Fishing and hunting equipment

WestJet and WestJet Cargo do not accept endangered species or the remains from endangered species, as listed on Environment Canada's website under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), or trophies from any of the five big game animals (cape buffalo, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinoceros) transported from other countries.

Game will not be accepted in carry-on baggage. Containers for game will be considered as part of your checked baggage allowance and must meet the weight and size guidelines. All applicable checked baggage fees will be charged.

As game may be damaged or damage other checked baggage without proper packing, WestJet requires that all game be:

• packed in a leak-proof, hard shell container;
• antlers and horns should be completely free of raw meat, blood or noticeable odour and be padded to prevent punctures to the container and/or other baggage.

WestJet will accept one archery set consisting of a bow or crossbow, a quiver of arrows and a maintenance kit in checked baggage. This set will be considered as part of your checked baggage and must be packaged in a rigid and/or hard shell container specifically designed for shipping. All applicable checked baggage fees will be charged.

While WestJet accepts firearms for scheduled flights within Canada and to/from the United States, regulations differ for some of our international destinations. You must contact all the Airline partners on your itinerary operating the international flights at least 72 hours before your flight to ensure compliance with government embargoes and restrictions are completed in accordance with timelines outlined by the operating carrier(s).

• Although some guidance is provided below for firearm and ammunition restrictions and embargos to/from some of our international destinations, this information may change or new restrictions/embargos may be introduced. Please be sure to contact the country of your destination for the most up to date information.
• You are solely responsible for ensuring that all necessary permissions, documentation and other requirements have been obtained or satisfied before travelling. WestJet accepts no liability if your weapon is denied entry or is confiscated upon entry. Please contact your destination's consulate for further information.
  • If your itinerary includes international (beyond US/Canada) travel with one of our partner air carriers, you must contact WestJet and other air carrier(s) a minimum 72 hours in advance of travel to confirm your intention of travelling with a firearm. Failure to provide advance notification may result in the firearm not being accepted for travel; please note the most restrictive operating rules apply.
• Firearms are restricted on flights to or from:
  • Bermuda (BDA)
  • Bonaire (BON)
  • Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS)
  • Mexico (this includes any Mexican city that WestJet-operated aircraft, or our airline partners, fly to)
  • KEF (Iceland)
  • ICN (Korea)
  • NRT (Japan)
  • BCN (Spain)
  • FCO (Italy)
  • RTB (Honduras)
  • NAS (Bahamas)
• Each firearm item will be considered a piece of your checked baggage allowance.
• All applicable checked baggage fees will be charged.

Firearms acceptance criteria

• Firearms are permitted ONLY in checked baggage, and ONLY if the firearm is:
  • Unloaded (declaration must be signed);
  • Packaged in a locked, heavy-duty container or hard-sided (opaque) gun case;
  • Restricted firearms must be locked with either a cable lock or trigger lock;
  • Non-restricted firearms such as hunting rifles and shotguns do not require a cable or trigger lock.
• WestJet will accept the following types of firearms:
  • Shotguns
  • Handguns
  • BB guns
  • Starter pistols
  • Rifles
  • Air pistols
  • Paintball guns (Please note: carbon dioxide cartridges/tanks for paintball guns will only be accepted if empty, with the valve secured in the open position. Please see restricted items for more details.)
• Ammunition must be:
  • Securely packaged and packed separately from the firearm, however it is permitted to be transported within the same container.
  • Carried in sturdy baggage not weighing more than 5 kg (11 lb.) gross weight per person (excluding ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles)
  • Packaged in the manufacturer's original container or an equivalent sturdy, durable container that provides sufficient cartridge separation
• Tasers and stun guns
  • Tasers and stun guns are prohibited for transport

• Restricted and Non-Restricted Firearsms 
• Non-lethal Firearms
• Weapons
• Replica Firearms and Weapons

The following replica firearms and weapons can be accepted as checked baggage: 

• Replica weapons (i.e. swords and knives)
• Replica Pistol, Handgun, Shotgun, or Pistol

Replicas of restricted weapons, illegal weapons., and explosive devices (i.e. grandes) are not accepted under any circumstances in checked or carry-on baggage. 

Further information regarding replica firearms and weapon acceptance can be found on the CATSA website. 

• Collapsible fishing rods can be permitted as carry-on baggage.
• A fishing rod as checked baggage must be packed in a rigid or hard-shell container. More than one fishing rod can be packed in the same container.
• A set consists of a fishing rod container and a tackle box.
• All applicable checked baggage fees will be charged. However, an oversize fee will not be charged.

For information on packing perishable items including seafood as carry on or check baggage, please click here.