Canada hunt question

[pattesonfamily]

Heading to a back country elk hunt in Alberta in October and have a quick question. Every night of the hunt is camping with the last night being in a Calgary hotel before flying home the next day. Flights on Air Canada. I'm considering taking my own rifle and want to understand if there are any issues with having the rifle in my hotel room for the last night?

I can hunt with a rifle from hunter host as an option too, so I am considering leaving my own behind.

Thanks in advance.

D

 

[JimP]

I'd be talking to the hotel to see what their policy is.

 

[Graham Hunter]

I have flown out of Calgary dozens of times and spent nights in numerous Hotels with firearms. Never had a problem taking firearms to the room. Make sure Air Canada knows you have firearms and get an email stating their acknowledgement. They will charge you $50,00.

 

[Red Leg]

All of my overnights have been either in Vancouver or Saskatoon, and a firearm in the room was never an issue. As long as you do the proper paperwork (available on line), neither was entering or exiting the country.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Your outfitter should get you lined out with temporary possession license. Keep the rifle locked up at all times, either in your guncase or cabinet. Very little hassle. You'll need an extra hour to check in with Air Canada. No ammo in the gun case. Put it in your checked bag.

 

[RLD]

Heading to a back country elk hunt in Alberta in October and have a quick question. Every night of the hunt is camping with the last night being in a Calgary hotel before flying home the next day. Flights on Air Canada. I'm considering taking my own rifle and want to understand if there are any issues with having the rifle in my hotel room for the last night?

I can hunt with a rifle from hunter host as an option too, so I am considering leaving my own behind.

Thanks in advance.

D

I have hunted all across the GWN in hotels and never had a real problem taking my firearm to my room.

Just make sure it is secured in accordance with the relevant regulations and you should be fine.

I did once have a hotel manager ask me to not take gun case through the main lobby because it had upset a number of the seniors who had seen me bring it in. He asked me to bring it in through a side door instead and use the stairs and I happily complied.

Welcome to Canada and all the best on your hunt. We expect photos of your trophy!

 

[Winmdl71]

We’ve stayed a hotel in Vancouver numerous times with a firearm with no issues. We’ve hauled it thru Vancouver in a taxi too and have never gotten a second glance.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Heading to a back country elk hunt in Alberta in October and have a quick question. Every night of the hunt is camping with the last night being in a Calgary hotel before flying home the next day. Flights on Air Canada. I'm considering taking my own rifle and want to understand if there are any issues with having the rifle in my hotel room for the last night?

I can hunt with a rifle from hunter host as an option too, so I am considering leaving my own behind.

Thanks in advance.

D

No one will care if you have a rifle in a locked case in your room.

You will have your Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form (RCMP 5589) which allows you to have a firearm in Canada.

Good luck on your hunt.

 

[Green Chile]

It has never been mentioned by hotel staff during my hunts in Canada or my transits on the Alcan to Alaska. They are used to many hunters for deer, bear, waterfowl, etc. Just have your paperwork in order at the airport or border crossings.

 

[KEC]

Before leaving the states be sure to get your CBP4457 form filled out and signed by the US Border Patrol.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Never had problems bringing weapons into my hotels at night in Canada. I’ve stayed in hotels in Alberta, BC and YT. The only thing I’ve ever experienced was smiles, welcomes and an invitation to sit at a table with beers and talk hunting.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Make sure you have a CBP FORM4457 for your rifle and scope. You will need this to bring your rifle back into the US. You will clear US Customs in Calgary. Put a copy in the rifle case and have a copy with you.

As others have mentioned, you will need to do the Canadian permit ahead of time and pay a fee when you collect your gun case at the airport. I think it’s $30 or $35.

 

[whisk(e)y hunter]

Shouldn’t have any issues, have been through Calgary and Edmonton numerous times with firearms. Make sure to get your clearance filled out or pre-cleared, but if I recall correctly you shouldn’t sign the form until you are in front of a Canadian customs officer if you are clearing there.

 

[CamoManJ]

I’ve never had any issues either & would never tell them my business either. Discretion is always important on your own, no need to alert a potential anti gun hotel employee. I agree, most Canadians are used to hunters and don’t bother.

 

[Hank2211]

Unless the hotel has its own rules, there are no laws which would regulate the storage of your firearms in your hotel room in Canada (other than the usual safe storage rules which apply everywhere).

 

[BC Tal]

Unless the hotel has its own rules, there are no laws which would regulate the storage of your firearms in your hotel room in Canada (other than the usual safe storage rules which apply everywhere).

This.
Hotels in Canada are private property and can create their own policy regarding prohibiting firearms on their premises. The policy has to comply with the Firearms Act. Check the hotel policies online or ask for a written policy re firearms. It can't be common as I've never heard of it, but I haven't looked for it.
Everyone here that talks about their personal experience is correct, that was their experience at that time for that hotel.
All the years that i checked into hotels with firearms, including restricted, I was only asked once about my firearms and that was to check the firearms into the hotel "safe storage area". We asked for a copy of the hotel's policy regarding firearms and the manager didn't have one. We told him, politely, we are responsible for the safe storage of our firearms and took them to the room, end of issue.

 

[pattesonfamily]

Thank you all for the feedback and guidance!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thank you all for the feedback and guidance!

Enjoy.

 

[RedTag]

In spite of the prevailing legal frameworks and restrictions, I find the culture of most Canadian communities is actually more accepting of guns and hunting than many American states and cities. I have traveled through Canada with firearms many times, including hotel stays, and it has always been a breeze. You may choose to do the cbp4457 for added peace of mind, but cpb told me it’s not really necessary for this per se as your Canadian non resident firearms declaration clearly indicates that you had the guns before leaving the States. My only piece of advice is to make sure that nothing you’re planning to bring falls under the restricted or prohibited classifications; the rules changed not too long ago and some guns that were previously allowed are no longer permitted.

 

[pattesonfamily]

Looks like I'll fly American there, with a US domestic layover and return on Air Canada with a 3.5 hour layover in Toronto. My Model 70 is not on the restricted or prohibited list.