US Border Closures with Canada and Mexico Extended to August 20

The border closures between the US and Canada and with Mexico have been extended until August 20, 2020. Acting Secretary of US Homeland Security Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) announced the extension on Twitter, saying, “Based on the success of the existing restrictions and close collaboration with Mexico and Canada @DHSgov [Department of Homeland Security] will continue to limit non-essential travel at our ports of entry with Canada and Mexico until August 20.”

This is the fourth time the closure has been extended since it was first implemented on March 21, 2020 due to COVID-19. The closure applies to all non-essential travel. Recreational travel such as touring and hunting or fishing is not considered essential, and sportsmen can expect to be turned away at any port of entry or border crossing. If virus infection rates in the United States do not stabilize and begin to decline within 25 days, hunters should prepare to see the closure extended again.

Anyone with a hunt scheduled in Canada this fall should discuss options with their hunting operator in case the border extensions continue for several more months. Those with booked flights will likely need to wait until two days before their scheduled trip to cancel flights. Most airlines will provide a credit. Travelers will have to insist if they want refunds. Those with trip cancellation insurance should read all of the terms and conditions of their policy before cancelling trips to ensure they do not invalidate their coverage.