Eagle River Outfitters: tips for hunters returning home page

ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR HUNTERS RETURNING HOME

You must always accompany your luggage through Customs even though it is tagged to your final destination.
If you are getting a connecting flight out of Vancouver within four(4) hours of your arrival your luggage will then go to a special carousel close to Customs for your convenience.
If your wait in Vancouver is longer there is a baggage check area available.
Game (that is antlers, horns, capes, meat) will not be accepted as any part of the free baggage allowance. Game will always be charged an excess baggage charge of $65.00(CDN) plus GST per package within Canada and will be another $30 or more when you cross the border. It will always travel 'standby', that is 'subject to space available'.
Antlers from large species such as moose, caribou and elk will not physically fit inside the baggage compartments of the F28 jet aircraft in use today in northern BC. Antlers can be split down the center of the skull or, crated and shipped by truck. Most taxidermists will crate and ship for you.
Should you want to take meat with you, please be aware that you will be charged excess baggage rates for anything over the 2 pieces of checked baggage allowed by most airlines. The minimum rates are likely to be $65.00(CDN) plus GST per piece for the first 3 pieces of excess baggage. Meats should be packaged according to the information in the Canadian Airlines pamphlet (other airlines have similar policies). Note that excess baggage has a lower priority for loading on aircraft than does regular baggage. Most small aiports do not have freezers or coolers in the ramp areas. There are, however, freezer and/or cooler facilities at most cargo locations; therefore it is recommended that boxes of meat ~frozen~ be sent through air cargo to their destination.
Whether it is horns, capes or meat, everything should be properly labeled with your name, address, home and business phone number and the point of customs clearance closest to your home. Export permits must accompany goods which are sent air cargo, and permits must be available to show the airline agent if goods are going as baggage.