Crossing Canada

My son and I are headed to AK from Colorado to hunt caribou. This will be his first big game hunt of any kind. He'll be equipped with a 7mm-08 but I would love to save carrying a second rifle and want to take my 500 S&W instead. At the same time, I want to take him up the Alcan Highway and was currious what hurdles and hassles I may need to deal with crossing the border. Any experiences or guidance would be appreciated.

From what I've been told it can't be done. You would have to send any handguns to a FFL in AK

When we were coming back from AK a few years ago, one of the folks we met up there had his travel trailer searched because he had a CCW permit. About half way thru the search they ask him if he knew what they were looking for. He said "I've got an idea, and you won't find any in here"

What wyote said...

Ship the handguns to and from your destination, or take a plane. Flying state-to-state with handguns is relatively easy compared to the possible trouble you'll face trying to transport one on your person over land through another country.

X2

I believe another option is to ship them to yourself Fed Ex or UPS Air. If you have a friend at your destination in AK I believe you can ship it to yourself in care of them. There is no change of ownership or "possession". I don't believe USPS will accept handguns from non-FFL but not sure.

If you haven't already done so register & play around on this site
http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/forumdisplay.php/2-Alaska-Hunting

The guys there are helpful & they will also be able to tell you who the FFL is in Fairbanks that will give you the best rate if you ship to him.

Per federal law, operational handguns can't be sent via USPS. Common carrier only, and IIRC, only overnight shipping.

When the military moved me to AK, I mailed by handguns to Wild West Guns. Upon arrival, I went to pick up my firearms and pay transfer fees -- they saw I was military and did it "on the house."

I had a shotgun with me in my truck and simply declared it and a big ol' box of ammo at the Canadian border. It was 2002 and I don't recall paying anything.

Thanks. That's basically what I read somewhere. You can possibly fill a form out in triplicate and declare them at the border or something along those lines. Has anyone ever tried it or is most of it hearsay?

As a non resident, it is next to impossible to get a handgun legally into Canada. Unless you are a professional shooter going to a sanctioned national match I really don't think you have a prayer of them letting you in with it.

The triplicate form is a firearms deceleration. You will need that if you are bringing any firearm into Canada, as well as pay the fee (I believe it is $25 Canadian).

Seriously....do not try to bring a handgun into or through Canada. No good will come of it. There is simply no way to make it happen legally.

You don't need the form in triplicate as of this year,( I made 3 anyway) but its still a 90 day permit and a $25.00 fee. Keep the paperwork, so its covered on you trip out. Long guns up to 3, its not worth any amount of $$ to try and get a handgun permit

I'm a FFL and ship USPS regularly without problems.
Steve

Yep. FFLs can ship handguns via USPS.

The overnight restrictions on other carriers are the companies requirements to make it harder for their employees to steal packages containing handguns. The restrictions have nothing to do with ant federal law.