Bring Your Firearm
Bringing or Importing Your Firearms into Saskatchewan or Canada
Transporting Firearms: If you plan to bring your own gun on a Canada trip, and who doesn’t?, expect to complete some paperwork and to pay for the privilege. Non restricted firearms such as full barrell length pump shotguns, semi auto shotguns, over under shotguns in any calibre 12, 16, 20 and 10 guage are fine. Personal hunting rifles in all calibres are good so long as they are not fully automatic.
Canada’s firearm laws are tough enough for residents, who must register their guns with the government, but visitors must also declare their firearms when they enter the country. All firearms and weapons must be declared at customs when you enter Saskatchewan. If they are not declared they can be seized and you could face criminal charges. It’s a good idea to take care of this detail long before your trip by completing the government’s Non-Resident Firearm Declaration form, which you can download from the Internet by visiting the Canada Firearms Centre (www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca) and selecting the "Visitors to Canada" menu. You can also call the center (800-731-4000) to request one. Present the completed UNSIGNED form,you must sign the form in front of the agent, to the customs agent when you enter the country, pay any fee(no cash or checks), and you should be on your way.
Sporting or hunting use during hunting season
Use in competitions
Personal protection if your destination is defined as a "remote wilderness area," you may keep your firearm "handy and unlocked" but unloaded, according to the country’s gun rules and as long as the CBSA officer is satisfied the circumstances warrent the firearm.
Restricted firearms may be imported provided you have an authorization to transport from the Canadian Firearms Center.
Seasonal residents may import restricted firearms, but must have a Possession and Acquisitions Licence or a valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate, in addition to the Authorization to Transport form.
Don’t try to bring a handgun with a barrel shorter than 4 1/4 inches, any fully automatic shotgun or rifle or any long gun with a barrel shorter than 18 inches or with an overall length shorter than 26 inches. In fact, it’s a good idea to leave any handgun at home; handguns cause more border scrutiny than they’re worth.
The declaration form allows you to transport the gun, buy ammunition and take the gun back into the States on your return. You must also meet some transportation requirements, including making the gun inoperable (either by removing its bolt or attaching a gun lock), keeping the gun in a locked container and storing ammunition in a separate container while in transit.
