driving to Alberta
Contributors to this thread:Moose
From: Jimmyjumpup
08-Feb-25
So I am going to go on my first hunt where I will be driving. I just to fly all the time but want to bring my meat home if I am lucky. Anyone ever done it by yourself? Im driving from WV so it will be haul.
From: Nanuke22
08-Feb-25
I drove from NJ to Alberta, wasn’t to bad, did it solo, think it took two or three days, crossed in Portal ND
From: Bou'bound
09-Feb-25
Not a bad drive if you are successful. Killer if you are driving home empty.
From: ILbowhntr
09-Feb-25
Drove from Illinois to Hudson Bay Saskatchewan last spring for my bear hunt. Spent 2 nights in hotels on the way up, so it wasn’t bad. Stopped one night on the way home because of meat and it was a tougher haul. Good coolers are the key in my opinion. Iced down the meat when I left, topped off once and had frozen meat when I got back.
From: Rock
09-Feb-25
I have done that drive many times but I am a lot closer (Colorado) than you are.
From: Jim in PA
09-Feb-25
Done the ride from northeast pa to western AB several times. Three days by myself. Madison Wi, Minot ND to West of Edmonton. Never an issue. North Portal crossing is no problem.
From: Jimmyjumpup
09-Feb-25
Thanks guys.
From: Hunter's Granddad
09-Feb-25
My brother and I drove from NE Oklahoma to AB. We took our time and it took 2.5 days. We brought 2 bulls back. My brother took his early and we took it to the processor. We processed mine at the outfitters home. We had to buy one more large ice chest. The only problem we had was crossing back in. We went through at the North Gate in ND. The border patrol must not have been having great day. He said we crossed at the wrong crossing and we couldn't bring processed moose across the border. We had to park our truck and go inside. He settled down after someone inside told him it was ok to the processed moose across.
From: Jbrink
10-Feb-25
You can stop and pick me up in north west Ohio and I’ll ride along with you and fish till you need me to help pack out ??
From: Buckdeer
10-Feb-25
We are going to Alberta in Oct but decided to fly as it was going to be 6 extra days coming from Kansas.
From: maxracx
10-Feb-25
I traveled to Fort McMurry AB from central WI last Oct. We crossed at Portal ND as mentioned with no issues. Make sure you know what you can and can't take across the boarder well in advance and you will have no problem. We did have an issue crossing back into the US when, at 3 am, the border guy couldn't believe that we had spent 10 days in Canada and weren't bring back anything. He inspected our empty coolers and held us up for about 30 mins. We think we was bored and just felt like doing an inspection to pass the time. We broke the trip up to Alberta into 2 days, stopping overnight in Regina SK, then on to Ft Mac the next day. I the trip back we drove straight thru 26 hours and that was a grind. Best of luck
From: Tjm1534
12-Feb-25
I have made the drive many times,hate airlines and like to take everything I want or need as I am gone from home possibly 2 months.Just my opinion but North Portal is the biggest pain in the butt crossing on that side.Go across at one of the small crossings like Sherwood and there is a fuel station right at the border.Fuel up and save the cost for Canadian fuel.Also don’t get into a big conversation with the border police just answer what they ask you.Don’t have any handguns or handgun ammo in your vehicle,that will cause you trouble,possibly big trouble.
From: csalem
12-Feb-25
We are going up in the early summer and we are driving with a fifth wheel trailer My question is how long should we expect the crossing will take with Canadian Officials?
Never crossed driving. Do they just go through your vehicle and trailer or it a smoother event
From: Bou'bound
12-Feb-25
They shouldn’t be going through your vehicle. I think I’ve had that once in probably 80 crossings.
From: HunterJoe
12-Feb-25
Drove from Michigan solo. Had my rest area stops mapped out and just slept in the back of my truck a few hours. I entered through Montana.
From: HunterJoe
12-Feb-25
From: Hunter's Granddad
12-Feb-25
We crossed in ND and didn't have a problem. The had us roll down our windows and they looked in. We had a cover over the bed and they didn't look in it. We had rifles and we went inside and they finish filling out the paperwork. 10 minutes total.
From: badlander
13-Feb-25
I cross into canada a couple of times every year, haven't had issues crossing into canada from the US, as others have mentioned no handgun, or automatic opening knives.
Just be polite, know where you plan to stay and don’t forget about the “congrats its a boy” cigar your buddy gave you and you tossed on the dashboard when you declare no tobacco, or have a turkey wing feather that your kid picked up in the visor that turns out to be a juvenile bald eagle wing feather - who knew they looked so similar? Thought the driver was going to prison for that one.
From: TMac
16-Feb-25
I have crossed several times. Only once did I have 2 border agents take everything out of my truck. They were kind enough to put everything back better than how i initially packed it. This happened when Trump took office in his first term and I believe it may have been that he was threatening tariffs not sure but he was ruffling feathers to the north . My buddy and I thought that may have been the reason they were so thorough that year or maybe it was just coincidental who knows.
From: Elk assassin
16-Feb-25
I drove from Kansas to the Peace River area to hunt with Mike several years ago. Two long days, no problems either way at the border. Brought a boned-out moose back in three large coolers without and problems. Got to see a lot of great country.
From: Jimmyjumpup
22-Feb-25
Thanks for all of the replies guys. I am not looking forward to driving. I think I will allow more time and take my time.
