Ontario grouse

[Andy]

Anyone have experience bringing a dog (or dogs) and a Parker (or Parkers) into Ontario for grouse hunting? Specifically Sunset Country. From my understanding you don't need a guide. The gun part is done at the border I believe. We have a group of gentlemen that come from Toronto/Montreal with truckloads of guns and ammo to shoot at Binghamton Gun Club every year, they've never had an issue at the border. Any advice appreciated!

[Big D]

It's been a few years since I did it. My memory is good, but it's short. Register your gun in the US before going into Canada. Coming back into the states, customs will want to see that the gun has been registered in the US. when you are entering Canada, declare that you have a gun which needs to be registered

[Big D]

I don't remember having to do anything special for the dog. I guess I would have your rabies certification papers with you however.

[Andy]

John I only read that the dog has to be microchipped and proof that it is. Not sure why that matters.

[Big D]

That's new news. My dogs were over and back for years without chips. Last time Daisy (the girl in my logo) were there was probably 5 years or so ago.

The ridiculous new (4 years or so ago?) requirement by the US that birds have to be cleaned and gutted prior to entering the US. I have no idea why that law was put in

[Kevin McCormack]

Andy, various friends and I took shotguns into Canada (Quebec) for duck hunting over a period of 10 years. Entry paperwork for guns is a piece of cake; you download the customs form off the internet and fill it out completely (make multiple copies). The official document is form RCMP Non-Resident Firearms Declaration. you present the completed form to the customs officer assigned and he/she checks you through.

Most often when we crossed the border the customs official would go to our vehicle and visually verify each gun on the list, sometimes IDing them physically, other times by actual serial number. They are very thorough and methodical and very efficient; after our third trip I began keeping a log of how much time it took us to clear customs each trip; our longest event was c. 40 minutes. (This for 3 people and 7 guns). Having everything filled out correctly and completely beforehand is a huge plus and the only way to go.

Coming back into the US, I don't ever remember US customs physically inspecting our guns, but each time they reviewed our forms carefully. They verified our total ducks brought back, and these were always cleaned and tagged per the usual regs.

We never took dogs into Canada so I can't speak to the vagaries of that exercise, but I assume proof of current vaccinations would be of major concern.

[Andy]

Thank you Kevin. If you're in BingoTown over the holidays and have time reach out to me. I might have a little something to cut the dust if you're thirsty : )

[Chris Pope]

Last time I entered Canada from NH the agent was more concerned with the booze inventory in our RV than he was our dogs. All of the dog paper work was in order but he never checked it. All the booze was single malt and I think by the look in his eyes he was contemplating a seizure...but he let us through unscathed.

[Kentucky Bird Hunter]

Andy, we took our motorhome out West this summer and took both dogs with us, our English Setter and a Rough Collie. We crossed into Canada near Glacier NP to visit Calgary, Banff, and Lake Louise.

I was very careful to bring vet records of their latest rabies vaccination and all other current shots. There is also an online form to fill out, if you go to the Immigration Canada website. All very straightforward stuff.

At the Canadian Border, the Immigration Canada officer simply asked me if we had rabies certificates for dogs, and then never asked to see it.

Coming back into the US, the US Customs officer was far more interested if we had any produce or eggs to declare and had no questions about the dogs. Our visit to a beautiful farm market in Canmore, BC resulted in some very nice groceries that perhaps ended up at his dinner table that night!

Dave

[Andy]

Thank you Dave! Yeah, I've had that happen to me too : )