Couple of pictures from Day 1 as I wait in the lobby of the hotel for the outfitter
From Newark Intl to Toronto, ON to Halifax, NS, to Gander, NL
Left my parents place where we spent the night at 2:00 am, arrived at Newark Liberty at 4:00am which left 2 hours to get through checking the firearms and security. It was important that we did leave ourselves some extra time as it took us an hour and half to get through that process! Guys that are going in the up coming weeks, give yourselves all the extra time that you can.
First stop was Toronto. Most important things to mention here is how important it is to give yourselves at least a 2 hour layover and that YOU MUST CLEAR CUSTOMS AND SECURITY A SECOND TIME NOW THAT YOU ARE ON CANADIAN SOIL. There were 2 sad and disappointed hunters at the Gander Airport who got NONE of their luggage that contained firearms ammunition, one of which had nothing except the empty cooler that he checked as a carry on and what was in his pockets. This was likely because their firearms and checked bags (with ammo in them) were still in Toronto.
The process looks something like this:
-Exit plane with customs declaration form they give you in flight
-Enter customs and declare firearms and ammo
-Proceed out of customs to oversized baggage claim area where firearm will be waiting for you
-Take firearms to customs officers in the baggage claim are
-Fill out Canadian firearms possession forms, pay $25
-Drop off firearm at special/oversize baggage security
-Go through security again with all your carry on bags and whats on your person
-IMPORTANT NOTE: Checked baggage that dont contain firearms will go straight on to the next plane
-From this point any other layovers should have your checked baggage (including firearms) put from one plane to the next, no special attention needed.
After arriving in Gander and collecting our things we checked into the Quality Inn which is much nicer than I had anticipated. Once we got settled in the room we went over to the bar/restaurant next door, Legends, and had dinner and a nice cold beer.
Day 2 was breakfast in the hotel restaurant and an impromptu hike to the local Walmart thats about 1.5 miles away to buy the fiance some warmer gloves as she forgot her good ones. Also stopped at the local liquor store for a bottle of Screech and Forty Creek to bring to camp.
Now the lobby of the hotel is filling up with excited hunters, their bags, and guns all waiting for their various outfits to pick them up!
