Flying to Canada from the US with a rifle

[375 Ruger Fan]

Just received a revised flight itinerary from United and it's ugly. Before I get on the phone with them and try to come up with a better plan, was seeking some advice. I have a Dall Sheep hunt in August.

Connection time in Vancouver?

I will fly into Vancouver from the US and then onto Whitehorse, Yukon. I guess I clear customs in Vancouver and whatever clearance for my rifle.

Is 2 hours enough time between flights or is theat cutting it too close?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[lcq]

Just received a revised flight itinerary from United and it's ugly. Before I get on the phone with them and try to come up with a better plan, was seeking some advice. I have a Dall Sheep hunt in August.

Connection time in Vancouver?

I will fly into Vancouver from the US and then onto Whitehorse, Yukon. I guess I clear customs in Vancouver and whatever clearance for my rifle.

Is 2 hours enough time between flights or is theat cutting it too close?

Thanks,
Dave

That is cutting it really close.

 

[JimP]

When I drove into Canada with a rifle it only took me about 45 minutes to clear customs and that was with them going through all my luggage and the rifle permit.

The question with flying is "do you feel lucky?" 2 hours is at best to just go from one airline to another but if you need to collect luggage along with your rifle and then recheck them you may be cutting it way short especially if there is any delays on your first flight.

 

[BRICKBURN]

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/fs-fd/visit-visite-eng.htm

There are pre-approved firearms declarations, but they are NOT available at Vancouver.

Have the form completed before arrival. DO NOT SIGN IT until in front of the officer.

Not sure how busy Vancouver will be that time of year for customs.


Wait times at YVR for screening.
http://www.catsa.gc.ca/waittimes?field_wt_airport_city_value=Vancouver

CBSA only provides wait times at land border crossings.

 

[dobber]

have you thought about mailing the guns? i mailed 3 rifles within Canada in hard cases, then boxed up, cost me $100

 

[spike.t]

have you thought about mailing the guns? i mailed 3 rifles within Canada in hard cases, then boxed up, cost me $100

....he aint in canada to start with..........

 

[Hank2211]

Just received a revised flight itinerary from United and it's ugly. Before I get on the phone with them and try to come up with a better plan, was seeking some advice. I have a Dall Sheep hunt in August.

Connection time in Vancouver?

I will fly into Vancouver from the US and then onto Whitehorse, Yukon. I guess I clear customs in Vancouver and whatever clearance for my rifle.

Is 2 hours enough time between flights or is theat cutting it too close?

Thanks,
Dave

Dave, there's no problem with what you're trying to do (way easier than Canadians going the other way!), but it does take some time. Two hours should be enough time to get it done - if you were entering Canada in Calgary or Edmonton, I'd say you'd certain to make it. Vancouver can be funny though - first, it's a bigger airport and it takes more time to move around, but most importantly, you're never sure what kind of customs officer you'll get - BC may be a happy hunting ground but Vancouver isn't necessarily representative of the rest of the province. And if your flight is at all delayed (you can check on time arrival stats in a number of places to see the odds), you could run into issues.

Having said that, my advice would be to add an hour if you can, but if it's the difference between your current schedule and adding a half day or a day, then stick with the current schedule.

Be polite, smile, and don't be dressed entirely in camo! One thing I've found that doesn't work is to tell Customs that you have a connecting flight and that you're in a hurry. Seems to annoy them. Rather, you should let them know that you have a connecting flight (no mention of when), and ask if they think you should make other arrangements. They will usually ask you the departure time and then generally respond that they think you should be ok. Canadian Customs people can be just like those anywhere - if you challenge their authority, even in a minor way, or suggest that your time might be more important then their job, they will show you just how much they authority they have. If you show that you understand that they have a job to do, and you're happy to do whatever you can to make their job easier, then they can be quite pleasant and quick about it.

Oh - one more thing - no handguns!

Good luck!

 

[BRICKBURN]

. ........ Oh - one more thing - no handguns!

If you would like an extended lay over bring a handgun and you can chat with those Customs folks for a nice long time.

 

[dobber]

....he aint in canada to start with..........

i forgot they don't use mail in the US i apologize, it was an option worth looking into, and at least if you use that emoji, capitalize the C in Canada

cheers

 

[Pheroze]

...
and at least if you use that emoji, capitalize the C in Canada

cheers

 

[spike.t]

i forgot they don't use mail in the US i apologize, it was an option worth looking into, and at least if you use that emoji, capitalize the C in Canada

cheers

.....ok Ottawa.....

 

[Spooksar]

I would give it at least 4 hrs in Vancouver they are pretty anti gun there. If you where flying into Calgary or Edmonton you would be ok. This is from past experience Vancouver even without a gun is a horrible place to get through customs and security

 

[lcq]

I would give it at least 4 hrs in Vancouver they are pretty anti gun there. If you where flying into Calgary or Edmonton you would be ok. This is from past experience Vancouver even without a gun is a horrible place to get through customs and security

that was my experience years ago I got grief in Ottawa and Calgary was a breeze

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Was able to get things sorted out with United and got a much better schedule (3 flights instead of 4) with plently of time between connections. Have to leave at 530 am, but shouldn't be much of a line at the airport at that time. Will get into Whitehorse around 5pm, instead of 11pm, so have a little bit of daylight in August to look around. Also built another day into the schedule, just in case.

Thanks for the advice and links to the forms. I promise I won't take a handgun to Canada (People's Republic of?)

 

[lcq]

Was able to get things sorted out with United and got a much better schedule (3 flights instead of 4) with plently of time between connections. Have to leave at 530 am, but shouldn't be much of a line at the airport at that time. Will get into Whitehorse around 5pm, instead of 11pm, so have a little bit of daylight in August to look around. Also built another day into the schedule, just in case.

Thanks for the advice and links to the forms. I promise I won't take a handgun to Canada (People's Republic of?)

our gun laws are repressive. that said if Obummer appoints a socialist to replace Scalia you are in trouble. if Billary or Bernie are elected you better have a place to bury your guns

 

[jduckhunter]

I tell all of my friends that fly to western Canada to hunt to be sure and go through customs in Edmonton. Submit gun paperwork ahead of time and stroll through customs.

 

[lcq]

I tell all of my friends that fly to western Canada to hunt to be sure and go through customs in Edmonton. Submit gun paperwork ahead of time and stroll through customs.

Calgary is great as well. I'd say it is the best airport in the country to bring a gun through. That said I had no issues last year in Montreal, color me shocked

 

[Hank2211]

our gun laws are repressive. that said if Obummer appoints a socialist to replace Scalia you are in trouble. if Billary or Bernie are elected you better have a place to bury your guns

Actually Icq, I have to disagree. Once you pass our equivalent of the US 'background check' - which includes a safety course - you can pretty much buy whatever you want without any fuss. Long guns are a breeze, and at least in Alberta, you can buy a handgun without much more fuss. Last time I bought a 'restricted' gun I left the gunshot with it, all handled by a quick phone call. Even in the US you have to pass the check every time you buy a gun, I think.

In addition, we allow people who are in Canada legally but not permanent residents to own firearms. Not the case in the US, where as a non-resident alien, I'm not allowed to own a firearm or even transit with one. To hunt in the US requires an ATF permit which has to be applied for in advance and takes weeks if not months to get. In Canada, you show up at the border, fill in the form, and away you go. Try that in the US, and away you go alright, straight to jail.

 

[BRICKBURN]

........
I promise I won't take a handgun to Canada (People's Republic of?)

With the right paperwork you can have them. Without it, let me know the jail you are in and I'll come take a picture for this thread.

 

[lcq]

Actually Icq, I have to disagree. Once you pass our equivalent of the US 'background check' - which includes a safety course - you can pretty much buy whatever you want without any fuss. Long guns are a breeze, and at least in Alberta, you can buy a handgun without much more fuss. Last time I bought a 'restricted' gun I left the gunshot with it, all handled by a quick phone call. Even in the US you have to pass the check every time you buy a gun, I think.

In addition, we allow people who are in Canada legally but not permanent residents to own firearms. Not the case in the US, where as a non-resident alien, I'm not allowed to own a firearm or even transit with one. To hunt in the US requires an ATF permit which has to be applied for in advance and takes weeks if not months to get. In Canada, you show up at the border, fill in the form, and away you go. Try that in the US, and away you go alright, straight to jail.

Reclassifications and prohibitions accompanied by confiscations without compensation are part of our history and likely future under the current regime of antigun liberals. Ask anyone who owns a prohib long gun about why one day he could take it to the range then the next it could only leave his house if it was going to be turned in for destruction, again without compensation. Or how about the poor saps with the 22 plinker the G-22 who had to give up the gun or stock, again confiscation no compensation. Sorry but I stand by repressive