AIRLINE & CROSSBOW

[SOUP]

FOLKS ,

When you need the right information on crossbows this is THE place to go -so if anyone can help me I'd appreciate it.
I'll be flying to Winnipeg from Philadelphia for a bear hunt this comming May & I'm wondering if youall would share your method of carry when flying commercil airlines . I planned on using a hard rifle case with the bow broken down -but I'm not sure about Candian customs officals fee for importing a bow. I paid a fee before but this was with a rifle-any advice on this ?
Also I just bought a Double Bull Wild Thing pack to cart my crossbow ,Matrix blind ,deer/turkey decoys ,( not for the bear trip )& the rest of my gear & I'm wonderng if anyone has/uses one ? How do you like it-have you had trouble carting your blind & crossbow in the pack ?
Lastly has anyone used a blind with their crossbow turkey -deer or bear hunting ?
I was hoping for a color phase bear ( brown ) on the Manitoba hunt -but now I'm told that the Pine Falls area is too far SE .
Thank you all in advance for your time & help .
SOUP

[dnepr]

check the airline regs. when I recently had to fly to Calgary for work, I was checking out the West jet website and they won't allow you to biring a crossbow not even in checked baggage . a verticle bow is ok so is a rifle or shotgun . but not a crossbow . I would hate to see some regulation as stupid as this ruin your hunt. good luck

[Savagevervet]

Soup -

My first suggestion would be to contact your outfitter for advice. They may have had clients in your situation that have figured out the easiest way to do it.

Also, consider asking your outfitter if they'd mind you shipping your bow to them before your hunt. My father started doing this several years ago with places that he hunts and fishes overseas. It's not always the cheapest means to get your gear to your destination, but there are some real advantages to doing it that way. The most obvious one is no lost luggage! You'll still need to check the postal regulations from both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the border, but if the outfitter doesn't mind storing your stuff a week or so before your arrival (and shipping it back to you after the hunt) you'll travel a lot easier.

Good luck with Smokey!

Savagevervet

[Grizzly Adam]

The shipping idea is a good one, even in the States. Airlines are famous for failing to get hunter's gear to the destination with them. Happened to my brother when he flew down here once.

As the UPS slogan says, "What can Brown do for you?"

[A.W]

Bows are not firearms and therefor you shouldn't have to pay a fee. However you may want to let customs on your side know that you have a bow and will be bringing it back so you don't get nailed for duty.

http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/faq/default_e.asp#a4

Q. Do the licensing and registration requirements apply to bows?

Crossbows that can be aimed and fired with one hand and crossbows with an overall length of 500 mm (about 19.68 inches) or less are prohibited. You cannot lawfully possess or acquire a prohibited crossbow.

You do not need a valid licence or registration certificate to possess any other type of bow, including a crossbow that is longer than 500 mm and that requires the use of both hands. Criminal Code provisions making it an offence to acquire a crossbow without a valid licence were never brought into force.

If you plan to use a bow to hunt, please check provincial hunting regulations for information on hunting licence requirements and restrictions that may apply to the use of bows. For example, some provinces do not allow crossbows for hunting.