canada hunting questions?

[tjstebb]

hey everyone,
i know this is michigan hunting forum,but had a couple question for any of you that have went to canada rifle hunting? we are going up there oct. 19th and was wondering if anyone had any tips or suggestion to make our trip a good one...like what to expect at the border? we are crossing over at international falls minnesota, or is there anything we should bring with us that we may not of thought of for the hunt that maybe useful to have? i have never hunting up there and have never crossed the border with a rifle either...we are going 200 miles north of international falls.
thanks for any help,
tjstebb

[bumpbottom]

Take the time to pre register your gun. Saves a lot of time getting through;)

[Luv2hunteup]

Make sure you take your birth certificate or passport.

If anyone in your group has had a drinking and driving offense in the last 5 years expect delays and if the let you continue it will cost an extra $200. If any offense is more serious don't expect to get into Canada.

[uptracker]

Call Canadian Customs and have gun paperwork sent to you. Fill it out and just walk into the office in Fort Francis, pay your $22 and you're on your way.

I'd bring some good walking boots....not huge pack boots.....bring those just in case though. I'd also take a quad and a little boat if possible.

You need a solid orange hat and vest....NO CAMO/ORANGE...it has to be solid orange.

As for the Drunk Driving thing, take care of that now. You'd need a Temporary Resident Permit. I know a buddy that got held up last year because the passenger was hiding it. They waited 6 hours in Soo, ON I think!

I'll be up the week after you, but I may even show up a week early too if I get the chance! What city are you staying in (PM that to me)?

I want a report when you get back too!!!!!!!!

Oh, and don't lean a loaded gun on your vehicle! Lean it on a tree close by. It cannot be touching the vehicle if loaded.

Act Normal too!:D

[buckpole]

[quote=uptracker;1752963]
You need a solid orange hat and vest....NO CAMO/ORANGE...it has to be solid orange.


Or solid white

[uptracker]

Solid white in Ontario? I don't think so. You're thinking SK. It says it right in the rule book (it even shows the inches needed and they know how to measure it out) and I asked a MNR officer last year about an extra Mossy Oak Orange vest I had and she said, "Nope!." My buddy had a mesh one and she said, "Nope!".

[uptracker]

Here ya go, I pulled the book out:

"A hunter orange garment and head cover must be worn. The hunter orange garment must cover a minimum of 400 square inches (2,580 square cm) above the waist and be visible from all sides. Open mesh or camoflage hunter orange must not be part of the 400 inches. A hunting coat or vest generally meets this requirement. The hunter orange head cover may have: open mesh; a crest or logo which does not completely cover the hunter orange on the side where it is affixed. the head cover may not contain camoflage material.

Hunter orange colour standards are generally consistant across North America.

Manufacturers can provide information regarding clothing compliance with this standard."

Two other tips: Get your tags before you go. Lines can get long up that way and when you have a few guys with ya, it could take a while.

Second, try to cross the border early in the morning; before 7 am. The place can fill up after that, especially on Fridays or Saturdays. You could also get your gun paperwork taken care of before you even go (it's good for 60 days), but you'd have to go to a border beforehand to do this. That way you couldjust breeze through the border stuff up there and not even have to go inside the jam packed room full of guys from all over the U.S. I won't even travel with a guy that doesn't have his ducks in a row before we start out on the trip. It's worth it to come up here and spend a day beforehand to get things straightened out. I hate to wait when I want to get somewhere.

PM me any questions!

Oh, and to get your tags, you need at least a current hunting license from Michigan.

Watch the guide requirement areas up there too and there is no camping on public lands by non-residents in most of the area. If you get one, you also need an export license to bring it back across the border. You can get them at any license dealer up there. You're also looking at about an 18 hour drive, so you may wanna think about staying in a hotel one night if you don't think you'd make it in one day. We've made it, but we've also stayed in Duluth, Superior, and International Falls....plus a few here and there. Once you get outta Fort Francis though, there's not much.

[MPD068]

uptracker is right on the orange!!!, One of our party got a ticket for not having the proper amount of orange. I also heard your gun must be unloaded after hours even when walking to and from stand.

Been up there 3 years in a row, but missed last year. Will be up there this year from Oct 27 through Nov 3. THICK, WET, RUGGED country but very Beautiful.

[uptracker]

uptracker is right on the orange!!!, One of our party got a ticket for not having the proper amount of orange. I also heard your gun must be unloaded after hours even when walking to and from stand.

Been up there 3 years in a row, but missed last year. Will be up there this year from Oct 27 through Nov 3. THICK, WET, RUGGED country but very Beautiful.

True!

[tgafish]

Call Canadian Customs and have gun paperwork sent to you. Fill it out and just walk into the office in Fort Francis, pay your $22 and you're on your way.



Better yet. Just download and print;)
http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/online-en_ligne/form-assistance/indiv_forms/909_e.asp

[uptracker]

You need a three part copy though! You always have to have a copy with you too!

[kbkrause]

If you're a domestic beer drinker, bring your own beer, claim it and pay duty. It's cheaper.