Getting trophies to US taxidermist

[kevin masters]

I have on my wish list a warthog, impala, gemsbuck, bluewildebeest, kudu and zebra.
Are there any special needs to get these home? ie... cites or other permits, do they have
to go to usda approved facility and anything else I might be missing? thanks guys

 

[Ryan]

None of that list are CITES but if the warthog hide is coming back just dip/packed to be made into a head mount here it requires it to go to a USDA approved facility to be redipped due to concerns about African Swine Flu. So when they are ready to ship get with a taxidermist who is approved and have the shipment sent to them. If you have a preferred taxidermist who isn't approved you can get an approved one to accept it, take care of the warthog and then turn it over to yours for a charge.
A third option is to just have the warthog skull done as a skull mount over there and don't have the untanned hide shipped back. As long as the skull is fully cleaned off and ready to hang or put on a shelf it doesn't need to go to an approved facility. Then the other hides can go directly to whomever you want.
Good luck!

 

[CAustin]

Shoot straight and fill your list. You shouldn't have any issues getting stuff home. You just need to use an import agent.

 

[wesheltonj]

Your warthog has to be in its own create which can be inside of the create with the rest of the stuff. Right now Turkish Airways is generally the cheapest way out of RSA. Black Wildebeest require a TOPS permit in RSA.

 

[johnnyblues]

Enjoy!

 

[Bhfs300]

Hi
I agree with Ryan. I had a monster warthog and my PH thought I should at least have a shoulder mount made. As I waited for the year before they were sent I changed my mind and thought I would just want a bronzed skull mount.
It took longer to clear customs and I had to pay another $125-$150 to get the cape no one used to be retreated.
I would just bring the skull back to avoid that expense.

 

[Ryan]

I had an agent do mine the first time and the second did it myself because for a shipment of basic Plains Game like this an agent is overkill at least in Anchorage Alaska where mine come in. If it goes to an approved facility they'll take care of the paperwork and contact USFWS and CBP Ag for inspections. If you get the skull cleaned as mentioned you or your taxidermist take care of things when the shipper calls upon arrival. You contact the USFWS office who will inspect it there and they'll do their inspection along with CBP Ag if they choose to do another inspection (Ag is supposed to inspect at first port, usually Atlanta by air). Then after inspections (both free) you fill out a CBP form at the Customs office for entry that costs all of $9.00 as I recall.

 

[kevin masters]

thanks guys for all the info. Ryan I envy you being in alaska, hunted prince of whales two
years ago, the rugged beauty of SE Alaska was incredible!

 

[redriver]

I live in MD and Baltimore is a USDA port of entry, very smooth process. I have a local broker that does a great job, she calls me when the paperwork is done and I go pick it up, which saves on additional freight. You can do the same if you live near a USDA port then take it to your taxidermist.
I used to leave my stuff to be mounted in Africa but my last shipment was damaged by Delta. After a long fight I got reimbursed for the damages but I will never again have mounts shipped in from Africa, only skins, skulls & horns.
I used Fauna & Flora out of NY one time and the communication/service was poor and expensive. I stick with my local company that does a far better job. I once had a bushpig come thru with other mounts and it was packed in a separate sealed foam box but was in the crate with the other items, no problem.

 

[Ryan]

thanks guys for all the info. Ryan I envy you being in alaska, hunted prince of whales two
years ago, the rugged beauty of SE Alaska was incredible!

I hope I helped. The USDA Animal Proucts Manual is online for anyone curious where I got my info at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/complete-list-of-electronic-manuals.

Kevin, Alaska is an amazing place, it's also tough to get around in sometimes. Last time I went to Prince of Wales it took a couple aiplane flights and a ferry. But it was worth it.