Yellowknife (Mar 22/06) - A pair of international trade issues have pinned Wolverine Guns and Tackle and its customers are in the crossfire unable to reload.

Wolverine Guns and Tackle staffers Scott Martin, left, and Gary Steele say the store is running out of some types of ammunition because of problems with U.S. Customs and manufacturers. - David Ryan/NNSL photo

The store pre-ordered two pallets of ammunition used to hunt big game, such as caribou, muskox and moose, from a U.S. manufacturer four months ago, but it still has yet to arrive.

"It has caught us in a spot because it is prime season," said Gary Steele, gun sales and repair associate at Wolverine, adding the store's shelves are almost empty with particular types of ammunition. Steele said the ever-changing U.S. Customs rules are largely to blame for the problems.

It's not just Wolverine, which only re-opened a few weeks ago, that's having problems either.

"A lot of established retailers are waiting for ammunition Canada-wide," he said.

There is a great deal of confusion among Customs officials about what ammunition is allowed to cross the border, confirmed David Tomlinson, president of the National Firearms Association of Canada. "The legislation is extremely complicated and there are 8,000 classes of firearms," he said.

"Custom officials can't figure it out for the life of them and now almost everything is likely to be seized."

Wolverine's shipment contains close to 50 different types of rounds, which may also be contributing to the problem.

"Often manufacturers market new items and supply is up on them," said Steele. "They back off on regular demand for older items."

Ammunition is in short supply right across the country and includes Northern mainstays like .30-30 and .30-O6 rounds, he said. Wolverine has ordered more ammunition from a different supplier to make up for the shortage and expects it to arrive this week, said Steele.