Tundratour - Articles

Glenn Dunning is a member of New England Outdoor Writers Association (NEOWA) and contributes monthly to Outdoors Magazine

Outdoors Magazine, Sept. '05 Issue, Traveling Outdoorsman col.
Submitted by: Glenn Dunning

What a great time of year! Finally that big game hunt booked months and months ago looms just around the corner. Retailers scramble to maintain inventories of the newest duffle bags, gun cases, electronics, day packs, binoculars and of course guns and archery equipment. When my customers comment on the cost of traveling to hunt big game, I always point out that it would not be nearly as expensive if it weren't for all the new toys that have to be purchased in preparation for a trip.

Thousands of sportsmen and women from all over the northeast are right now getting ready to head north to Canada for caribou, moose and whitetails, others will head west for elk, muleys and antelope and a fortunate few are bound for Alaska or the Yukon to hunt North America's largest species of bear, moose and mountain caribou. An important part of trip preparation for both the veteran adventure traveler as well as first timers is figuring out what's needed and what's new regarding travel documents, regulations and restrictions.

There are a few changes affecting crossing the US- Canadian border. Media coverage around the beginning of this year of a proposal to require passports for re-entry back into the United States from Canada has had some sportsmen scrambling needlessly. Passports are the internationally accepted identification document for moving from country to country and if you travel to any extent it is worth the effort to get one. It however, is not a required document at this time. Even if the proposal passes it would not be implemented until 2008 and according to custom's officials, it is losing steam in Washington because of the length of time it takes to process a passport application and the cost (up to 60 days and approx. $60). If you do not have a passport a copy of your birth certificate will suffice and in either case, at least one other form of identification is required.

Also regarding re-entry, the issue of registering your guns with US customs continues to be confusing. First, it is not a requirement; second, it is a good idea. The document is called, Certificate Of Registration For Personal Effects Taken Abroad and US customs recommends that you have one identifying any article of value that you are taking into Canada and plan to return with. The process which requires you to have your guns, cameras or whatever with you at the time of registration simply matches you up with your equipment by serial number in the US customs database. It only takes a few minutes to acquire, costs nothing and is one of those things you may never be asked for but if you are, you will be glad to have one.

If you are hunting antlered game in Canada you will still be required to have the appropriate USDA forms to get you meat back into the US. These are usually supplied by your outfitter or agent. Note; not all ports of entry are staffed to take returning hunters with game. Although the list of border crossings has expanded somewhat since 2003, it is still limited and the best bet is to check with your travel agent or call US customs at the specific crossing you are planning to use.

There has also been a minor change affecting the Canadian Non-resident Firearms Declarations Form. Previously processing this document required paying a $50 CN administration fee and the form could be used for multiple crossings over the course of a 12 month period. In April of 2005 the fee changed to $25 CN but the document is only valid for 60 days. Unchanged is the fact that you have to have one if you are bringing firearms into Canada. They may be filled out in advance but "Do Not Sign It". You are required to sign it in the presence of a Canadian custom's agent.

Unquestionably, the presence of Mad Cow disease in Canada and Chronic Wasting disease in both Canada and the US is having a major impact on transporting antlered game meat and horns. Going deer hunting out of state and bringing the whole carcass back home intact is definitely a thing of the past. If you are going almost anywhere in North America for deer or elk be prepared to pay processing fees for your meat. For instance, in Colorado meat must be fully processed in order to leave the state and in other states you can't even pass thru with deer or elk that has not been processed. New York was one of those states and with the discovery of CWD in the wild deer population there, hunters venturing to that state's deer woods this fall should anticipate further regulations. As a general rule, any states that have had verified cases of CWD are going to require processing and caping of the head - whole skulls with brain tissue intact can not be transported. If you have a hunt booked be sure and check with your agent, outfitter or the state's fish & wildlife department so you have an understanding of the regulations and additional expenses, like processing costs before you leave home.

Speaking of shopping for new toys in advance of your hunt; outfitters, particularly those who use airplanes have always hated those big expensive metal gun cases. They are excessively heavy and take up too much room in small aircraft. For the first time this year we are seeing some outfitters actually restricting customers' use of that kind of case. If you are in the market for a gun case stick with the better brand, plastic ones.

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