't have any pistol parts. They went ape shit over my Ciener .22 beretta conversion and my 15 round mags. Lots of threats of arrest, imprisonment, and not being allowed back into canada (that one didn't sound so bad). My mossy 500 and .22 rifle were fine though. The best part was when they were taring my truck apart looking for the pistol i didn't have, the chic opened a bleach bottle i was using in the middle of the night for a pee bottle. She opens it and takes a big whiff. Me and my dad could not stop laughing. She was not amuse.can't remember if she kept it or gave it back. Ha! I wonder if it was the same female? When I went through in 06, I had an empty 7rd 1911 mag in a box (shipped the handguns long before) and she went ape shit also!! Spent an hour just digging through the dog food looking for the "must have hidden pistol", yet didn't blink an eye at a .50bmg Armalite in the back of the truck because it only shoots "one round at a time eh?" |
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I blew right thru with a 590 mossberg their only rule to me was to take it outa my rack and put it behind my seat. But no pistols at all send it up to my smith How long ago was that? I cant see that happening now with them requiring a registration and fee to bring guns into country Also OP, be aware if you have a past DWI they WILL NOT let you in to Canada(or so I have been told). There are some other crimes as well, but thats the big one |
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Thanks a bundle for all the great info! The more I think about this, the more I'm thinking I'll leave ALL my guns at home. The pee bottle story is a riot! No outstanding warrants as far as I know. I had no idea things had gotten so bad on the border. Thanks again. GC |
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Quoted:
Thanks a bundle for all the great info! The more I think about this, the more I'm thinking I'll leave ALL my guns at home. The pee bottle story is a riot! No outstanding warrants as far as I know. I had no idea things had gotten so bad on the border. Thanks again. GC Its not warrants, its about convictions/pleas Every year I hear stories of people who got turned around at the border because they had a past DWI Hope to see you when you come up |
| Never had an iota of a problem taking guns into Canada. On the way back into the U.S.....different story. Made the crossing in Washington and the U.S. guys tore my truck apart, separated my hunting buddy and myself (both middle aged white guys with no criminal records), and kept us for over 2 hours. Complete pain in the ass and total waste of time. We even had the original receipts for the guns to prove we bought them in the U.S. and were the owners of the rifles. We drive up every year for the past 9 years and it is different every time we go, but Canada has never given us any trouble at all. |
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Getting into Canada was easy, getting back into the states was the tough part. Searched the veh for 2 hours and then found out one of the border guards was raised in Oklahoma 60 miles from me. I had the exact opposite experience crossing in Niagara Falls We played 20 questions with the border agent coming back they just moved us through |