The daylight was softer and the doves had depart for the southern wintering area. I drove by our nearby marsh and teal were already on their way south. This year was destined to be a great trip up north and I would cross over the border in mid September and experience a nasty Canadian crossing.
In my 24 years of entering Canada each fall, I never had and an issue. This year was to be different. I was crossing at Sweetgrass Montana and stopped to buy a bottle of Cognac for the northern nights. I left the US side and when I approached the Canadian window a blonde border guard, no more than 21 with a Fraulein bun carrying a glock quizzed me about the purpose and length of my stay. I mentioned I had 7 antique double barrel hammer gun and shotguns she quipped why did I need so many and told me to pull over to fill out the weapon importation form,
The Custom building was large and before I would pay the $25 Canadian answering a few question and be on my way to Drumheller. This was not going to happen today. I entered the b building and saw hordes of people waiting to be examined by custom officers reading magazines behind a series of desks. Immediately, I noticed 25 uniformed custom agents and there wasn't an adult in the group. It was a day care. After an hour and half wait ( I was sure they were watching body language via there remotes), I was summoned to answer a few question by a red face boy who also had a glock strapped to his navy blue pants. He couldn't have been more that 19. He was curt and tried to portray someone with immense authority but sensed he was ill at ease and readily stumbled over his questions.
I was informed my Camper and trailer would be searched and so I was escorted to a waiting room to hold onto my two hunting dogs while they spent 2.5 hours going through the camper. Again there were 10 camera on me and when I lab had to relieve herself and within 10 seconds an officer rushed In the room telling me I had to clean it up. I had nothing to do the deed with. She refused to let me out of the waiting room until I had cleared customs. She was very mad and returned to her room to watch me even closer. An hour later my German Wirehair took a dump next to a seat and again another agent rushed into the room trying to stop the dog from relieveing herslf. She just made matters worse and by now it had been over 2 hours and the four agent none over 20 converged and told me to move on. They found nothing they said and I remarked what did they expect. "Pistols,we were told you Americans were bringing lots of handguns."
It was time to move on to the hujnting grounds
