Tips for crossing the border

[Dewey Cox]

Going to Montana for a trap clinic in June.
Is there times of the day I should be aiming for to cross the border? I assume I'll cross at Coutts. Does it get busy enough to even worry about that?
I'd rather spend an extra hour fishing somewhere if I could avoid a possible delay at the border.

And I do have my form 6nia, and an invite from the host club.

[KGB]

Go at night after dark, there is nobody there…

[Dick284]

AFAIK tipping border agents is frowned upon…….

[roper1]

Are you pulling a trailer or hoteling it ? We had Kojak's big brother really give us a going over because we didn't have hotel reservations. We crossed mid-morning, so had no plans, we were truly winging it. Had Kojak the larger frothing at the mouth.

With you having an event and a specific destination, should be fine. Good luck!

[Dewey Cox]

I'm tenting at the gun club, hopefully that doesn't cause grief.

[Fradaburidi]

Originally Posted by KGB

Go at night after dark, there is nobody there…

I'd rather wait during the day than crossing at night after dark when there is nobody there. Because you might be the only one, they'll take their time, ask lots of questions, maybe pull you over and check the car an so on, at least that's my experience.

[W921]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

Going to Montana for a trap clinic in June.
Is there times of the day I should be aiming for to cross the border? I assume I'll cross at Coutts. Does it get busy enough to even worry about that?
I'd rather spend an extra hour fishing somewhere if I could avoid a possible delay at the border.

And I do have my form 6nia, and an invite from the host club.

Years ago it was better to cross at a big crossing like coutts than at a small one. The little crossing might not see another car for rest of day and has nobody else to talk to except you.
They used to ask you important stuff and then small talk about other stuff and then ask you the first questions again to see if you say the same answers.

[KGB]

And if the border agent asks you if you have guns, drugs or cigarettes- just smile and ask What do you need brother?

[Mistagin]

We crossed a few weeks ago. The US border agent asked a bunch of generic questions about where we were going and for how long, etc., and then this, "Do you have any guns or ammo?" I smiled and answered, "Yes, all locked up at home just like the law in Canada requires."
He just chuckled and said, "Have a nice vacation."

[Ackleyman]

Never know what you will get as far as line ups or delays at Coutts. At least the US Customs are fairly decent people. Unlike coming back where its a battle at times to get in your own country....without a firearm. The woman i got this spring looked like a rottwieler with lipstick on.

[Berniebeag]

I cross into Montana every couple months for business trips. Depending on where I have to go it is either Roosville, Del Bonita, Coutts, or Wildhorse. There is one guy at Wildhorse who is extremely "professional" and does not seem to like people coming to the US. I prefer the smaller crossings, it seems as though Coutts is used as a training facility so you never know who you are going to get or how thorough they want to be. I have not had any issues with volume but I usually cross by 10 am. If you have recently bought any vehicle parts like tires make sure you have a copy of receipts to prove you got them in Canada, this will help when coming back home. I seem to have more questions / delays coming home than going down. I have no criminal record what so ever so not sure why. Sometimes it seems the Canadian border people are offended that you left the country If your paperwork is correct there should be no issues.

[Fradaburidi]

Originally Posted by Berniebeag

I seem to have more questions / delays coming home than going down. I have no criminal record what so ever so not sure why. Sometimes it seems the Canadian border people are offended that you left the country

Same is happening to me.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by KGB

And if the border agent asks you if you have guns, drugs or cigarettes- just smile and ask What do you need brother?

And be sure to stop for that red light at the crossing. Failing to do so is a major security No No. Don't ask how I know.

[KGB]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

And be sure to stop for that red light at the crossing. Failing to do so is a major security No No. Don't ask how I know.

I am dying to hear that story!

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by KGB

I am dying to hear that story!

Middle of the Alaskan wilderness, a car ahead of me being given the once over, thought I'd expedite things so I went to move up. WRONG. Okay, so I stepped out to get my passport from the back seat. WRONG again. I got a severe lecture, which I think was largely tongue in cheek. Something about me knowing better at my age.

[jlagman]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

And be sure to stop for that red light at the crossing. Failing to do so is a major security No No. Don't ask how I know.

Does a red light mean something different when it's not at the border?

[waldedw]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

Going to Montana for a trap clinic in June.
Is there times of the day I should be aiming for to cross the border? I assume I'll cross at Coutts. Does it get busy enough to even worry about that?
I'd rather spend an extra hour fishing somewhere if I could avoid a possible delay at the border.

And I do have my form 6nia, and an invite from the host club.

Hey Bud we're gonna make a trap shooter out of you yet,

Enjoy the trip and the clinic, who's running it

[Dewey Cox]

Originally Posted by waldedw

Hey Bud we're gonna make a trap shooter out of you yet,

Enjoy the trip and the clinic, who's running it

It's a Nora Ross clinic

[waldedw]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

It's a Nora Ross clinic

Cool, I hear her clinics are great, good luck, probably see you at Provincials in Edmonton

[.257Weatherby]

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

Going to Montana for a trap clinic in June.
Is there times of the day I should be aiming for to cross the border? I assume I'll cross at Coutts. Does it get busy enough to even worry about that?
I'd rather spend an extra hour fishing somewhere if I could avoid a possible delay at the border.

And I do have my form 6nia, and an invite from the host club.

Have all your documents in a row.
Choose the lane that is close to the main office as possible as that is usually the Sr. most Officer on duty.
Remove sunglasses and hat long before reaching the window while your waiting.
Keep radio volume down low or off and when you reach the window to speak with Officer ensure the window is down before you reach that spot and shut the vehicle off too.
Tight Groups and smoked clays.

[AB2506]

Originally Posted by .257Weatherby

Have all your documents in a row.
Choose the lane that is close to the main office as possible as that is usually the Sr. most Officer on duty.
Remove sunglasses and hat long before reaching the window while your waiting.
Keep radio volume down low or off and when you reach the window to speak with Officer ensure the window is down before you reach that spot and shut the vehicle off too.
Tight Groups and smoked clays.

Some great tips above.

I'll add some more. Now days, you are on camera before you reach the window. Be calm, do not rummage around the car in a panic.

I'd be cautious of taking any marijuana products into the USA, even CBD oil.

When talking to the CBP officer, answer questions politely and precisely. Do not offer more information than requested.

If you are taking a firearm, make sure you have your Canadian Export Permit and the required US paperwork ready.

Being polite and honest goes a long ways.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by AB2506

Some great tips above.

I'll add some more. Now days, you are on camera before you reach the window. Be calm, do not rummage around the car in a panic.

I'd be cautious of taking any marijuana products into the USA, even CBD oil.

When talking to the CBP officer, answer questions politely and precisely. Do not offer more information than requested.

If you are taking a firearm, make sure you have your Canadian Export Permit and the required US paperwork ready.

Being polite and honest goes a long ways.

Which Canadian Export Permit for firearms? It's been several years since I took a firearm to the USA, but I never needed any Canadian Export Permit.

[Cement Bench]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Which Canadian Export Permit for firearms? It's been several years since I took a firearm to the USA, but I never needed any Canadian Export Permit.

actually you are supposed to have one but they have never enforced the law

since 2007 you needed a permit to take rifles out of the country to world championships ans were supposed to notify,them upon return to,ensure the rifle was not exported

we complied but many many have not

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Cement Bench

actually you are supposed to have one but they have never enforced the law

since 2007 you needed a permit to take rifles out of the country to world championships ans were supposed to notify,them upon return to,ensure the rifle was not exported

we complied but many many have not

It has been longer than that since I took firearms to the USA. I can remember stopping at Canada Customs to get my firearms and other valuables listed on a card, so I could prove that they originated in Canada, and were not being imported, when I returned.
As for preventing the firearms from being permanently exported, if you only have to notify that you brought them back to Canada, and don't have to prove it, the government won't know if the firearm is actually back in Canada. With no long gun registry, they can't trace non restricted firearms.

[dfarms11]

Wow, can't believe the negative experiences with Canadian border officers. Coming home has almost always been better than going into the US. I don't think we've ever encountered a completely horrible experience coming home!

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by dfarms11

Wow, can't believe the negative experiences with Canadian border officers. Coming home has almost always been better than going into the US. I don't think we've ever encountered a completely horrible experience coming home!

Was down a couple times 2 years ago with a firearm and sheep coming back both times. All 4 crossings were a pleasurable experience. Coutts on the one and Kingsgate on the other

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by dfarms11

Wow, can't believe the negative experiences with Canadian border officers. Coming home has almost always been better than going into the US. I don't think we've ever encountered a completely horrible experience coming home!

This has never been my experience, not even once. Have never had a bad experience getting into the US, Mexico, or Panama. Every single time I've come back its been brutal.

[elkhunter11]

I have never had an issue entering the USA, the border staff were always professionals. I did encounter two Canadian border officials on power trips, both 30-40 year old women. If I have the choice of multiple lines, I avoid women in that age range, and look for young or old males. I do remove my sunglasses when presenting my passport, as I have seen officers make an issue of it with other people.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I have never had an issue entering the USA, the border staff were always professionals. I did encounter two Canadian border officials on power trips, both 30-40 year old women. If I have the choice of multiple lines, I avoid women in that age range, and look for young or old males. I do remove my sunglasses when presenting my passport, as I have seen officers make an issue of it with other people.

On another Alaska crossing, not same time or officer. , nice polite conversation, I knew the routine, he asked me to lower the back window of my car. It was a rental car, not familiar to me, power off, one of those fob things. While I was fumbling around trying to comply, I thought he was going for his gun. It's a rental I said, situation back to normal. These guys are on a hair trigger.

[Dylan15]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

This has never been my experience, not even once. Have never had a bad experience getting into the US, Mexico, or Panama. Every single time I've come back its been brutal.

Agreed. Growing up I would go to Montana 10-12 times a year, every year. Now it is 4-5 times a year. 10% or less with Canada is a positive interaction. Vindictive tax collectors.

Going to US, 95% plus positive. Almost always through in under 2 minutes, never been more than 5 minutes.