Crossing Into Canada with a Firearm
Hi everyone: We are in the deep planning stages for a journey to Alaska, sometime in 2016. We plan to bring along a couple of firearms - a 9MM handgun and 12g shotgun. We have read, pretty much...
Forum Discussion
You can take Bear Spray into Canada but must be clearly marked BEAR SPRAY from Alsaka into Yukon, and BC not sure about Alberta.
Pepper spray and Mace are not allowed.
The rules are a convoluted to read but they spell out what is legal in each Province.
The rules are not the same in all Provinces so be sure to read carefully.
If you are not an experienced hunter/firearms user carring a weapon is pretty much useless protection, a false sense of security. When things go bad everything happens quickly, the best practice is to maintain sight distance on the trail, stay above tree line, out of tall grass, and extra care near bodies of water. Store food properly in bear canisters and well away from where you are camping. Don't use any products that are scented, I have had the little devils did around for tooth paste.
I travel in the bush here in Alaska regularly for the past 50 yrs with encounters mainly on the rivers but rarely have I felt threatened.
If you are going into the back country (off the rd system) for an extended hiking/ campimg trip, I might take a shot gun. Bear Spray is something to use if all else fails, if a bear gets close enough to use the spray you have a real problem. Beware of your surroundings, vigilant at all times complacently is when you will get into trouble.
If you don't use a weapon often you are probably more likely to hurt yourself or someone else rather than protect yourself from a bear encounter.
Have fun when you do come but make sure you come with enough time to travel around Alaska everything here is a long distance from everything else. Plan in loops so that you don't have to back track. Example: In a motor home it is at least a 6 hour drive from Anchorage to the entrance to Denali NP.
If you are interested in some suggested travel plans email me I would be glad to help.
Pepper spray and Mace are not allowed.
The rules are a convoluted to read but they spell out what is legal in each Province.
The rules are not the same in all Provinces so be sure to read carefully.
If you are not an experienced hunter/firearms user carring a weapon is pretty much useless protection, a false sense of security. When things go bad everything happens quickly, the best practice is to maintain sight distance on the trail, stay above tree line, out of tall grass, and extra care near bodies of water. Store food properly in bear canisters and well away from where you are camping. Don't use any products that are scented, I have had the little devils did around for tooth paste.
I travel in the bush here in Alaska regularly for the past 50 yrs with encounters mainly on the rivers but rarely have I felt threatened.
If you are going into the back country (off the rd system) for an extended hiking/ campimg trip, I might take a shot gun. Bear Spray is something to use if all else fails, if a bear gets close enough to use the spray you have a real problem. Beware of your surroundings, vigilant at all times complacently is when you will get into trouble.
If you don't use a weapon often you are probably more likely to hurt yourself or someone else rather than protect yourself from a bear encounter.
Have fun when you do come but make sure you come with enough time to travel around Alaska everything here is a long distance from everything else. Plan in loops so that you don't have to back track. Example: In a motor home it is at least a 6 hour drive from Anchorage to the entrance to Denali NP.
If you are interested in some suggested travel plans email me I would be glad to help.
