Taking a Shotgun to Bahamas from US and Back

[bobalpep]

We are going to cross in the next few weeks and I was planning to take a shotgun and found out about some red tape upon returning with it from US customs and am reconsidering if there are problems on Bahama side also. My understanding was that entering the Bahamas with a gun was not a big deal, that the Bahamian authorities were concerned mainly with the ammo you bring is to match what you left with. I'm thinking about just shipping it back home if it's too much hassle, has anyone had resent experience with taking a gun to the Bahamas?
Thanks in advance.
Bob

[imagine2frolic]

I have never seen them count the ammo, and they refuse to check you out of the country, so how would they know where it went? I have found over the years that taking a gun of any kind is not needed. You are more likely to get robbed in Miami.......i2f

[Dave852]

No problem to enter the Bahamas at all, they deal with it every day. You would have a problem to ship it back by the way. No problem bringing it back on the boat though.

[anjou]

Do you have many Pheasant in the Bahamas at this time of year?

[Rangiroo]

I cannot for the life of me imagine why you would EVER need a shotgun on board in the Bahamas unless you just HAVE to be out there shooting at seagulls.

Leave it at home and save yourself the bother. If you REALLY don't feel safe without it then stay home because you are not ready to deal with the other normal things that come along with cruising....like 8ft close steep waves across the Gulf Stream or 20knt winds and your anchor dragging at 3AM.

[Christian Van H]

Here's the Noonsite link: Noonsite: Bahamas

As far as taking the gun with you, thats your prerogative. Cant take it ashore though. The question doe arise however that since Kent Narrows Md. has a higher crime rate, do you carry a shotgun next to you in the car when you go to the store? Second thought, dont answer that!

Anti-gun forum members, I always try and find something good when I hear someone feels the need to pack heat in paradise. In this case, it's that so many Americans do that we have developed a rep for being armed and dangerous. I do believe there are better ways to defend myself though, and I wont be killing an overzealous boat boy with my methods...

[Factor]

A shotgun you say, on a boat you say. To the Bahamas you say.

I dont know what to say.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by Factor

A shotgun you say, on a boat you say. To the Bahamas you say.

I dont know what to say.

lots of bird hunting going on these days, dont you know!

[Christian Van H]

Originally Posted by Factor

A shotgun you say, on a boat you say. To the Bahamas you say.

I dont know what to say.

I know you'll be saying "What did you say?" a lot if you fire that thing inside your boat!

[FSMike]

NEWS FLASH!
Recent research indicates nobody on this forum shoots skeet.
Probably too busy jerking knees.

[relee]

I think there would be big trouble if you start shooting the peasants in the Bahamas.. On the other hand guns are like golf clubs, it's hard to do everything with just one. I'd think about a nice mini-14 and a 1911 too but that's just me!

Bob

"Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused."

[xxuxx]

Forget the gun and buy a couple of tazers! IMHO

[Christian Van H]

Originally Posted by FSMike

NEWS FLASH!
Recent research indicates nobody on this forum shoots skeet.
Probably too busy jerking knees.

That's good, because Skeet is the dock guy in Bimini!

[sck5]

hey wait a minute. i am a guy on this forum who likes to play with shotguns at the skeet range. but i find it kind of hard to swing the gun around on my sailboat. too many lines, stays, etc. in the way not to mention my wife and kids. only gun on the boat is the plastic thingy that shoots flares. come to think of it, that thing would be pretty dangerous if you pointed it horizontally.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

I have never seen them count the ammo ...

They will count the ammo’, if investigating an “incident”.

I recall one cruiser who spent a few months in Fox Hill Prison, whilst the Bahamian authorities investigated a discrepancy (1 round over declaration), after his wife used the declared firearm/ammo in her suicide.

➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ntry-1641.html

“The Bahamas: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...s/cis_989.html
Tourists who arrive by private boat are required to declare firearms (and every round of ammunition) to Bahamian Customs, and leave firearms on the boat (in a secure compartment) while in The Bahamas. In the event of your being boarded by Customs or the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the information on your cruising permit will [sic: 'may'] be checked carefully against your actual supply. Ammo’ must match cruising permit exactly.”