Shipping to Alberta

[JoJoDapyro]

Anyone ever shipped a bow from the states to Alberta? Any advice on getting a bow and arrows through customs?

[mullet]

Remove the bark. And call it Arts and Crafts Supply on the Customs form. Also keep the value down, it's just a piece of wood , so the recipient doesn't get hammered on import taxes.

[JoJoDapyro]

I have shipped all sorts of stuff there, just never a bow, with a sinewed back, and arrows, with Turkey feathers. My Great Aunt once sent Christmas gifts to my sister, and put on the claims form "Gifts", it arrived opened (Of course), one of the cookies had a bite taken out of it when my sister opened it!

[osage outlaw]

Expect to pay a good amount and expect it to take a long time to get there.  I had one take more than a month to make it through all the customs hassle.

[wizardgoat]

i personally have received all sorts of wood and animal parts from the states with very little hassle. knock on wood....
even got some ERC with the bark on which kind of surprised me. for sure put something like "native american replica art"

[JoJoDapyro]

It should be going out this next week. I normally don't have a delay on shipping things to my sister. We shall see. 

[mullet]

I think you will be real lucky to get the feathers and the bow with sinew on it through Customs. I've been in Customs at the airport in Edmonton and watched them sieze all leather products(gloves) and anything with feathers, (dream catchers).

[bushboy]

I would label it ornamental art bow

[DC]

Try labeling it "Cocaine" and see if they have a sense of humor

[JoJoDapyro]

Try labeling it "Cocaine" and see if they have a sense of humor

I already get searched every time I fly there. I bet I am on their "List"

[Cameroo]

I don't think it matters much what the label says.  With the imaging equipment available these days, I wouldn't be surprised if they scan everything that comes through.  If the description doesn't match what they see on the scanner, it's all the more reason for them to open the package and have a peek.

I just got some snake vertebrae from Cip a couple weeks ago.  Made it through customs no problem, other than the fact that the jerks opened all of the nicely bagged bones (clear sandwich bags... apparently they had to open them because they couldn't see through the plastic), and then they just dumped them all back into the box loose...

[JoJoDapyro]

I only ask about the customs declaration due to previous issues I have had. Oakley wont ship repaired glasses to Canada. My BIL buys them in the states because they are much cheaper here. After returning home after a trip that he bought glasses, he had a leak in the basement. He ran down with his glasses on his head and scratched the lens on the duct work. He shipped them in to get fixed, and had them shipped to me. I shipped them back and put on the customs form that the package had glasses, and the value. It got held up because they wanted him to pay duty on them, even though he already had when he crossed back into Canada a month or so before. When I have shipped anything else I have never had an issue, even when there was things other than listed. I mostly ship toys and snacks that they don't sell in Edmonton.
I just wanted to get some first hand experience from members here. If it does get stopped and denied i'll just take it up when I drive up this summer. I would just love for him to be able to open it for Christmas. 

[JoJoDapyro]

The bow and arrows arrived in Edmonton after only 6 days. Unopened by customs. Reading the list of items that they don't allow, only wild bird feathers was on the list. Sinew, horn, bone and snake skins were all allowed. I ended up using store bought fletchings due to this. Good to know I guess.