Invited to go hunting in Newfoundland! Questions about air travel

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canoetrpr

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My buddy and I have been going back and forth trying to figure out where to go hunting. He's hunted moose all his life in Newfoundland where he grew up. I'm new to hunting.

We've been planning around Ontario but one thing or the other isn't working out right now. Primary issues are a very narrow hunting season and we tend to have work stuff going on that takes us away for conferences around the end of October and first week of November (negotiating an extra week around there away from the wives isn't going to go so well).

His recent suggestion is: Why don't we just fly up to Newfoundland and go hunting with his dad and uncle? They have a cabin and go hunting every year. They know the terrain very well as well.

Sounds like a not too bad plan to me. Flight up there is either $700 or I can use my rip off Aeroplan miles for direct Air Canada flights there and back.

One question I have is how do others that have done this bring back game? How expensive is it? I expect that given I'd be going by air, I won't be bringing back a whole moose ;-)

How about travelling with guns and ammunition by air. I imagine I just have to trigger lock my rifle and check in in the oversize department in a locked container of some sort. Am I allowed to take ammunition or am I required to purchase there?
 
Sorry, unless a guide service is involved you and your buddy cannot legally hunt here. Neither of you are residents. If your buddy is in the Forces or RCMP there is some exception. I believe there was a thread here about someone hunting with family or friends, pics were posted, and it was illegal.
 
Call NFLD MNR Or DNR and ask about non resident moose hunting and find out if you can party hunt with residents. Might not get your own tag but might still get to hunt and a score of the meat.
 
air travel

To answer the other question about air travel, let me share my experience. Westjet :cheers: vs Air Canada :puke:. When I've flown to Saskatchewan to hunt, Westjet was extremely accommodating. Air Canada was nothing but a nuisance.

I packed my rifle in a normal black plastic rifle case. Under the foam, I put Masonite panels on the 6 surfaces. Some corners needed to be radiused, others were almost full dimension. The idea was to use the plastic as the skin that held the panels in place to keep the box from torquing. Several trips late, the case has burst its hinges and smashed corners, but the rifles (apparently) have survived.

There are aluminum boxes that will completely envelop the guns. In my opinion, they are excessively heavy and bulky.
 
If dad and uncle are willing, getting guide license is simple... boat license + first aid course, + fill out the paper work + pay the fee and tah dah certified guide and able to take you hunting, the fee isn't much $80 or less I think. DNR will have all the info
 
Dude - You need to sort out your priorities! Our camp is composed of 50% guys from the big smoke, 50 % from north of seven. Every year, the city boys struggle to get to camp. We accommodate them as a courtesy, letting the weekend warriors swell the camp when they can. Perhaps you should rethink your plans to hunt big game, in favour of pursuing small game at a more leisurely pace.
Alternatively, there are extended muzzleloader and bow seasons available in Ontario that can be very productive.
 
Ironman6067 said:
If dad and uncle are willing, getting guide license is simple... boat license + first aid course, + fill out the paper work + pay the fee and tah dah certified guide and able to take you hunting, the fee isn't much $80 or less I think. DNR will have all the info
Click to expand...

If it were only that easy I would have buddies from Ontario here every fall.

Page 4, halfway down.
http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/hunting/hunttrap. pdf

I should have stated it clearer, licences are only available to non-residents from an outfitter. So unless some outfitter is willing to give up a chunk of cash to sell some guy a licence and not a hunt so that he can hunt with family/friends you will not be able to legally hunt moose here. It is unfortunate but that is the rules.

You can hunt moose in Ontario early in October, maybe catch the tail end of the rut.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
To answer the other question about air travel, let me share my experience. Westjet :cheers: vs Air Canada :puke:. When I've flown to Saskatchewan to hunt, Westjet was extremely accommodating. Air Canada was nothing but a nuisance.

I packed my rifle in a normal black plastic rifle case. Under the foam, I put Masonite panels on the 6 surfaces. Some corners needed to be radiused, others were almost full dimension. The idea was to use the plastic as the skin that held the panels in place to keep the box from torquing. Several trips late, the case has burst its hinges and smashed corners, but the rifles (apparently) have survived.

There are aluminum boxes that will completely envelop the guns. In my opinion, they are excessively heavy and bulky.
Click to expand...

When I fly with a gun I now use an aluminum case. I learned my lesson with plastic and cold weather.
But if you do use a plastic case wrap duck tape around the case at the hinges and the latches.
Even if the case gets cracked the pieces are still held together by the tape.

Ammo (up to 5kg) is to be stored in the cases in your checked baggage.
Let them know you have ammo in your bags so that they can put a sticker on it that says ammunition.
Don't worry about the sticker though because it will fall off before it gets to the plane.
 
I highlighted the important parts. You can go hunt small game, but not moose or bear without an outfitter.

Hunting

Non-residents wishing to hunt big game (bear, moose or caribou) in Newfoundland and Labrador must apply through one of the province’s outfitting companies. Visit Hunting on the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s tourism site for more information on available outfitters.

Non-resident small game licences are available through regular vendor outlets including convenience and sporting goods stores, and at Government Services Centres. Federal Migratory Game Bird Permits are available through Canada Post Offices.

Non-resident hunters must possess a valid non-resident hunting licence. They must also possess proof or verification of having met their own jurisdiction’s hunter education requirements and must present this information immediately upon request of a Conservation Officer. Non-resident big game hunters are required to be accompanied by licensed guides. Guides are supplied by licensed outfitters. Small game or waterfowl hunters do not require guides.

Non-resident big game licences are only available through licensed outfitters. Hunters should contact the outfitter of their choice to determine the availability of licences and to obtain the required application forms. Hunters must declare all game entering the United States from Canada. American hunters should obtain the necessary forms at U.S. Customs when leaving the United States.

Hunters must possess a game export permit to take game out of the province. Export permits are available free of charge from all Forestry/Wildlife Offices and licensed outfitters.
Click to expand...
 
HuntNL said:
If it were only that easy I would have buddies from Ontario here every fall.

Page 4, halfway down.
http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/hunting/hunttrap. pdf

I should have stated it clearer, licences are only available to non-residents from an outfitter. So unless some outfitter is willing to give up a chunk of cash to sell some guy a licence and not a hunt so that he can hunt with family/friends you will not be able to legally hunt moose here. It is unfortunate but that is the rules.

You can hunt moose in Ontario early in October, maybe catch the tail end of the rut.
Click to expand...

Ahhh my mistake! See what happens when you get info second hand, I stand corrected.
 
HuntNL said:
You can hunt moose in Ontario early in October, maybe catch the tail end of the rut.
Click to expand...

Looks like this is what we will try to do. Unfortunately the dates that seem to be working in our favour tend to be towards the end of November. No idea what the hunting will be like but it will sure be getting cold around WMU 13; Thunder Bay, which is one area I've been researching that seems to have good moose and deer hunting.
 
canoetrpr said:
Looks like this is what we will try to do. Unfortunately the dates that seem to be working in our favour tend to be towards the end of November. No idea what the hunting will be like but it will sure be getting cold around WMU 13; Thunder Bay, which is one area I've been researching that seems to have good moose and deer hunting.
Click to expand...

If you're going on November, I'd take a look at 21A...

Deer and moose, and a lot closer.
 
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