If I had a dollar every time I got an email asking me how to take guns from/to the USA I would have been able to retire a long time ago. It is hard enough to understand your own Federal/State law, but when you travel internationally you need to understand the laws of the country you are visiting. A few years back my neighbors boyfriend, who used to live in Buffalo, New York, was banned from entering Canada for 10 years for firearms violations when crossing the border.

Over at our sister site All Outdoor, Jon Stokes has written an article about how to take your hunting rifle or shotgun to Canada. He writes …

Some of the best international travel advice I ever received came from the late Bob Cloaninger, who for over 40 years ran one of the world’s largest hunting travel agencies, Trek Safaris in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Never forget it’s THEIR country,” he told me as I packed guns and gear for a foreign trip. “They make ALL the rules, and we Americans have no input in how they were made nor how they’re enforced.

…

Some American sportsmen traveling with their firearms have learned to their chagrin that returning home with those guns to the U.S. is a much bigger headache than entering Canada with them.

“The biggest hassle-saver for hunting in Canada with your own guns is having the proper U.S. customs form with you prior to traveling that details all valuables you possess, including firearms,” says Eddie Stevenson. “This is your proof that you departed the U.S. with the guns and did not obtain them out of the country.

The one thing that is consistent about gun laws everywhere (outside Syria, Libya and Somalia) is that they have ridiculously harsh penalties for easy mistakes any gun owner can make. Do your research before traveling.