Author Topic: Newbie "Canadian" (Read 896 times)

Boxhead · « **on:** December 25, 2004, 08:00:31 AM »

Well not a true Canadian but we are just a week or so away from moving from the States to Calgary. Me, my wife, three sons (6, 13 & 15), dog and two cats, specifically. I spent the past month up there working and found everyone extremely friendly and very competent as well. From the clerk and tellers at the bank, the immigration officers, the customs officers and, yes, even the Firearms Registry folks were all just superb to work with and really knew their business. I really felt most welcomed. I am disappointed that I can not hunt with my handguns and had to leave a handful of my favorites (Ruger 32 Mags and an S&W 3" 44 Special) with a friend but that is the way it goes, I suppose. We are all excited though the Christmas Season has been a bit rough with packers and movers arriving and us out of our US house and into a hotel on 12/29, my birthday! My wife is ready to pull the boys hair out already, just wait 'til they are stuck in a hotel for 10 days.... We love to hunt and fish so the change will be for the better in that regard. The job is excellent as well. Sorry for the rambling but you folks here seem like a friendly bunch and I thought I would unload a bit. Happy holidays.

kevin.303 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 25, 2004, 06:44:53 PM »

welcome to Canada,Eh!

i've never heard of an American gunowner actually chosing to move here. depends on where your moving from i guess. if your coming from California the gun laws won't seem as bad. if your from Texas or a similar state they'l seem downright oppressive. if your only interested in shooting sporting rifles and shotguns it won't be too much different. pistols you must get government permission to move, and only then between an approved range and home. if you're into black or "assault" guns like the AK47 or the FN-FAL your outta luck, i'm afraid. if your a hunter first and hobby shooter second, you'll be fine, and as far as hunting & fishing goes you made the right choice.

you might want to log on to www.canadiangunnutz.com they can answer any question you could think of.

Kevin

Boxhead · « **Reply #2 on:** December 26, 2004, 04:39:56 AM »

Yes, I am afraid that I am moving from Texas. Though I was born and raised in California I have lived in Texas for a total of 9 years on three different assigments. I do like it here but the job in Calgary (Ft. McMurray oil sands project) is what brings me there. I have an Authority to Transport permit complete and ready for when I hit the border. I do enjoy hunting but typically hit the shooting range here a couple of times a month. Primarily shooting my handguns. I am a Ruger single action junkie (especially Old Models). I do not have any "black" firearms. Thanks for the site info.

upnorth · « **Reply #3 on:** December 26, 2004, 05:53:40 AM »

Welcome to the great white north!!!! feel free to ask any thing.. we are all here to help. be glad to show you around manitoba if you get this far east. and yes omega, there is country east of the alberta border!! (hee-hee-hee!!)

John Y Cannuck · « **Reply #4 on:** December 26, 2004, 08:49:52 AM »

Welcome. I hope you enjoy your new home. Be prepared for Calgary though, can be a wild town at times.

aulrich · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2004, 05:57:23 AM »

Things to know about Calgary
I am not a pistol shooter but there is a place called Shooter Edge (indoor pistol range) there are a couple of other ones but I don't know their names off hand.

Hunting will rock, but alot of the fun tags are draw so you will need to get a "WIN" (wildlife identification number) card. You need this to buy both hunting and fishing licences, and to enter the draws (Usually the draw deadline is the last friday in june)

Varmint hunting rocks too. I don't know what end of town your in but there is probably great coyote (winter read Now) and PD shooting(staring during run off until the grass is too long) with in an hour.

If you fish at all, buy a fly rod and if you don't fish yet buy a fly rod. The Bow river is probably one of the best urban rivers in the world. it can be fished in the winter on warm days 5c (double and add thirty to roughly convert to F so that would be 40F) but fishing usually does not start until late march or april (Be warned spring sucks in Calgary Don't get lulled by a lat winter chinook (Warm wind from the west). Don't make the mistake that I made for the first year here don't fish during run off. There is local run off wich is usually early april and it usually only makes the river dirty. But around May 24 mountain run off starts and the river could be un-fishable for weeks. I like spring fishing the best the river is less crowded and the fish are hungry.

If you don't fly fish small spinner and spoons work as well

Flys you'll need San juan worm, Prince , Stonefly (gold and black) yes there are other ones but my friends and I usually double rig a san juan and something else the san juan catches 75% of the fish and the 25% is split with all else.

There is lake fishing around but compared to where I grew up (Manitoba) the options are limited (with-in 3 hour drive)

If you just want to be in the bush you need to check out K-county (i can't sell the real word for it) it just west of town great hikes and camping just watch out for bears. I have lived here for 9 years and I have only been to Banff 3 times. I find it way to crowded. But I hear waterton park is nice. Plenty of other places, too many to mention.

Sorry I guess I ramble too, if you have any questions feel free to send a PM

cal sibley · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2005, 12:06:19 PM »

Hello Boxhead,

A word of warning. Watch it, this country can really grow on you. I'm from Maryland and came to spend a week with some friends in 1972. I'm still here, just never got around to going back. I think what sold me was the peacefulness of the people. It's one hell of a society. Just one mans opinion. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal