Special Items

Hunting

Hunting

Hunting Equipment

If you’re planning to travel with hunting equipment, please make sure to read the information we’ve provided below.

Registering hunting equipment in advance of travel

You’re invited to register your hunting equipment at least 24 hours before your flight by contacting Air Canada Reservations or your travel agent.

Please note that registering hunting equipment in advance of travel doesn’t guarantee that we’ll be able to accommodate each item on your flight(s). Please reconfirm with an airport agent at time of check-in.

At the airport

When travelling with hunting equipment, you’re advised to be at the airport a full 30 minutes before the normally recommended check-in time for your flight.

Baggage allowance and charges

If checked in separately, each item within the hunting equipment category counts as one piece of baggage towards the maximum number of checked bags allowed by your fare type.

If your baggage count (item in the hunting equipment category + number of bags to be checked) exceeds the maximum number of items allowed for your fare type, additional checked baggage charges will apply.

In addition, a fixed handling charge applies to antlers and horns as well as all accepted firearms. See relevant sections below for details.

Special instructions

Pick from the options below to see packing instructions, waivers, charges and additional details as they apply to the transport of specific items of hunting equipment.

Firearms

If you're travelling with a firearm, ammunition or cartridges, you must declare those items during the check-in process and complete a declaration form.

Restrictions

  • Accepted Firearms:
    Only hunting rifles, shotguns, BB guns, paintball guns, biathlon rifles, air pistols and certain handguns are accepted as checked baggage.
  • Travel outside Canada
    It is your sole responsibility to make sure that you are in compliance with the firearm and ammunition regulations of each country on your itinerary. Non-compliance can result in the seizure of your firearm.
  • Age Limit
    Only passengers age 18 and over may carry a firearm in checked baggage.
  • Maximum Allowed
    A maximum of three firearms is allowed per person.
  • Early Check-In
    If you are travelling with a firearm in your checked baggage, you are advised to be at the airport a full 30 minutes before the normal recommended check-in time for your flight.

Packing instructions

  • Firearms and ammunition must not be packed in the same container.
  • One declaration form must be completed for each firearm container that is being checked in. On the form, you must attest that firearms are not loaded.
  • All firearms:
    • Must be unloaded;
    • Must be rendered inoperable by means of a secure locking device mechanism (i.e. a trigger lock), but only after the check-in process has been completed;
    • Must be packaged and locked in a specially designed, non-transparent case that cannot be easily broken into during transport.
  • Each of the following is considered an individual item when packed separately:
    • One rifle case containing no more than two rifles (with or without scope) plus 5 kg (11 lb) ammunition (packaged separately), one shooting mat, noise suppressors and small rifle tools;
    • Two shotguns and two shotgun cases;
    • One pistol case containing no more than 3 pistols.

Fees

In addition to any applicable additional checked baggage charges, all accepted firearms are subject to a fee of $50.00 CA/US (plus applicable taxes) for carriage on Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights, as well as on Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz.

    • The fee applies to one-way flights and for each way of travel on round-trip and multi-segment flights.
    • No other baggage fees apply to firearms.

Waivers

A single fixed fee is waived:

  • When you purchase a Latitude, Premium Economy or Business Class fare for travel within Canada, and between Canada and the U.S.
  • If you are a member of the military.

Aeroplan Elite Status Members may bring, without charge, one firearm for each bag allowed by their Elite Status, up to a maximum of 3 firearms per person.

Additional Fees

The Canadian government charges additional fees for bringing firearms into Canada. For more information, please visit the Canada Border Services AgencyExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines and/or language preferences. website.