Canada waterfowl trip booked!

Blake K

Blake K

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I have booked a trip to take my 72yr old dad on waterfowl hunt to Canada the end of September. It is one of his bucket list items of things to do. Anyhow, I am just looking for general information as to taking a firearm across the border and recommendations for obtaining the Manitoba hunting license--is online a possibility? I looked last night and couldnt find any link to be able to purchase one online. Thanks in advance for any help/guidance you can give me.
 
You will need to find the closest Port of Entry to get your firearm declaration. This allows you to bring your firearm back into US. I use to live in Fort Wayne, IN and Baer Field Airport could file this paper. Keep it safe and with you because you can use this document for life. Assuming if you drive you will most likely be crossing at Pembina. You will need to declare at the boarder you are transporting a shotgun to waterfowl hunt with possible guide name you will be hunting with in your time in Canada. You will then be asked to park which then you will go in and pay for a certificate to have your gun in Canada for 60 days which runs around $50. After paying head to destination. Some legal declarations are 1 liter of liquor or case of beer. You can always buy at duty free which is the last gas station on right before boarder. Do not bring a pistol! Check you laws on transport because you can legally transport 24 ducks, 15 dark geese and 80 snows across the boarder. The hardest part of hunting is coming back across through the US. I feel like an alien everytime we cross with all the questions and sometimes checking everything. You can buy your license online but I would take care of that at least 3 months before you go or buy in Winnipeg. Bring a book, fishing rod or craving supplies. Hunting can be fast and you can spend more time placing and picking decoys then time spent shooting your limits. Where will you be hunting? I am freelancing the first week of October this year around Neepawa north to the Narrows maybe as far north as Mud Hen and Mallard. Actually at this point in life I would rather spend 10 days up there then hunting anywhere in US all season. It's cheaper in long run and you can always find high numbers of birds, every day! Good luck, you will love it, and great memories with father! I will bet he will say he has not seen this many birds in most of his lifetime.

Regards,
Kristan
 
This for USA
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/DownloadDocument?objectID=62460401

This for Canada
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/form-formulaire/pdfs/5589-eng.pdf

Its $25 for Canada free for USA. USA is really just a form that you should have for anything valued over like $300 so you don't pay taxes when you return. You have to have both forms checked/stamped by the required customs agencies.

Also you need the form to bring ducks back across but don't have link

Not to get personal but if by chance you or someone you are with have a dui you will not make it in. At least Ontario doesn't like them at all it's practically the same as murder.

At the Detroit crossing the guns are al,out a non issue as long as you have your ducks in a row.
 
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I don't know where your headed. The list is long of so many places in that province to hunt waterfowl, and so little time to do it. Crossing in and out can be a PITA but very well worth it, if you obey all the rules and regulations. Stop and shop in as many of the local places as you can. We were always treated very well, and you can get some very good info if your freelancing. Sept. - make sure to take some bug juice and good coolers for your birds, with ONE FEATHERED WING attached for ID. I always made sure we stayed were I could cook, especially on long trips. Tain't no better eatin' waterfowl than from the Duck Factory.

If your near the Red River, Selkirk is the Catfish Capital, and Walleyes ain't to shabby either. Plus the Crown Royal distillery is not that far away... The best bison I ever ate was in Manitoba, and not burgers.

If your a DU member try to go to Oak Hammock, it's worth the look see, as is Big Grass Marsh.

Enjoy yourself and make some good memories with your dad.
 
Kristan--Any idea where I can find a list of Port of Entry so I can get the firearm declaration form? Yes we will be driving, and it appears to be Pembina where we will cross. Is there any special rules regarding transporting the gun such as trigger locks, hard case, etc I need to be aware of? This certificate we pay to Canada--can that be downloaded and field out before we arrive at the crossing?

Thanks for all your help. Just want to do thing proper.
 
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Vince-- We are hunting in the Oak Hammock area(and yes with a guide). Really looking forward to it. I have crossed the border numerous times at Grand Portage to go fishing, never had any issues. Just trying to ensure a smooth crossing with a firearm as I have never done that. Thanks for the info.
 
I recommend bringing just a locked hard case for your gun with a soft gun carrier once you are there. Keep shells separate in case. You may only claim 1 case of shells before you have to pay taxes on any extra case. Also i recommend more than one gun to take with you just in case of failures in field. Links were sent earlier from another member which all can be downloaded in advance and filled out. For port of entry check on US government Port of Entry for your area. I believe Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and Evansville are the only Port locations due to airports. You will need to carry your firearm in a locked case to open in front of them. All they do is check the serial, make and stamp your signed declaration. The form is about the size of a note card and will last your lifetime as long as you own the gun. If checked without its a long drawn out process with fees and taxes paid. The declaration is free. For your license if you wait last minute you can purchase in Winnipeg there is place called Wholesale Sports outfitter if you want to buy there on your travels. Just make sure you time your travels to get there when open. They have shells as well if you wanna buy there which dependent on US/Canada dollar may be cheaper. The drive from Paducah, KY is about 24 hours to Neepawa, MB, 20 hours to Winnipeg, MB. Probably about same for you in southern IN. Once you get into Winnipeg it will start getting your juices flowing because you will start seeing tons of geese and ducks in the area. Do not know if you are cutting across northern Illinois into MN, WI or heading across over to Kansas City. Do not know how much further it would be to go over to Kansas City but it is pretty much a straight shot north on 29 out of Kansas City to Winnipeg. If you go the Kansas City route on 29 you can stop in Watertown, SD to see Terry Redlins art institute and stop at the rest stop in Wilmot, SD off 29, 15 intersection. Really neat place to see the whole valley especially in the late evening or early morning. You will start seeing random geese at this point. And do not forget if you are going west just past Minnidosa, MB to stop at the rest area on Queens highway 16 to take your picture with the teradactal size flying canvasback. If you have time on any day and are near Riding Mountain National Park or Delta Beach Lake Manitoba i recommend as well. Recommend a fishing license, if you have time during the week. Most lakes, pot holes are full of northern pike. Anything shiny and loud will catch them. I am assuming you have a guide which you will most likely hunt geese in morning and then pursue ducks in evening. If you guide can put you on cacklers I highly, highly recommend. Nothing like 3000 little Canada geese locking up on you 10 yards, screaming loud, where you may not be able to hear the guide yell shoot. Sorry to keep rambling. Just love that place in the fall.

Regards,
Kristan
 
Carl,

I highly recommend Manitoba, Sask, or Alberta at least one time, I mean 100s of times in your lifetime for waterfowl. Also recommend the drive over flying. Lots of beautiful country and sites. An when spent with other friends it becomes just a great time. Drove from Houston 2 years ago and some of the most awesome views the whole trip. I would bet if you spent 1 full week in any of those providence excluding 4 days of travel, you would harvest more birds in that time then you would shoot all season on the coast and save money, lol. Hunt geese one day, ducks the next, see the sights,find birds, hunt the morning, nap and be happy, nap through the morning hunt mid day and on and on...

Regards,
Kristan
 
I strongly agree with Kristan. 3-4 weeks in any of those provinces is better than an entire season in 3 of the 4 American flyways. One time is not enough, the more times the better. Your year will center around that time. After your first trip your mind will be there well before you are.

Drive, don't fly for the best experience. Expect fuel to be your major expense and your vehicle will take a beating. So will you, your dogs and all your equipment, but man o man is it worth it.

If it was close by, easy to get to and hunt without problems, it would not be the world class experience it is. Returning home to the rat race will take a toll on you, if you live to waterfowl hunt.

The Oak Hammock area is a sweet spot. You should have a very good time and see lots of birds, and shoot more shells than you are accustomed to. You won't be taking unfired rounds out of your gun again and again, like we do here on many days.

We took our shotguns in hard cases, broken down, or with the bolts out. All paper work in order, that includes your dogs.

If you cross at Pembina it will either be easy, or a very long and thorough check going in or out. We always stopped at the duty free to get what we needed. (If you like Rye, Seagrams 83 is some of the best you will taste and not sold in the USA.)

It's a good idea to roll all your windows down, so it's easy to see inside your vehicle prior to stopping. Making it as easy as possible for the officers to do their job is just common sense.

Take plenty of shells and extra guns. Declare all your ammo and pay the duty on it, as good ammo is hard to find. If you take dogs bring as many medical supplies for them as possible. Expect huge porcupines where you least expect them. Your dogs will find them, and badgers as well...

Once you go there and have a good experience. It Will Stay with you the rest of your life, and the birds you eat will become part of you. The memories burned like gun powder from paper shells.
 
One caution for you with absolutely no disrespect. I guided in Canada for several years.
A lot of the hunting is dry filed hunting from lay out blinds. Be sure that your Dad can get up in time and be able to shoot. Ducks are quicker and faster then geese and shooting from a sitting on the ground position is very different from sitting in a blind or standing next to a tree.
The gun thing is not that hard. You can do it at the crossing if you care to. Also the tax on bringing in shells with the exchange rate the way it is now, makes it worth your while to take more than the 200 they allow. Shells in Canada are very expensive. So get a good end of season buy on a couple cases and pay the tax when you cross.
Have fun.
MP
 
Mike--Our guide has multiple pits which hopefully will help. Dad still hunts a couple times a year from a layout boat so hopefully be able to use layout blind if that is where the birds want to be. Only going to be hunting 3 days so cant see any reason we would need more than 200 shells each. If we need more shells, we did lots of poor shooting-which is always a possibility with my crew-and deserve to have to pay for expensive shells--LOL!! Thanks for all help!
 
I hunt on the Manitoba and Saskatchewan border about that time each year. You are going to have a great time and see lots of birds. :) A few years back 3 of us hunted for 3 days and harvested 17 species of ducks. That was pretty cool!

Best advice given so far... Do not bring a handgun!
 
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