Travelling internationally with firearms
For the first-time international hunter, travelling with one’s sporting rifles or shotguns can be a matter of significant concern, especially since we unwittingly get attached to said objects which also may have cost us a small fortune to acquire in the first place! Horror stories of lost luggage and corrupt immigration officials do little to calm the nerves, so here are a few tips and an overview to get you started.
Firstly, in order to travel internationally with firearms you must ensure that your destination allows overseas visitors to enter with their own weapons. Some Countries such as Russia and the UK require several months notice when visitors need to apply in advance for an import permit which in turn must be supported by copies of flight reservations and letters of invitation / sponsorship within the country you intend to visit. Most locations offer Estate Guns for this very reason and increasingly this is the easiest, cheapest and preferred option for many of our clients.
Carriers such as BA, South African, Air Namibia and Lufthansa all routinely take firearms although again, be warned since we have had some extraordinary charges at the hands of British Airways, Air Canada and Lufthansa for ‘excess baggage charges’ for Rifles and Ammunition whereas carriers such as South African allow a further 20kg luggage allowance for hunters travelling with Rifles which they class as ‘Sporting Goods’ – British Airways do not and an additional £340 was charged by them on our last journey with them!
There remains some variation and local interpretation of the CAA guidelines relating to travelling with sporting firearms so as a general guide, guns and ammunition must travel separately with the ammunition secured in its own lockable case or box. Guns need to be in a hard-shelled ‘Airline approved’ case.
Some carriers allow for ammunition to travel inside your main luggage case, others do not and again it’s down to local interpretation so the best advice would be prepared for both eventualities.
And finally, something we strongly recommend is a soft slip for your Rifle for while you are actually hunting with it. Hard cases for airlines are not always appropriate to take out into the field and there will be little to protect it in your Outfitter’s vehicle, so remember to pack a slip for it during your visit!
To see this page online, please visit http://www.huntingandshootingnews.com/hsn-nov/index.html#/14/