Author Topic: Any advice for someone moving back to the lower 48, going thru Canada (Read 1782 times)

JimFromTN · « **on:** October 12, 2010, 04:08:08 AM »

My brother is a bush pilot living in Anchorage and wants to move back to TN. I think he is tired of the winters and he met a lady from TN and they ended up getting married. Kind of sucks for me because now I am going to have to hire a guide to hunt in AK for certain big game species but this isn't about me. Anyhow, he was wanting to drive the almost 6000 miles back to TN because he can't afford to ship all of his long guns and he does not want to have to sell his truck and his gun safe as well as all of his reloading equipment and all of the other things he was planning on packing in his truck. He has a problem in that he got a DUI 8 years ago and he needs to get thru Canada to get his stuff back to TN. What can he do to be aloud to drive across thru Canada?

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2010, 04:14:34 AM »

He can go by ferry from Anchorage to Seatle. That will avoid all the customs hassle. That is what I have heard a lot of people do, then drive from there across country.

JimFromTN · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2010, 05:24:07 AM »

He looked into that but they charge by the pound. I think it will cost him over $2000 to get his stuff out that way.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2010, 06:38:16 AM »

How much would it cost him in gasoline to travel via the Alaska highway? It may be further. Another option is to have his guns, especially handguns and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns shipped via FFL to FFL in Tennessee. Canada will not allow shipment from what I understand of semi's and handguns. The only other option is to sell what is questionable in CanadaI, or have someone trustworthy to carry the firearms via ferry and him drive down from Canada and pick them up. I think ferry is the safest route, even if it costs more. Not as much hassle.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2010, 06:55:33 AM »

If you ship maybe a gang box wold work.

JimFromTN · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2010, 09:29:32 AM »

He is shipping his handguns thru either UPS of Fedex, I can't remember. They are allowing him to ship them to himself as long as they are overnighted. His wife can take posession but cannot legally open the boxes. He does not have any semi-autos, just bolt actions, lever actions, and single shot rifles so if he did not have his dui, it would not be an issue to transport them thru Canada.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2010, 09:58:25 AM »

He could fly with handguns and ship loaded truck by rail ?

pastorp · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2010, 10:53:27 AM »

Depending on the DUI. He may be able to contact Canadian customs and get the paperwork to travel through. He needs to do this in advance and he need a passport now. It will depend on how the DUI was resolved.

You can't ship by rail out of Alaska. But he could barge the truck. On the state ferry they do not charge by the pound but by the length. The barge line aml & the ferry amh are different.

Regards,

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2010, 10:58:00 AM »

He may be able to put up a non returnable bond also.

JimFromTN · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2010, 04:57:23 AM »

My brother called the embassy and found out that it could take 4 months or more to get approval to drive thru which is not an option because he wants to be home by christmas.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2010, 07:22:15 AM »

It may cost more, but I say barge it from Alaska to Washington, then drive home. Or, sell a gun or two that would be easier to replace to pay for the barge, then buy back what you want when you get home.

Sourdough · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2010, 11:56:29 AM »

Forget the Ferry, he would have to drive from Beaver Creek through Canada to Haines to get to the Ferry. The Ferry does not come to the main part of Alaska, only to South Eastern. Am Exp will not handle guns except through a licsensed dealer, so forget that route as well. Have not personelly delt with Fed Ex, they are an unkown to me. As for him getting them through Canada he would have to apply for a import licsence and that takes some time. But I understand that Canada is turning back all people with DWIs on their record, not letting them drive in or through Canada.

I ship my guns through the US Postal Service, from myself to myself. Kind of spendy, but the best way. The only problem is that Post Offices in the States don't know their regs and they themselves think it is Illegial. It takes some talking, and knowing the postal regs, to straighten them out.

His best bet is to sell them and buy new ones when he gets to the lower 48. Or do one of those small POD moves and put his guns in that, or make a small shipment with a freight company. A commercial carrier can get the shipment on a barge from Anchorage to Seattle, not stopping in Canada. He himself will have to fly, period, due to the DWI.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2010, 01:21:34 PM »

I was under the impression from others that a ferry runs from Anchorage to Seattle. He must live near the Canadian border.

torpedoman · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2010, 02:41:42 PM »

he can use the U.S. postal service to ship his long guns to himself at his new address. perfectly legal.

JimFromTN · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2010, 09:18:38 AM »

He is shipping his hadguns through fedex. They will let him do it as long as he ships them to himself. He says the ferry is going to cost him around $2500 which I think he will end up doing. He is too fond of his long guns to sell them. He has a 458 lott which he has no use for in TN but he can't let it go because he customized it by porting it, adding a custom fiberglass stock and a leupold euro 1-24x20. He reloads for it and gets 1/2 groups at 100yds. He has taken 2 black bears with it in the last year and was hoping for an opportunity at a brown bear. He also has a fire safe and reloading equipment he does not want to sell and have to buy back at retail when he gets to TN.

Sourdough · « **Reply #15 on:** October 25, 2010, 05:37:37 AM »

Unless they have added a new bigger ferry that I have not heard about, no ferry crosses the open, unprotected waters from Valdez to Haines. One ferry runs from Valdez to Whittier, then on to Seward, then turns around and goes back. One runs from Kodiak, Haines, and some Alutian ports. The rest run between Seattle and Vancover north as far as Haines. None go farther due to open water. It's a long drive through Canada to get to the main part of Alaska.

No ferries leave Anchorage that I am aware of, the Anchorage port is too shallow. Cruise ships do not come to Anchorage, they all go to Seward or Valdez. Like I said the Anchorage port is too shallow, it can only handle shallow draft barges.

Correction: M/V Kennicot does run from Southeastern to Whittier, twice a month from June through September. That is a new run that I was not aware of. Again none go to Anchorage. To use that ferry you would have to board in Whittier, then go to Haines, Juneau, or Ketchican. Then change ferries to one that goes to Seattle.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #16 on:** October 25, 2010, 10:04:21 AM »

Someone else moved to or from Alaska, and mentioned a ferry to and from Seatle. I just assumed Anchorage because it is the largest city. I didn't know is wasn't a deepwater port. I see now why they have the pipeline load a Valdez. This person said with the ferry, they could drive on their vehicles and ride to Seatle without passports or anything. No questions.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #17 on:** October 25, 2010, 03:06:04 PM »

Looks like you will have to drive the pu to Seattle for him, and meet him at the airport, where he can continue on, while you fly home. OR his girl friend can drive to Haines (a one day drive) and get on the ferry, where he can fly to catch up with her.

DM

Sourdough · « **Reply #18 on:** October 26, 2010, 03:35:27 AM »

Flights into and outof anywhere in Southeastern are sporatic due to weather. In other words don't count on a flight getting you to Haines to meet someone. Every year friends fly down to Juneau to meet with the legislature then get stuck downthere for days till the weather clears.

DixieDude: A lot of people talk of going to Alaska and only go to Southeastern. That little strip of land between Canada and the Pacific Ocean, that runs south from Cordova half way to the lower 48. That little strip is nothing like the rest of Alaska. It rains a lot down there, and the temps are rather mild. About like Seattle, maybe a little colder but not much. In fact we call that whole area the Seattle Suburbs. The people that live there have more in common with Seattle than the rest of the State. It's easier for them to get to Seattle than it is to go to Anchorage. To get to the Rest of Alaska they have to ferry to Haines then drive through Canada, or fly to Anchorage.

As for Rail, we have been waiting since 1958 to be connected to the lower 48. Has not happened yet, and not planned in the forseeable future. It would be great if we were connected. We could then just drive onto the train and get off in the lower 48 somewhere.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #19 on:** October 26, 2010, 05:12:22 AM »

Makes a lot more sense. It baffles me as to why they have never ran a rail line through Canada to Fairbanks. There could be special trains to load cars and people for straight through from Alaska to lower 48 non-stop. This guy must live in the lower SE coastal area. Also, I've often wondered why Juneau was chosen as the Capital instead of the more centraly located Anchorage or Valdez.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #20 on:** October 26, 2010, 05:17:46 AM »

political control !

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #21 on:** October 26, 2010, 05:19:03 AM »

Could not Alaska build their own railway from Fairbanks to the Canadian border, then pay Canada to extend it to the nearest railhead in Canada?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #22 on:** October 26, 2010, 05:21:09 AM »

When I visited Canada I was ask how many hand guns I owned and what they were needed for. That is political to me.
Consider if we are forced to register our guns then they would know what your ansewer should be before you ansewer. What would the crime be to lie ?
Are they training us for that day ?

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** October 26, 2010, 05:22:00 AM »

Quote from: Dixie Dude on October 26, 2010, 05:19:03 AM

Could not Alaska build their own railway from Fairbanks to the Canadian border, then pay Canada to extend it to the nearest railhead in Canada?

If you carried guns would you still not need to declare them ?

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #24 on:** October 26, 2010, 05:41:27 AM »

Seems like if it was a straight through train with no stops, it might not be required. Canada has a rail head in Northern British Columbia. Maybe 1,000 miles or so to Fairbanks. From what I understand, Canada is building a natural gas pipeline via the Alaska Highway right now. They have a lot of gas in northern Yukon. Alaska has a 47 year supply for the lower 48 in Anwar alone that we need to get out. We have deer, turkey, wild hogs, and black bear in the lower 48 that co-exist with humans ok. I don't think the caribou, wolves, and griz would be bothered by a little railway to cross.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #25 on:** October 26, 2010, 06:08:21 AM »

Quote from: Sourdough on October 26, 2010, 03:35:27 AM

Flights into and outof anywhere in Southeastern are sporatic due to weather. In other words don't count on a flight getting you to Haines to meet someone. Every year friends fly down to Juneau to meet with the legislature then get stuck downthere for days till the weather clears.

That could happen any place at any time. I've been stuck in Anchorage, F. Banks, Ft. Yukon, Seward, even Kenai but never S.E., even though it certainly does happen.

The Chicago airports are closed right now, as i type this because of weather.

DM

Sourdough · « **Reply #26 on:** October 26, 2010, 12:26:43 PM »

Canada has said they will meet our line if we build it to the border. The canadians have rail to either Ft St John or Ft Nelson. The right of way is already there, been there since WWII for the entire line. The problem is getting the State Of Alaska to build it to the border from Fairbanks. The Canadian city of Whitehorse is screaming just as loud as we are, they are even more isolated and forgotten than Fairbanks.

We not only have oil and gas, we have copper, gold, cadmium, platnium, poladium, and loads of other minerals, all just sitting in the ground and no way of getting it to market.

I have talked to Governor Parnell, and Joe Miller, about the rail line. No idea where it is going to go.

JimFromTN · « **Reply #27 on:** November 22, 2010, 04:24:33 AM »

My brother made it back to TN yestarday. He ended up putting his truck on a boat from Anchorage to WA, and shipped his hand guns via Alaska Air to WA. He took a flight to WA, picked up his truck and then went and picked up his guns and drove all the way back to TN.

It was very stressful in the last moments before he left because he thought he could ship the handguns thru UPS because they said he could on the website but when he arrived at UPS, they said they would not ship them for him. I called the BATF in Washington DC and it turns out that you can legally ship handguns thru a common carrier to yourself when you are moving without having to go thru an FFL. The problem is that none of the carriers will do it. I don't think anyone really knows what the law is, not even law enforcement. My brother said he talked with another company that does air freight and they said that they got hassled too much by law enforcement to do it anymore. They always walked away with charges dropped but the attorney fees were killing them so they adopted a no shipping of firearms policy.

Of course, now my brother wants me to go back up to AK with him for a spring bear hunt before he loses his resident status. He has a permited bait station that he killed a couple of bears off of. I just hope I can save up the money to do it in time.

Dand · « **Reply #28 on:** November 22, 2010, 11:02:28 PM »

If your brother moved out of Alaska he may not meet the letter of the law to be a resident. I'm not clear how that works once a person leaves but he'll need a new license after Dec 31 and if he claims he's still a resident he may be perjuring himself. I forget exactly how the law reads but I'd encourage you and him to carefully consider it.

Is he still maintaining a residence in Alaska?

JimFromTN · « **Reply #29 on:** November 23, 2010, 04:03:18 AM »

He still owns a home there and he may be going back to work over the summer so I am not sure how that is going to work out.