Traveling to remote area in alaska and want to take a shotgun via Canada. what are the requirements?

Question

Will need protection as living as teacher in remote area of alaska.

Answer 1

I wasn't aware that the students had gotten that unruly!

So many options:

Drive it up through Canada. Declare it at the border. I'd seen 3 years ago the fee was $50. Another poster said $25. A real shotgun (not sawed-off) with ammo stored separately would be allowed, if declared and forms filled out.

Fly and check it as baggage. Must be declared, in a lockable case (then locked after inspected? check TSA's website). Ammo in a container designed for ammo, not loose. People obviously do it all the time to hunt in AK.

Ship via UPS second day or FedEx. UPS stopped taking firearms via surface shipping a few years ago, claiming that air freight tracking was safer (but more expensive) for their customers. Actually, it was because UPS employees were stealing the untracked packages. But you could still air freight through either of them.

Buy something when you get there. The AC (Alaska Commercial Company) that oeprates many of the food/clothing/furniture, etc stores in the bush sell large guns and ammo at every location I've been to. 9mm was the SMALLEST hand gun available in Barrow!

If are experienced with long guns, and are or will become practiced with the shotgun in question, go for it. But if it is a knee-jerk, going-to-AK-need-a-gun reaction, strongly consider pepper spray as a bear deterrent. Independent studies indicate a better average outcome with spray than guns.

Also consider that while AK has more bear fatalities than any other state (one every other year for the last century), we have 86 times more drunk driving deaths. Are you going to bring a breath-a-lyzer? I figure the most dangerous part of going hiking is driving to the trailhead. Once hiking, I make a lot of nosie if I'm by myself. That will really increase your safety.

Answer 2

Sell it and buy a new one there. No matter the size of town, anywhere in Alaska will sell you one. The Canadian law, currently I believe, requires you to have a license to own guns.

Can you fed ex a shotgun? I don't think so.

Answer 3

Canadian gun regulations are VERY strict. And they are in a state of flux right now. Your best advice is to check with the Canadian consulate, or the RCMP, to get the latest information. You might be better off to ship it to yourself in Alaska, so it is taken by a bonded carrier, not carried in your car with you.

Answer 4

Probably the same as here.
Unloaded and cased.
Ammo stored separately.
But Id call the local police in any major Canadian city and ask them. You dont wanna get nailed at the border or something over firearms.

Answer 5

Firearms

Canada’s firearms laws make Canada safer for residents and visitors. Contact one of the Canadian customs offices or a Canadian Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) for detailed, specific information before you import a firearm. In general, you must be at least 18 years of age to bring a firearm into Canada. Those younger than 18, may use a firearm in certain circumstances, but an adult must remain responsible for the firearm.

Prohibited Firearms

You cannot import prohibited firearms, or any prohibited weapons or devices, including silencers and replica firearms. A prohibited firearm is:

* a handgun with a barrel length of 105 mm (4.1 inches) or less;
* a handgun designed or adapted to discharge 25 or 32 caliber ammunition;
* a rifle or shotgun that has been altered to make it less than 660 mm (26 inches) in overall length;
* a rifle or shotgun that has been altered to make the barrel length less than 457 mm (18 inches) where the overall firearm length is 660 mm (26 inches) or more;
* an automatic firearm and a converted automatic firearm;
* any firearm prescribed as prohibited.

Replica firearms, except for replicas of antique firearms, are prohibited and cannot be brought into Canada. Replica firearms are devices that look exactly or almost exactly like a real firearm but that cannot discharge a projectile or that can only discharge harmless projectiles. As a rule, to be prohibited, a device must closely resemble an existing make and model of firearm, not just a generic firearm. Many of these devices have to be assessed case by case.

Certain handguns for use in international sporting competitions are excluded from the prohibition affecting the short-barreled and 25 or 32 caliber handguns. These handguns therefore are considered restricted firearms under the Criminal Code. A list of these firearms can be found online at http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/info_for-renseignement/factsheets/r&p_e.asp.

Restricted Firearms

A restricted firearm is:

* a handgun that is not a prohibited firearm;
* a semi-automatic, centre-fire rifle or shotgun with a barrel length less than 470 mm (18.5 inches) that is not prohibited;
* a rifle or shotgun that can fire when its overall length is reduced by folding, telescoping or some other means to less than 660 mm (26 inches);
* any firearm prescribed as restricted (including some long guns).

A list of restricted firearms can also be found online at http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/info_for-renseignement/factsheets/r&p_e.asp.

Declaring Firearms

You need to declare your firearms in writing, in triplicate, using the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (Form CAFC 909), http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/online-en_ligne/form-assistance/PDFs/909_e.pdf.

If you are bringing more than three firearms, attach a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Continuation Sheet (Form CAFC 910), http://www.cfc-ccaf.gc.ca/online-en_ligne/form-assistance/PDFs/909_e.pdf.

Fill out the declaration form ahead of time to save time at the point of entry. However, wait until you arrive at the point of entry to sign the form because a customs officer must witness your signature.

Once the customs officer has confirmed your declaration, it serves as a license and temporary registration certificate for all the firearms you bring to Canada. It is valid for 60 days. You can renew your declaration at no additional fee, if you renew it before it expires, by contacting the CFO of the province or territory where you are staying. To renew it, call 1-800-731-4000.

A confirmed declaration costs a flat fee of $25, regardless of the number of firearms listed on it. It is only valid for the person who signs it and for those firearms listed on the declaration. If you come with others who will be using firearms in Canada, you will each need to meet these requirements.

When you bring a firearm to Canada, you must comply with the Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations. These regulations can be found on the Canadian Department of Justice web site at http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/F-11.6/SOR-98-209/index.html.

To be able to bring a restricted firearm to Canada in person, you will need to obtain an Authorization to Transport (ATT) from the CFO of the province where you will be entering Canada. If you are bringing firearms with you and declaring them with a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration, you will need to wait until your declaration has been confirmed, before you call the CFO to request an ATT.

You can reach any of the CFOs Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time, by calling 1-800-731-4000. Keep these hours of operation in mind when making your travel arrangements. If you are unable to arrange your arrival time to coincide with the CFO office hours of operation, you may wish to call the CFO in advance to see if you can make other arrangements to obtain an ATT.

For more information on how to legally bring firearms and ammunition into Canada, contact the Canada Firearms Centre:

Telephone: [phone] (toll free)

Web Site: http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca

E-mail: [e-mail]

Application forms for non-resident firearms declarations and temporary borrowing licenses may also be obtained from Canadian tourist offices, customs offices, gun clubs and outfitters.

For information on the declaration process, please call the Canada Border Services Agency at 1-204-983-3500 or 1-506-636-5064.