Connect with Ontario's Sunset Country online

Do you need a quick question answered? Want to see inspiring photos of Sunset Country? Need up to date information?

Follow Ontario's Sunset Country on one of our many social media avenues.

  

Follow Sunset Country on Facebook

 

Stay up to date with events in Northwest Ontario on Twitter

 

Add Sunset Country to your circles on Google+

 

View inspiring photos of Sunset Country

 

Read current or past articles on our blog

 

See more of Sunset Country on Flickr

Watch Sunset Country videos (more to come in the future)




You can also view our main Sunset Country website which links to over 400 Ontario lodges, resorts, hotels, local travel centres, businesses and more. Looking for something specific? Try one of our many product specific websites. Ask questions about traveling to Ontario's Sunset Country via email.

It's Sports and Vacation Show Season!

The Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Association will personally be at 5 sportshows this winter. Come on by to pick up our brand new 2012 Travel Guide & Fishing Map and our new Sunset Country Hunting Brochure. We also bring many of our members' brochures to the shows as well. One stop shopping!! The Sunset Country brochures will also be available at the Travel Center at all the All Canada shows as well as at the Northwest Ontario booth at the All Canada Shows.

Minnesota Sportsmen's Boat, Camp & Vacation Show

Where: St. Paul River Centre, St. Paul, MN
When: January 12-15th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Thursday January 12 -  2 pm - 9 pm
• Friday January 13 - Noon - 9 pm
• Saturday January 14 - 10 am - 9 pm
• Sunday January 15 - 10 am - 6 pm

Visit the show website for a $2 off coupon, schedule of seminars (including ones from outdoor pros such as Tony Roach, Jason Dommeyer, Jason Mitchell and Todd Amenrud), and more.

Chicago Outdoor Sportsmen Show

Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Centre, Rosemont, IL
When: January 26 - 29th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Thursday, January 26 - 2 pm - 8 pm
• Friday, January 27 - 2 pm - 8 pm
• Saturday, January 28 - 10 am - 8 pm
• Sunday, January 29 - 10 am - 5 pm

If you buy your tickets online ahead of time, they are $2 cheaper and you get a free magazine subscription to Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Islands or Transworld Motorcross (one per household). See the website for details.

Cedar Rapids Sportshow

Where: Hawkeye Downs Expo Centre, Cedar Rapaids, IA
When: February 10-12th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Friday February 10 - 2 pm - to 8 pm
• Saturday February 11 - 10 am - 8 pm
• Sunday February 12 - 10am - 4 pm

Visit the Cedar Rapids Sportshow website for prices, to print a coupon and for more information. Visit the "Ask the Pros" Info Booth where Fishing and Hunting experts are featured throughout the show. Stop by, ask questions, get great tips.

Red River Valley Sportsmen's Boat, Camping & Vacation Show

Where: Fargodome, Fargo, ND
When: March 1-4th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Thursday March 1 - 5 pm - 9pm
• Friday March 2 - Noon - 9 pm
• Saturday March 3 - 10 am - 9 pm
• Sunday March 4 - 10 am - 6 pm

Come to the 47th Red River Valley Sportsmen's Boat, Camping & Vacation Show, North Dakota's largest sportshow. In addition to all the exhibitors, there are tons of seminars to see including some by Frank Addington Jr., Ted Takasaki, and hunter Todd Amenrud. There is a trout pond and a Kids Fishing Workshop with the pros from Scheels. Visit their website to see a complete list of seminars.

Fox Cities Sports & Vacation Show

Where:Tri-County Arena Neenah, WI
When: March 9-11th, 2012
Show Hours:

• Friday March 9 - 2 pm - 9 pm
• Saturday March 10 - 10 am - 8 pm
• Sunday March 11 - 10 am - 4pm

Visit the Fox Cities Sports & Vacation Show website for more information and coupons. 

Stop on by at any of these Sports Shows and pick up some brochures to help plan your trip. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more updates on the Sportshows.

If we aren't heading your way this year, order your free 2012 Travel Guide & Map online and have it delivered to your door.

Top 5 Tips When Planning a Canadian Hunting Trip

Make sure you are prepared for your hunting trip

When planing a hunting trip to Canada, you should really plan in advance as some of the following tasks will require some time. Whether you are planning, a bear, moose or whitetail deer hunt, not adhering to these rules can put a trip on hold and cost losses of fees. When planning a hunting trip to Canada, here is a list of the top 5 basic things to know:

1) Remember your Passport 
A passport is required to enter Canada by car, sea or air. If you don’t have one, get one as soon as possible. You can apply for your U.S. Passport online at: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html

Tip: Make two colour copies of your passport before you travel. Carry one each in different luggage or firearms case in case you lose your original. Always carry your original passport with you at all times when you travel internationally.

2) U.S. Customs Form 4457
You will need to have a U.S. Customs form 4457 filled out with a list of items of value as proof you owned them before you entered Canada. It is best to list your firearms, spotting scopes, riflescopes, video cameras, etc. This is usually any item of value that contains a serial number. Failure to obtain a completed U.S. Customs Form 4457 before you leave may end up costing you Duty (tax) at the Canadian Border as you enter back into the United States. The customs agent may think you bought your hunting equipment in Canada and therefore charge you duty. The online form can be accessed at: CBP website. Fill in the form and bring it with you to the border crossing where it will be stamped with the official customs seal. DO NOT SIGN IT until you meet the border crossing officer.

Tip: Make 2 extra copies of your Form 4457 and keep them with your extra passport copies.

Sample Form 4457

3) Canada Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form 909
Hunters must fill out the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Form 909 before leaving for Canada. Don’t try to fill it out at the border, as it will delay your trip. Do not sign this form until you are at the border and the officials there ask you to sign it. You will need to present the form with your passport. There is a fee for the permit and it is approximately $25 CDN. You can pay for your permit in Canadian dollars or by MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Canadian Customs does not except U.S. Currency. Remember to always carry your firearms permit and identification while you are hunting. Do not bring any handguns on your trip as handguns are prohibited in Canada. Obtain your firearms application at: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/form-formulaire/num-nom/909-eng.htm

Tip: Fill out the form online and then print 3 copies. Double check your firearms details, especially the serial number, before you hit the print button.

4) Denied Admission to Canada
Visitors may be denied admission to Canada if you have any of the following convictions on your record:

• Minor offences (including shoplifting, theft, assault, dangerous driving, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of illegal substances, etc.)
• Indictable Criminal offences (including assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, etc.).
• Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

Successful Moose Hunt at Thunder Hook Fly-ins

5) Bringing back your Canadian Hunting Trophies
There are 3 different ways to get your coveted hunting trophies back from Canada into the United States:

(1) Bring them back with you by car or airplane

To bring back the raw cape, rug and/or antlers/horns home with you, you will need to fill out U.S. Fish & Wildlife Form 3-177-1. This form appoints you as the owner/broker of the animal parts you will be importing from Canada into the United States. If you use a hunting consultant, they should fill this out for you. If you booked your trip direct with the Outfitter, you will need to fill it out yourself. This form can be a little tricky and will require some research as you will be required to list the common name of the animal you are importing as well as the scientific name. Remember to present your Canadian Hunting License and tags with this form to prove that the trophy was taken legally. You can find the application and instructions at http://www.fws.gov/forms/serachdata.cfm and typing "3-177" into the search field.
Tip: Fill out the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Form 3-177-1 before your hunt.

(2) Have the cape, rug and/or antlers/horns shipped

Bring back your raw trophies by having them shipped to you. Your Canadian outfitter will bring your hunting trophy to a taxidermist. An export permit must be filed in Canada to export the hunting trophies to the United States. The hunting trophy must be shipped to a USDA Port of Entry and received by a US Brokerage Company and inspected by the U.S. Wildlife Department to make sure the contents and the export paperwork match so that the hunting trophy may legally imported into the United States. Once the hunting trophy clears the U.S. Port of entry, it must be shipped to a USDA Certified Taxidermist. This process can take up to 6 months and cost upwards of $750 or more depending on how many trophies you are importing.

(3) Have the trophy taxidermy mounted and shipped back to you
Have your hunting trophy taxidermy mounted in Canada. This entails you to trust the outfitter to choose a taxidermist for you. You will not have to run the taxidermy trophy through process #2, but you will have to pay shipping and customs fees.

Being prepared for your Canadian hunting trip can make all the difference! For more information about hunting in Sunset Country or to connect with other hunters, visit HuntSunsetCountry.com. For more information regarding non-residents having firearms in Canada, visit the Canadian Firearms Program.

What's the difference between American Plan & Housekeeping Packages

Rent a Housekeeping Cabin

Confused when booking a fishing or hunting vacation in Northwest Ontario?

If you are planning to stay at a resort or lodge in Sunset Country for your family vacation, weekend get-a-way or your annual Canadian fishing trip, your accommodation choices are wide and varied. Many of the fishing and hunting outfitters in Sunset Country offer different packages including American Plan and Housekeeping cabins. Do you have to be an American to have 'American Plan'? No. I'm not sure where these terms came from or if they are even used in other parts of the world. In general, American Plan means that your meals are included and Housekeeping is where you make your meals in your rented cabin. I say 'in general' because each outfitter has various packages. Some will include everything in the American Plan Packages such as meals, baits, guide service, boat rental, gas and more. Some lodges include only the meals in their AP Package. Modified American Plan usually includes dinners. To save a bit of money you can rent a housekeeping package and make your own meals. The majority of the resort and lodges in Sunset Country offer separate cabins for every party. There are however, some American Plan resorts that offer you a room in the lodge itself.

American Plan Dining Room - Courtesy of Tom Thomson

Usually the Ontario fly-in outpost camps are just like renting a housekeeping cabin except that you fly into a remote area not accessible by car. There are also fly-in American Plan Lodges that offer you the seclusion and the luxury of hot, home cooked meals.

With all the options available when booking your Canadian vacation in Sunset Country (meals or no meals, boat rentals vs bringing your own boat, guide service, etc.) it's lucky we have the Internet! The lodges and resorts in Sunset Country describe their different fishing and hunting packages on their websites. Visit the Ontario lodges and resorts to start planning your vacation today. Order the free Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Guide & Map that has all of our accommodation members dotted on the map with a useful directory on the back.

Do you have more questions about visiting Ontario's Sunset Country? Feel free to call us at 1-800-665-7567 and we'll do our best to help you out.