Taking a bow and arrows to Canada

[Jason Lester]

I've going on a fishin trip to Canada in a week. Can you take a bow and arrows across the border easily? If I can I may have some downtime and want to fling a few. Also can you stump shoot or do you have to have a licence?

Thanks.

[manyletters]

Jason...just be careful where you are going...some hunting seasons may be in effect already and if you are found with a bow and arrow and hunting season is on...you would be seen as "hunting" even though you are shooting stumps with blunts!!

Getting across the border is not a problem..just declare what you have and they will nod and let you pass...handguns are another issue...don't even try it 'cause we'll see your picture on the post office bulletin board...lol  

[LONGHORN]

Jason,where about are you heading?

[R.W.]

Jason,

If the bow has a serial number, register with US customs before you cross into Canada. This way, there is no  problem when you return, as you have your card showing the equipment is yours.

Declare the bow to Canada customs. There should be no problems after that.

If you are in an area with an open hunting season, I believe you would need a hunting license to be carrying the bow. Trying to convince a CO you were only shooting stumps *shouldn't* be a problem, but some people are very hard nosed. If you have no broadheads with you, and only blunts/judo's, the C/O may still think you are hunting small game.

Have a great trip, and may the fish be biting hard!    

[Stu]

I rifle hunt in Ontario each year and own property there so cross many times. You do have to register rifles & shotguns, not a big deal. Handguns, forget it.

I also carry a recurve bow & judos, for stump shooting. When I'm crossing with just the bow & judos, I tell them when they ask if I have any weapons and they don't care about it at all as it's not on a list of weapons to register. So no problem getting it in.

As far as shooting it, if you're at a fishing camp and "flinging a few arrows" right at the camp and not roaming thru the woods, I'd not be concerned about a tag. Best advice I can think of is to call your outfitter and ask their opinion. I buy a small game tag late summer because I bowhunt & shotgun hunt partridge later anyway. But I also shoot my bow around my camp earlier in the year and am not concerned about that even without a tag, but this is my own property & I'm pretty obviously just practicing in my old field. When I start stump shooting in the woods, I like to have a tag with me.

Have a great trip, a good Canada fishing trip is truly a wonderful experience.

[Rick McGowan]

I always tell them I have a bow when they ask if I have any weapons and they always say, "that isn't a weapon", like they are disappointed. Do not try to take a blow gun however, a friend of mine asked me to bring one on the next trip and then I found out that they are in the same class with machine guns!

[Jason Lester]

Thanks Guys, I haven't decided to take it yet. We'll probably be busy fishing.
I'm headed to near Espanola.

We stay at a place up there that has pretty good fishing. I have caught a couple reallly nice smallmouth! My father and grandfather used to go up there every summer when Dad was young. It very nice up there. We've went the last two summers. Before that it had been 20 years or so that since we'd been there. My grandfather is in his 80's (still out-fishes everyone) so he's looking forward to getting back up there again.

Little side story about grandpa. Two years ago we went up. Dad, him, and me. We tented it for 3-4 days. Now thats tuff. in his 80's and sleeping in a tent. he said he slept better than in his bed at home. LOL

Its an all guy trip. My Grandpa, My Dad, My uncle, and myself. Maybe next year I'll take my son too. I'm looking forward to it for sure. Been a while since the 4 of us got time off by ourselves.