Waterton Entry - Bear Spray?

Are you a seasoned hiker, or just starting out? Let us know your questions or experience with the backcountry permit process.

Moderators: teapot57, Tara

Post Reply
User avatar
NDjason
Donator
Donator
Posts: 588
Joined: Mon May 21, 2007 11:20 am
Gender?: Male
Please add the numbers(11): 11
Location: Houston, TX

Waterton Entry - Bear Spray?

Post by NDjason »

I'm looking forward to a planned trip in August, coming in and out of Goat Haunt. I've never actually driven up to Waterton before, but I was recently told that there may be an issue with bringing bear spray across the border? Can anyone confirm or deny? I was planning on buying it in Great Falls when we flew in, picking up the permit in St. Mary's (since they won't be giving permits out of Waterton this summer), and then driving up to the townsite.

Thanks in advance!
~ jason
orin
Posts: 466
Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 11:02 pm
Please add the numbers(11): 0
Location: Seattle
Has thanked: 36 times
Been thanked: 45 times

Re: Waterton Entry - Bear Spray?

Post by orin »

I last crossed into Canada with bear spray a couple of years ago. At that time you could bring in your bear spray so long as it was EPA certified. The major bear spray brands like Counter Assault were OK. Other things like small sprays designed for personal protection from other people were not allowed. You probably should check that things haven't changed.
User avatar
tibber
2.0 Donator
2.0 Donator
Posts: 474
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:50 am
Gender?: Female
Please add the numbers(11): 11
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Has thanked: 75 times
Been thanked: 28 times

Re: Waterton Entry - Bear Spray?

Post by tibber »

We took ours in last summer when we did Boulder Pass backpack.

Oh, forgot to say we also bot our spray in GTF and brot it across the border.
Last edited by tibber on Thu Jun 21, 2018 9:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
teapot57
Moderator & 2.1 Donator
Moderator & 2.1 Donator
Posts: 940
Joined: Mon May 20, 2013 3:59 pm
Gender?: Female
Please add the numbers(11): 11
Location: Calgary, AB
Has thanked: 88 times
Been thanked: 77 times

Re: Waterton Entry - Bear Spray?

Post by teapot57 »

Never had a problem crossing the border with bear spray and I’ve done it many, many times.
User avatar
NDjason
Donator
Donator
Posts: 588
Joined: Mon May 21, 2007 11:20 am
Gender?: Male
Please add the numbers(11): 11
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Waterton Entry - Bear Spray?

Post by NDjason »

Thanks for the replies. It sounded off, since I'd never heard of anything like that before. I'll stick to the original plan and bring it along.

Thanks!
~ jason
User avatar
daveparker
Hiking With Angels
Hiking With Angels
Posts: 2641
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:00 pm
Please add the numbers(11): 0
Location: Kalispell, Montana

Re: Waterton Entry - Bear Spray?

Post by daveparker »

As long as it has an EPA certification, then Canada will allow it to be carried.
Post Reply

Return to “Backcountry Permits”