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re: Canada DIY Waterfowl Notes

Posted on 7/8/26 at 3:23 pm to
Posted by Tridentds
Sugar Land
Member since Aug 2011
24105 posts
Posted on 7/8/26 at 3:23 pm to
I hunt up North of Saskatoon close to Meadow Lake. Stayed a few times after the guide trips were up and hunted with an older guy I know from Houston who pulls a big trailer up there and stays for a month or so. Couple of observations...

Landowners are easy to deal with but they absolutely hate someone rutting up the field in any way. Best way to get blackballed permanently.

If you have any kind of felony conviction... any kind at all... you aren't going hunting in Canada. They will put you on a plane back immediately. One of our guys years ago got turned back in Calgary from a fully paid Mule Deer hunt.

The guide we have used around Meadow Lake brings all the birds back to a barn. A First Nationer comes and picks them up every few days. Apparently takes everything and goes back to whatever community he comes from and cleans/sells them.

BTW... excellent post.

Posted by SmoothBox
Member since May 2023
2844 posts
Posted on 7/8/26 at 4:14 pm to
quote:

If you have any kind of felony conviction... any kind at all... you aren't going hunting in Canada.


I’ve had driving across leave guys at the border that they wouldn’t let across. Mostly DUIs. But I’ve had a couple other offenders not make it in.
Posted by OntarioTiger
Canada
Member since Nov 2007
2268 posts
Posted on 7/8/26 at 8:52 pm to
Solid advice no colour's, a cpl of things to add. Competition is coming, last yr there were two outfitters and another DIY group. In past yrs we had the area to ourselves. You are rt about not supposed to pay landowners, we will offer some wine or beer or a little cash saying take your wife out for supper.
On birds , if you process them e.g. grind them they dont count towards possession. So when we get a pile of birds we will grind and freeze for trip back to ontario, its 30 hrs. Saw Ramsey russel a few yrs back in a diner so we must be in a good spot. And ya no morning amd afternoon hunts unless you use an outfitter, too much work. Cheers
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
20970 posts
Posted on 7/8/26 at 9:28 pm to
Awesome write up.

Do you like good bourbon? Need someone to help cover the cost who also cooks pretty decent?

If so hit me up. I can't get any of my friend group to do big travel hunts anymore.

Greenhead2287@gmail.com
This post was edited on 7/8/26 at 9:29 pm
Posted by No Colors
Sandbar
Member since Sep 2010
13582 posts
Posted on 7/9/26 at 11:20 am to

quote:

On birds , if you process them e.g. grind them they dont count towards possession. So when we get a pile of birds we will grind and freeze for trip back to ontario, its 30 hrs.


I asked AI about this because I wasn't sure how it worked and this was the answer I got

quote:

No. You cannot bring processed waterfowl products like sausage back into the US. The US Fish and Wildlife Service requires that all hunter-harvested wild game birds imported from Canada have one fully feathered wing attached so that border agents can identify the species. Because edible processed products have the wings and feathers removed, they will be confiscated at the border.To successfully transport your harvested waterfowl from Canada to the United States, your birds must meet specific USDA APHIS requirements:The Wing Requirement: One fully feathered wing must remain attached to the carcass for species identification.Viscera & Parts: The head, neck, feet, skin, and viscera must be removed.Packaging: Carcasses must be rinsed in fresh water, packed in leak-proof plastic, and transported chilled or frozen.Possession Limits: You can only import your personal limit of legally harvested birds, and you cannot transport birds belonging to other hunters.


You might be risking it by doing it that way. I wonder about shipping it home seperate from your trip back?

I think the worst thing that can happen when you come across is that they confiscate it from you. If so, no big deal? Now if you end up detained and miss your flight and get fined and maybe have to return to Canada and go to a court date or something. Then that could turn into a $5k or $10k situation really quick. I am not willing to risk that.

But if the worst thing that could happen was they confiscate the processed meat. Then that doesn't really bother me.
Posted by OntarioTiger
Canada
Member since Nov 2007
2268 posts
Posted on 7/9/26 at 2:31 pm to
No colours, you are probably rt for travel to the US, I am cdn and the processing is fine for us as we stay in canada. We checked w federal game warden in canada and grinding is considered processed. I should have said that's for cdns.
Again great summary. We hunt N of Saskatoon at the northern most ag. One thing we have found is brushed in blinds work better in fields than layouts. Even when layouts are well grassed etc, birds flared.
Posted by No Colors
Sandbar
Member since Sep 2010
13582 posts
Posted on 7/9/26 at 2:47 pm to
quote:

One thing we have found is brushed in blinds work better in fields than layouts. Even when layouts are well grassed etc, birds flared.

Yeah I've noticed the same. You can brush in an A frame blind that looks ridiculous. Like a bunch of Christmas trees and willows out in the middle of a field 800 yards from the nearest bush. And they'll come right in.

But layout blinds are really tricky
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