I'm making a boat-in trip to stay on the Canadian side of Saganaga. We have an exemption to travel through the Sag corridor as long as we go directly to our destination in Canada. We are also told this exemption allows us to bring cans and bottles on our trip. That part surprised me and I thought I'd ask the folks here -- does this sound correct?

If there is liquor in the cans and bottles it will make a difference.

Part of Canadian Saganaga is in Quetico PP - so those rules apply there - no cans/bottles except for meds, bug spray and the like. No food. Or drink. Part of it is in La Verendrye River Provincial Park. I don't know the rules for that park. Which park are you staying in?

That also begs the question, who told you that and where did you get the exemption? I would ask that of the provider and or LVPP folks to get the 'correct' answer. Always good to ask the parks folks - unless you're a risk taker - then YMMV. I think we'd all be curious to know what they say.

pd

The portion we'll staying and fishing is the non-Quetico chunk of the Canadian side, from American point all the way to horsetail falls in the NE and Curran's bay in the SE. Yes, this portion is La Verendreye PP, which is a non-operational park. No entry fees or permits. If you were camping (we are not) there would potentially be fees (crown land?) involved, and you'd want to be 100% sure the site you select is not private land. Several islands and bays in this area have private cabins. I haven't found a good map of campsites in this area of Sag, and I found the online crown land atlas tool difficult to use. Planning on scoping out some potential future campsites on this trip and marking my own map.

We are on an RABC so no reporting to customs. The gist of my thread, if it's not obvious: I want to bring a nice bottle of liquor to enjoy in our cabin. Good liquor means glass bottle. We had considered dumping good liquor into a plastic bottle to stay on the right side of the BWCA rules, but this creates an "unsealed" container. This is technically OK to transport in Canada as long as it's stowed in a closed compartment, but I'd rather stay fully sealed in the original container to avoid any potential issues. Which brings me back to glass. Do I deserve to be roasted on a spit for thinking of bringing a sealed glass bottle of booze in closed, under deck compartment, while traveling directly from the public boat launch on the seagull river, up the sag corridor to canadian water?

I bet you can bring a bottle of liquor with you, though you would have to follow the Canada Custom rules on that. The folks taking you over wouldn't want to put themselves in any jeopardy, and the only risk I could imagine is in having those containers in the BWCA while in transit. Again, if they say it's ok it probably is.

Canadian Customs for Visitors to Canada

I take it you are going June 1 or later. Fishing is not allowed on the FMZ 6 portion of Saganaga from April 1 to May 31 - and it sounds like that is where you would be.

Ontario Fishing Regulations

plander: "I bet you can bring a bottle of liquor with you, though you would have to follow the Canada Custom rules on that. The folks taking you over wouldn't want to put themselves in any jeopardy, and the only risk I could imagine is in having those containers in the BWCA while in transit. Again, if they say it's ok it probably is.

Canadian Customs for Visitors to Canada

I take it you are going June 1 or later. Fishing is not allowed on the FMZ 6 portion of Saganaga from April 1 to May 31 - and it sounds like that is where you would be.

Ontario Fishing Regulations
"

Yep, FMZ 6. We'll be there 3rd week of June.

We definitely wouldn't be bringing more than the duty-free amount. Also we're transporting ourselves in our own boat, so there's no one else being put at risk.

thegildedgopher: "

plander: "I bet you can bring a bottle of liquor with you, though you would have to follow the Canada Custom rules on that. The folks taking you over wouldn't want to put themselves in any jeopardy, and the only risk I could imagine is in having those containers in the BWCA while in transit. Again, if they say it's ok it probably is.



Canadian Customs for Visitors to Canada



I take it you are going June 1 or later. Fishing is not allowed on the FMZ 6 portion of Saganaga from April 1 to May 31 - and it sounds like that is where you would be.



Ontario Fishing Regulations



"

Yep, FMZ 6. We'll be there 3rd week of June.


We definitely wouldn't be bringing more than the duty-free amount. Also we're transporting ourselves in our own boat, so there's no one else being put at risk."

An update of sorts - sorry for the length of this post:

I did some digging as I'm planning a similar trip to you - cross the BWCA to get into non-Provincial Park Canadian wilderness. Though I will go by canoe with a regular BWCA permit so not really the same situation that you describe.

Of course, the caveat here is everything is left open to interpretation - like most things. That said, the links below are the three documents that I found on the matter:

PL 95-495

Order No. R909-18-01

definition of Exempt BWCAW Permit (page 3)


My gut feeling based on all this info in aggregate is that cans and glass bottles are not allowed in the BWCA for any reason, except those containing fuel, insect repellant, and medicines. But that's just my take. I suppose one could argue that liquor is medicine (haha).

It seems the exempt BWCAW permit you plan to use is a BWCAW permit nonetheless, it simply doesn't count against the quota - that's my read anyway. Furthermore, I don't see anything that says the exempt permit holder is also exempt from any BWCAW rules. However unlikely it would be to get caught, if the authorities (USFS) did catch you it could be a trip wrecker for you and may even have implications for your hosts - or they may not care or feel it's all legal and send you on your way. At that point it's their interpretation, not your's, that will determine how the day goes. So perhaps it comes down to the level of risk one is willing to take...and how important it is to you to follow the rules as you understand them to be.

FYI I do use stainless steel hip flasks (amazon link below) for scotch and whiskey that I take into the BWCA and Quetico. They don't ruin the scotch or whiskey quality as far as I can tell.

12 oz hip flask - amazon

You are allowed, per person, 40 ounces of alcohol or 1 case of 24 beer, 1 carton of cigarettes, up to 4 days supply of food, along with personal clothing and fishing equipment.
It also might be also illegal to have open bottle in a boat.

There are exemptions and I am not sure of all of them. I know you can use your snowmachine on the corridor and into Canada. Seems odd but you might be okay with weed but don't be over on your beer EH!

Maiingan: " It also might be also illegal to have open bottle in a boat."

...in contrast to many places in the US, where an open bottle is a requirement.

sns: "

Maiingan: " It also might be also illegal to have open bottle in a boat."

...in contrast to many places in the US, where an open bottle is a requirement."

Apologize to Wisconsin. :)

plander: "

thegildedgopher: "

plander: "I bet you can bring a bottle of liquor with you, though you would have to follow the Canada Custom rules on that. The folks taking you over wouldn't want to put themselves in any jeopardy, and the only risk I could imagine is in having those containers in the BWCA while in transit. Again, if they say it's ok it probably is.



Canadian Customs for Visitors to Canada



I take it you are going June 1 or later. Fishing is not allowed on the FMZ 6 portion of Saganaga from April 1 to May 31 - and it sounds like that is where you would be.



Ontario Fishing Regulations



"

Yep, FMZ 6. We'll be there 3rd week of June.



We definitely wouldn't be bringing more than the duty-free amount. Also we're transporting ourselves in our own boat, so there's no one else being put at risk."

An update of sorts - sorry for the length of this post:


I did some digging as I'm planning a similar trip to you - cross the BWCA to get into non-Provincial Park Canadian wilderness. Though I will go by canoe with a regular BWCA permit so not really the same situation that you describe.


Of course, the caveat here is everything is left open to interpretation - like most things. That said, the links below are the three documents that I found on the matter:


PL 95-495


Order No. R909-18-01


definition of Exempt BWCAW Permit (page 3)



My gut feeling based on all this info in aggregate is that cans and glass bottles are not allowed in the BWCA for any reason, except those containing fuel, insect repellant, and medicines. But that's just my take. I suppose one could argue that liquor is medicine (haha).


It seems the exempt BWCAW permit you plan to use is a BWCAW permit nonetheless, it simply doesn't count against the quota - that's my read anyway. Furthermore, I don't see anything that says the exempt permit holder is also exempt from any BWCAW rules. However unlikely it would be to get caught, if the authorities (USFS) did catch you it could be a trip wrecker for you and may even have implications for your hosts - or they may not care or feel it's all legal and send you on your way. At that point it's their interpretation, not your's, that will determine how the day goes. So perhaps it comes down to the level of risk one is willing to take...and how important it is to you to follow the rules as you understand them to be.


FYI I do use stainless steel hip flasks (amazon link below) for scotch and whiskey that I take into the BWCA and Quetico. They don't ruin the scotch or whiskey quality as far as I can tell.


12 oz hip flask - amazon "

Great info, thanks plander.

You're right, in the end I'm just going to have to make the call and go with my gut. I do think you're probably right about lack of an official exemption to the can/bottle rule, but then a part of me says there's just no way those cabin owners go all summer without beer!

You are traveling the sag corridor which is bwca, not Canada. No cans or glass regardless what you have for permit (hiking, paddle, overnight paddle, overnight motor, day use motor, day use paddle…)

If you need to take alcohol or beer then take it in approved containers, why take a risk? It might legal to take a keg.

Canadians can also get to sag via boat from northern light like which might still have a camp/resort that could sell beer/alcohol.

Sounds complicated.

JimmyJustice: "

sns: "

Maiingan: " It also might be also illegal to have open bottle in a boat."

...in contrast to many places in the US, where an open bottle is a requirement."

Apologize to Wisconsin. :)"

"I'm sorry, Wisconsin, but your record on alcohol consumption makes this snark as easy as shooting fish in a beer barrel."