Canadian Black Bears

Your required to have a guide, unless rules have changed since the earl 90’s. Can’t the guide service provide all the information you need.

I didn’t hunt spring bear but the guide service, Plaster Rock New Brunswick offered deer. I recall just stopping at the border showing the border guard the equipment and moving on. Actually it’s harder to get back in to the US You’ll require a passport I think.

I thought they did away with the Spring Bear hunt. It could be just Ontario. I know there's Bears all over the place in Ontario. Spring Fishing visit. This is every year!

I've never done it, but 20-25 years ago that used to be a pretty common thing for a lot of local hunters to do. I have several friends who've done it several times. It used to be pretty reasonable price wise with a very high success rate. But I've not heard of anyone locally going in many years. Not exactly sure why it isn't done as much as in the past.

After you get back be sure to post about your trip. This is something I could see doing in the near future. Due to the way I was working when my friends were going it just wasn't possible for me to go. Now that I'm retired I might be interested.

Good luck.

Is this a guided hunt? If so, the guide should be able to fill you in on everything. Short version: there are forms for bringing a rifle into Canada from the US - bolt action and lever action ok - S/A not okay. No handguns.

You can fly - but you then limit how much meat you take back to what will fit in a cooler.

Finally, Spring bear hunts are almost entirely over bait - so 50 yard shots max. Quebec bears are no bigger than New England bears and no harder to kill. 300 WSM is major overkill. 35 Rem is about perfect.

DocRock said:

Is this a guided hunt? If so, the guide should be able to fill you in on everything. Short version: there are forms for bringing a rifle into Canada from the US - bolt action and lever action ok - S/A not okay. No handguns.

You can fly - but you then limit how much meat you take back to what will fit in a cooler.

Finally, Spring bear hunts are almost entirely over bait - so 50 yard shots max. Quebec bears are no bigger than New England bears and no harder to kill. 300 WSM is major overkill. 35 Rem is about perfect.

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Exception to the semi-automatic is fixed 5 round or under magazine and the M-1 Garand with it's 8 round en bloc clip. I have brought one to Ontario for 20 years. It's possible the Province's differ, but I don't think so.

I'm also heading up to Canada this fall for a bear hunt in August. Mines a guided hunt through https://www.raleighlakeresort.com/ . Taking a 45-70 and my bow.

Lot of work to do between now and then so I'm tracking this thread for S/A.

Fly up with your duffle in the largest cooler that the airline will allow. Fly back with it full of meat. If you are having the skull mounted, are you doing taxidermy or a European mount? If you are doing taxidermy, I’d ask your guide about someone local to do the mount and tan the hide and ship it to you. If you are doing a European mount, get it as clean as you can and pack it in the cooler. Taking the hide back seems problematic.

I hunted black bear once in Ontario in, if I remember correctly, May. I used DEET, wore a hat with face netting and would come out of the tree stand each evening with bloody crusts on my face from black fly bites. The stand was about 20 feet over and maybe 20 feet from the rotting meat used for bait. I was using a 308 Winchester that I could shoot well and could have done just fine at 100 yards but no, there I was 20 feet away from where a bear was supposed to come, trying to surreptiously fend off mosquitoes and black flies and "enjoying" the smell. I guess it was fine for bow hunters.

During the week I was there, one of the maybe half dozen guys got one small bear. The explanation for why the hunting wasn't that good was, "you must have moved." LOL.

Back then, getting into Canada was easy; I'm sure it has changed. What hasn't changed is that you will need documentation from U. S. Customs that you acquired your rifle in the U.S.A. Take the rifle to a U. S. Customs place and they'll record the specifics on the rifle on a form with the serial number.

You might ask your question on 24hourcampfire.com and/or accuratereloading.com as they may do more traveling than most on this forum.

I have been lucky enough to hunt Eastern Canada including Quebec, NB and NF quite recently. Everything is a piece of cake, and the Canadians are a pleasure to deal with at the border, as long as you don't goof around.
Before you leave, register your firearms with US Customs. Just look online for your nearest entry port. Call ahead, bring your gun and they will register it and give you an embossed slip. You will need that as proof of your ownership coming back.
Go to the Canadian Customs website (If I recall, non resident firearm permit). There is a form which is quite strait forward which you will list your firearms on ...no semi autos. Print it off UNSIGNED and bring it with you. They will just confirm your firearm (with action lock in a locked case, ammo stored separately) you sign it in their presence and you are all set. That is your firearm permit, and must have it with you at all times.
Bringing the bear back, your guide/outfitter will complete a CITES permit, which will list the animal and parts. Sounds funny, but the bladder, skull, skin, penis bone (yup, bears have one) and testicles all must be listed if still present. (most guides who know what they are doing will remove the PB and testicles, gall bladder is usually left in the field.
Going through customs coming back, you just tell them you were hunting, you have a firearm and a bear. Hand them your customs slip for the firearm with your pass port (mandatory). They will just direct you to go inside and fill out a simple registration form. In 8 trips over, they have yet to want to look at the critter. Very easy, low hassle.
We have seen individuals try to get high and mighty with Canadian officials. Wrong move. They are every bit as professional as our boys, and end result is you will be very unhappy with giving anyone any attitude. We have always had very pleasant experiences, and once they understand you are cool, the Canadians are very pleasant and quick to offer advice, conversation.
Otherwise, I love Canada. Big cities are big cities the world around, but most of Canada is very friendly and laid back, and I love going. Any rifle you use for deer hunting is fine for bear, and alto of folks use slug guns...ranges are short. Black flies and mosquitos must be experienced to be understood. Get a quality bug suit, rubber boots,head net and duct tape. That is your base armament, then get a Thermocell with refills. They work amazing, but not so well if you are in a tree with a breeze. If you have a chance, go ground blind...you can be more comfortable, move around a lot more, and the thermocell will kick the little bastards out so you can be pretty comfortable.

^ This explains it pretty well, even though I never registered my rifles with US Customs. I don't think that that is a necessity, at least it wasn't for me?

I went moose hunting last year in NF and the outfitter supplied the firearms permit. I think that you can also get them at the customs facility, because we were warned that it you don't sign it in the presence of the Canadian customs officer, they will make you fill out a new one. So they must have them there.

Hunting is a big enough business in Canada that crossing the border is pretty routine, even though their firearms culture is quite different than the States. Reminder, don't even think about bringing a pistol into Canada! As for flying, bringing back your trophy and meat via air freight is very expensive. You'll still need to go through customs at the airport so there's not much difference.

Are the gall bladders regulated in any way?

I know some Vietnamese folks.....

This is a serious question. I have heard these Vietnamese people that I work with talking about paying big money for bear gall bladders.

We all know how that worked out for the black rhino.

Registering your firearms I don't think is the law, but it is highly recommended. it is your proof that you own it and that you didn't get it in Canada (not legal to do). it is free and easy to do, also good proof for insurance. As long as you have the certificate with the listed gun, it is valid. I know of more than one individual who didn't get the customs form, and his gun was held up at the border for a long time coming back...actually don't know if he ever got it.
All parts of the bear are regulated, including the gall bladder. 99% of the time, the gall bladders are left with the rest of the guts in a pile in the woods, but if you want them you simply have to have them listed separately on the cites import form.

I never registered either the shotgun or Garand. I got all the paperwork on line, filled it out, and presented it to the Canadian Border Officer's. Paid $28.00 and was on my way. Added about 20 minutes to the trip. Only checked once in 20 years. I had to explain to the young Trainee that you can't pull the magazine out of an M-1 Garand. The Officer Instructor and I mjust exchanged a glance and a quick smile.

Terry G said:

I never registered either the shotgun or Garand. I got all the paperwork on line, filled it out, and presented it to the Canadian Border Officer's. Paid $28.00 and was on my way. Added about 20 minutes to the trip. Only checked once in 20 years. I had to explain to the young Trainee that you can't pull the magazine out of an M-1 Garand. The Officer Instructor and I mjust exchanged a glance and a quick smile.

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how long ago did you take the Garand to Canada? Current regulations don't allow them.

Daveboone said:

how long ago did you take the Garand to Canada? Current regulations don't allow them.

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Four years ago. They specifically allowed the Garand's. Might have changed, but I don't think so. Garand's are very popular in Canada. The exception was made for them. Check the regulations of course, but I plan on taking one again this year.

Really wanted to use the .50 Beowulf on my trip in August but being that it’s in an AR platform it appears that it’s not allowed to be brought in.

Terry G said:

Four years ago. They specifically allowed the Garand's. Might have changed, but I don't think so. Garand's are very popular in Canada. The exception was made for them. Check the regulations of course, but I plan on taking one again this year.

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Cool for you. I have to admit I haven't bothered to look into the regs in a number of years, repeatedly taking the same bolt action, so you are probably much more current on this as of four years ago than I am.

I know a Canadian citizen who is also into gun's. I'm sure if the rules changed he would advise. Like I said the Canadian LEO's don't look twice at a Garand. it was invented by a Canadian.

courtgreene said:

Well, while I appreciate everyone’s guidance and hope it’ll be useful in years to come, the trip isn’t happening this year. The guy I was going with backed out, and I really don’t want to go solo.
Thanks anyway. Y’all are fantastic.

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No worries. Everybody loves a "bear thread". Throw in the chance to get all Jesuitical on regulations and it's like Christmas come early