Do those of you from the U.S. who hunt in big game in Canada take a spare rifle in case of failure of your primary rifle?

Since the permit to take a gun into Canada does not allow one to borrow a gun to continue hunting in case one's permitted gun breaks, would it be advisable to take an extra gun which could be registered at the same time as the primary gun at no extra cost?

This fall we be taking an horseback hunt in Canada from a camp a day's ride from the trailhead. The individual with whom I will be hunting normally takes a spare rifle on trips within the U.S. I normally do not, but generally take a spare pre-sighted scope. He feels it is foolish to risk jeopardizing a hunt costing several thousand dollars when a spare rifle, secured with the outfitter, could be retrieved with the loss of only the 2 days needed to ride back to the trailhead and return to the camp. Weight is slightly less important on a pack-in hunt than on a fly-in hunt, so the outfitter might even allow the extra rifle to be packed to the cabin.

I've had only 1 gun failure in about 50 years of humting (last year a scope fogged on a Pennsylvania deer hunt. The only other failure I've personally witnessed was when a neighbor in Colorado, slipped on ice, fell on his rifle, and bent the scope while hunting about 2 hours from where we lived.

On fly-in trips in Canada the past 2 years, we did not take spare rifles, only spare scopes. I keep reading in the outdoor rags about writers who had to borrow a beat-up rifles to finish hunts in exotic places - this appears not be a legal solution for a U.S. hunter in Canada. Suggestions?

You should take two rifles if travel-weight and laws allow.

Take for instance the "what-if" you do need the spare scenario...You will be happy you brought the extra gun. I went to Africa with one rifle, and two-scopes. My scout never failed me, however I wish I had taken a second rifle in .308 for the simple fact that there was plenty of shooting to be done in that caliber-range. Had my .375 had a scope failure or a complete malfunction, I would have been able to continue hunting the antelope species with the back-up Scout-Rifle. I never had any problems...but then, that doesn't mean you won't have a problem on your hunt, or I won't have one on my next hunt. You will be sorry if something happens and you don't have a back-up. I'ts OK to be surprised...but not unprepared.

Next time I go to Africa - I will take two rifles.

I would suggest posting your question on www.reloadersnest.com . It's full of Canadian eh outfitters who'll know the ins and outs of the 2nd rifle. Definitely you should if you can. No brainer there.

I don't know about Canada as I don't hunt there, but there are always two rifles on any hunt I go on even if it is just a days deer hunting near home. Another rifle fits in the rack and is always available if something should happen. They don't take up much space and though I've been lucky enough not to have needed one several of my hunting buddies have ended up using my second after dropping, falling or in one case forgetting their ammo.

A Contender rifle would pack away easily, and the single shot aspect shouldn't be any concern. After all, it's a back-up. Likely you could even match up calibers so you only need one batch of ammo. Frankly, my concern would mainly be to bring along a spare scope. Still, some jug-head horse may decide to roll in the dust while he is still carrying your rifle, or some such other freak accident could happen.

One thing you may want to consider. When you register your firearms here in Canada, your FBI has access to our data bank. So, in a roundabout way you are registering your firearm in the USA as well. Of course you don't have to report to anyone if you replace it, or buy a further rifle, etc.

I have hunted in canada 11 times and I always brought a spare rifle and scope. I never used the second but always felt better with the backup.