Cites, hunting logistics

[wildfowler.250]

Thought I’d run this past folk as I’ve got my first plains game hunt next year.

Now the uk ,(and most other countries) seems to be getting harder to import ‘trophies’ for want of a better word and they are currently talking about a cites import ban.

Now I’m not realistically going after cites species,(kudu, springbok etc). But does taking a cites species massively increase time taken for skins / dip and pack to be processed and come back? Is there increase hassle with imports?

I do know someone who got invited over to Africa. Wanted a bushbuck and as a chance happened, shot a baboon. From memory he said it wasn’t worth the hassle and regretted taking the baboon back.

Lechwe is probably the only one I would possibly hunt. Are the sable that most folk hunt in South Africa on it? Out of my budget for a first hunt anyway but curious as I know some subspecies are and some aren’t..


Interested in thoughts!

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

As long as permits are in order before the hunt, it wont add any time or delays

 

[wildfowler.250]

As long as permits are in order before the hunt, it wont add any time or delays

Ah well that in itself was something I didn’t know so worth asking. Didn’t realise they were done in advance. More like a tag system then?

 

[mark-hunter]

Interested in thoughts!

I had no problem importing Hartmann Zebra (2018). It came on schedule with the rest of PG trophies (non cites)

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Ah well that in itself was something I didn’t know so worth asking. Didn’t realise they were done in advance. More like a tag system then?

its best to have sorted up front
hence comms with outfitter is very important

 

[McKenzie Sims]

If you use a proper broker and you get all the documents in order a head of time just as Tally Ho stated it shouldnt add any time. I've had lots of CITES shipments without any hiccups but have had friends want to go a cheaper route and not get a broker involved with zero cities animals in their shippments and it add alot of time and money to the process. I suggest getting a quality broker the prices is worth it 100%

 

[wildfowler.250]

its best to have sorted up front
hence comms with outfitter is very important

Will drop the PH a message in the near future. It’s a year away so don’t want to seem too keen!

If you use a proper broker and you get all the documents in order a head of time just as Tally Ho stated it shouldnt add any time. I've had lots of CITES shipments without any hiccups but have had friends want to go a cheaper route and not get a broker involved with zero cities animals in their shippments and it add alot of time and money to the process. I suggest getting a quality broker the prices is worth it 100%

This will show my naivety, would the broker be the person I’m planning using to do my dip and pack at the end of the hunt? Or is this something that has to be organised separately either by myself / PH and contact cites ahead of time?

 

[McKenzie Sims]

Will drop the PH a message in the near future. It’s a year away so don’t want to seem too keen!


This will show my naivety, would the broker be the person I’m planning using to do my dip and pack at the end of the hunt? Or is this something that has to be organised separately either by myself / PH and contact cites ahead of time?

No sir your broker is who you use for importing into your country? Are you located in the US? For example I use D&L custom brokers they do all my logistics on paperwork for import and export and work with my outfitters and the folks doing the dip and pack to make sure the paperwork is all done correctly and everything is in order prior to my shipments leaving the country I hunted in.

 

[DieJager]

This will show my naivety, would the broker be the person I’m planning using to do my dip and pack at the end of the hunt?

If I read it correct you are based on the UK. There a a few reputable brokers in Europe. They can probably assist you. Maybe some UK members know a UK based one.

Your dip and pack is not necessarily the same as your broker. I can shoot you a PM with a known reputable broker that I plan to use next year that also handles th dip and pack. Only good stories heard. They have all in prices if your safari takes place in either Namibia or South Africa. No hidden fees.

 

[wildfowler.250]

No sir your broker is who you use for importing into your country? Are you located in the US? For example I use D&L custom brokers they do all my logistics on paperwork for import and export and work with my outfitters and the folks doing the dip and pack to make sure the paperwork is all done correctly and everything is in order prior to my shipments leaving the country I hunted in.

If I read it correct you are based on the UK. There a a few reputable brokers in Europe. They can probably assist you. Maybe some UK members know a UK based one.

Your dip and pack is not necessarily the same as your broker. I can shoot you a PM with a known reputable broker that I plan to use next year that also handles th dip and pack. Only good stories heard. They have all in prices if your safari takes place in either Namibia or South Africa. No hidden fees.

Thanks folks! Apologies I had no idea this was a role or requirement.

So I have actually just messaged a broker this AM who my taxidermist had suggested. I’d purely thought that they were a delivery company picking up the shipment from the airport on a delivery basis and it was ‘cleared’ between dip and pack and the vet check in Heathrow.


So I’m best going through my broker for a cites import. That’s very helpful to know! May not be hunted anyway and these imports may be banned by next year but still need to know the options so thanks!

 

[wesheltonj]

Just make sure any CITES and TOPS are in place and no problems.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Just make sure any CITES and TOPS are in place and no problems.

Ah I think I’ll need one of those for a black wildebeest. How far ahead would you normally recommend sorting this with a broker?

 

[wesheltonj]

Your outfitter will have plenty of time to sort the TOPS, as it takes months for your trophies to leave SA.

 

[Nyati]

Cites II should not be a problem, as it only involves an export permit from the country where you are hunting.

Cites I is another story as you need both the export permit plus an import permit from your country, and that´s when the fun begins, in case your authorities don´t like trophy hunting.

I am still trying to import a hippo I shot in 2022.

 

[375Fox]

I’ve had no issues getting CITES II animals back to the US. It didn’t seem like any additional time. All the paperwork will get done in South Africa after the hunt. A customs broker just reviews the paperwork hopefully prior to shipping. Sable are not a CITES animal. I’m not sure if a South African lechwe would be considered CITES or not. They are not native there and appear to be a combination of red and kafue lechwe, not pure.

 

[DieJager]

European rules are a bit different than American rules regarding importation of trophies. And after Brexit probably some difference when UK rules. Wise decision to have chosen a UK based broker.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Your outfitter will have plenty of time to sort the TOPS, as it takes months for your trophies to leave SA.

Depends on various provinces but in limpopo u need tops permit before u hunt the animal

 

[Frederik]

Your outfitter will have plenty of time to sort the TOPS, as it takes months for your trophies to leave SA.

I am just confirming what Stuart is saying make sure to have the TOPS in place where it is needed on certain species and provinces before the hunt itself.

 

[375Fox]

Depends on barious provinces but in limpopo u need toos permit before u hunt the animal

Do certain animals behind a fence require an additional permit or are they all covered under an exemption? We waited until we had a permit in hand to hunt a low fence reedbuck in Limpopo on one of my hunts.

 

[Frederik]

Do certain animals behind a fence require an additional permit or are they all covered under an exemption? We waited until we had a permit in hand to hunt a low fence reedbuck in Limpopo on one of my hunts.

Yes certian species like Tsesebe, Black wildebeest common reedbuck and a few others even if you have exemption on the property needs those TOPS permits and some must be done before the animal is hunted.

Also for the night critters special permits need to be in place beforehand.
Baboons, vervet monkeys, jackal and caracal fall on tehir own set of permits in LImpopo for export.

KZN I know is very strict on permits even if the specie is not part of TOPS but maybe an outfitter or PH from KZN can chime in.

Use and Outfitter who is good with their paperwork and admin and there will be no issues but let an outfitter know what youre interests are as sometimes it takes time to get a permit in place.