Transfer of Fish, Game Meat Cross Border

It’s the end of a successful hunt, and you’re preparing to take back the fish, birds or animals you harvested. Border officials on both sides have the authority to inspect and confiscate any trophies or meat not transported properly. The following are standard regulations you need to meet. For a complete list of regulations, click this link: transporting and exporting game.

• Your fishing or hunting license is your permit to transfer your game meat with you.
• Your possession limit (see Saskatchewan Hunters’ and Trappers’ Guide for limits per species) is also the limit of fish, birds or big game you can export from Saskatchewan.
• If you’re travelling by commercial air, check your airline regarding their requirements for packaging of game/meat.

General limits apply to most Saskatchewan public waters. Special limits are in effect on specific waters. Some waters also have what is known as “slot limits.” Your outfitter/fishing lodge will be able to tell you if any special limits apply.

The limit refers to the maximum number of fish you are allowed to retain or have in your possession. Anglers may possess no more than one limit of each fish species at any time. The limit is not cumulative from day to day. This includes fish that are eaten or given away, as well as all fish at your camp, being transported by or for you, or fish in storage.

• When transporting fish, border officials must be able to determine the species, number and length cannot be determined. There are three methods for packaging fish for transport:
  • Whole: Head and entrails intact. Can be easily counted and identified.
  • Headless Dressed: Head and entrails removed. Can be easily counted and identified.
  • Fillets: At least 2.5 cm (1 inch) patch of skin and scales intact on body. Only two fillets per package. Can be easily counted and identified.
• Live fish may not be transported.

*Stocked trout is total of all species, including brook, brown, rainbow, splake and tiger trout.

Click to Learn How to Measure a Fish

• Your game bird license and your game bird hunting ledger are your permit to export legal limits of game birds, providing you accompany them in transit. The ledger should indicate the date and quantity of birds harvested.
• Only transport or ship migratory birds that belong to yourself into the U.S.
• At least one fully feathered wing needs to be attached to the bird. Obviously, if you are planning to have the bird mounted, you will be transporting the whole bird. In this case, we recommend one bird per plastic bag.
• All game birds must be packaged in a manner that permits the number and species to be readily determined; no bulk packaging or bulk freezing is allowed. This applies to transportation as well as possession, unless the meat is going to be immediately cooked/consumed.

• An export permit is not needed if the hunting license holder (that’s you) travels with the game.
• Any shipment of wildlife/wildlife part within or outside the province must include the sender’s (again, that’s you, the hunter) name, address, hunting license or permit number and contents on the outside of the package. Check with your airline regarding packaging requirements for big game meat and trophies.

In many cases, especially for whitetail deer or moose hunting, there may be a delay in processing the meat. These parts may be sent to the hunter at a later date from the outfitter or the butcher.

• Any wildlife or wildlife parts not accompanying the licensed hunter require an export permit to be taken out of the province. Permits are available from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment offices.
• You will need the Wildlife Import/Export Permit Application Form

Wildlife Import/Export Permit Application Form

It’s the end of a successful hunt, and you’re preparing to take back portions of the birds or animals you harvested. Border officials on both sides have the authority to inspect and confiscate any trophies or meat not transported properly. The following are standard regulations you need to meet. For a complete list of regulations, click the button below:

Transporting and Exporting Game

Your hunting license is your permit to transfer your hunting trophy and any accompanying game meat travelling with you.

• An export permit is not needed if the hunting license holder (that’s you) travels with the game.
• Hunters may take the cape of a big game animal out of the province without a hide seal attached if the cape and antlers are travelling with the license holder.
• To legally export the hide of big game, a big game hide seal must be attached to the hide.
• Any shipment of wildlife/wildlife part within or outside the province must include the sender’s name (again, that’s you, the hunter), address, hunting license or permit number and contents on the outside of the package. Check with your airline regarding packaging requirements for big game meat and trophies.
• A CITES Permit is required to export black bears out of Canada. Hunters from the United States accompanying their properly tagged black bears (raw and untanned) are exempt; however, a CITES permit is required for tanned or processed pelt.

CITES Permit

• Sandhill crane hunters do not require a CITES permit if you are a U.S. resident returning home at the conclusion of your hunt and your packaging is in accordance with general waterfowl transportation requirements. Note: 2 sub-species of sandhill cranes are considered endangered, but in Saskatchewan, the sub species number just under 500,000 and are not on the endangered list.
• Your game bird license and your game bird hunting ledger is your permit to export legal limits of game birds, providing you accompany them in transit. The ledger should indicate the date and quantity of birds harvested.
• Only transport or ship migratory birds that belong to you into the U.S.
• At least one fully feathered wing needs to be attached to the bird.
• All game birds must be packaged in a manner that will permit the number and species to be readily determined; no bulk packaging or bulk freezing is allowed. This applies to transportation as well as possession, unless the meat is going to be immediately cooked/consumed.

In many cases, especially for whitetail deer or moose hunting, there may be a delay in processing the meat, hide, head or cape of the animal. These parts may be sent to the hunter at a later date from the outfitter, from the butcher or from the taxidermist.

Any wildlife or wildlife parts not accompanying the licensed hunter, or wildlife not taken under authority of a hunting license, including antlers (other than shed antlers), claws or skulls, require an export permit in order to be taken out of the province. Permits are available at Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment offices. Get the form here:

Wildlife Import/Export Permit Application Form

Note:

It’s a good idea to check with authorities in your home state or province prior to importing wildlife. They may have additional requirements or restrictions for importing game animals taken in Saskatchewan.