Labrador coast bear d-word

[flashman2]

Ugh. I can't believe I'm posting a bear defence question but here goes...

Taking my boat up the Labrador coast to the Torngat mountains national park next year... guns are a total no go in the park except for Inuit, but the rest of the Labrador coast is my concern. In the Torngats we'll just stay awfully close to the shore and the get away tender...

According to the NL DNR site you need a permit to transport a firearm outside of closed season - so my question is has anyone done this and how big a headache is it? Obviously avoidance and then spray will be the primary means of protection when ashore, but no chance I'm heading into polar bear central without a gun as a final resort. Assuming polar bears haven't learned to climb aboard a diesel trawler of course.

Even though it's irrelevant to the q, it'll be a Win '92 in .44 Mag with hard cast Ranch Dog 265's over a max charge of H110. I'd just take an 870 police with slugs but you're limited to 2+1 for shotguns in NL all the time. Pains me to take such a nice rifle to molder away in a boat, but hard to beat 11 rounds of 265 grain hardball at 1800 fps, especially in a light and handy package like the '92.

 

[mrgoat]

I would imagine it is just a matter contacting NL DNR and asking the procedure and going from there by jumping the hoops and obtaining the pieces of paper. If I was 10 yrs younger I would have my Kayak in the water beside you. That will be quite the trip with many difficult challenges and dangers, the bears may very well be the least of your concerns. That shore as you know is the north Atlantic, which is renowned as a nasty place weather wise, and that whole coast is heavily littered with icebergs. Absolutely gorgeous scenery, but a climate that is as unforgiving to an error as your going to get. I traveled part of that coast line by ship about 25yrs ago. I paddle a Necky Tesla, spent most of it's life on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, a hell of a good boat in big seas. Even when loaded with a weeks full of gear. I wish you well on your trip, plan it well and be safe.

 

[fraserdw]

Is there an open season for another critter? That's how we do not it in NB. I get a varmint license and carry an inline muzzleloader with 50 cal slug and 3 pellets. It will knock a bear into next Sunday.

 

[flashman2]

I would imagine it is just a matter contacting NL DNR and asking the procedure and going from there by jumping the hoops and obtaining the pieces of paper. If I was 10 yrs younger I would have my Kayak in the water beside you. That will be quite the trip with many difficult challenges and dangers, the bears may very well be the least of your concerns. That shore as you know is the north Atlantic, which is renowned as a nasty place weather wise, and that whole coast is heavily littered with icebergs. Absolutely gorgeous scenery, but a climate that is as unforgiving to an error as your going to get. I traveled part of that coast line by ship about 25yrs ago. I paddle a Necky Tesla, spent most of it's life on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, a hell of a good boat in big seas. Even when loaded with a weeks full of gear. I wish you well on your trip, plan it well and be safe.

Thanks for that - I did check the NL site but it was uniquely uninformative, essentially just telling me I need a permit, which I already knew. I'm going to email them to ask, I just prefer to know how the process works and what they want before I apply.

Bears are definitely down about 30th on my list of worries, but it would seem the height of foolishness to be that remote without a firearm. If for no other reason than survival too. I'm not planning on staying ashore overnight - a 32' trawler is much more comfortable than a tent, and leaving your only means of transport unattended is asking for trouble. I'll take a pile of ammo in common calibres too; it's scarce up there and would make a nice thank you gift for people you run into in remote communities I figure. Definitely an immense amount of planning is needed, which I why I'm starting a year in advance. 7000+ pounds of diesel, 2000 lbs of food, spare parts, survival gear, etc etc. The boat has dual radar systems, side and downs can sonar, depth finder, four independent GPS navigation systems, VHF radio, a PLB of course. She's already made the trip down the Mackenzie river on her maiden voyage by the gent that built her, so she's definitely proven herself.

 

[flashman2]

Is there an open season for another critter? That's how we do not it in NB. I get a varmint license and carry an inline muzzleloader with 50 cal slug and 3 pellets. It will knock a bear into next Sunday.

No, unfortunately. First thing I checked as I'm in the same situation down in NS.

 

[NL-Hunter]

Transporting out of season is one thing. Being allowed to shoot said gun out of season is another issue that would be more difficult to conquer. Not even sure if such a permit can be issued.