Recent shipping prices

[MontanaPat]

Here are the costs for dip and pack and shipping of the animals my son and I took in SA this past August:

Animals: Gemsbuck hide and horns. Kudu, blesbuck, springbuck, 2 impala skull and horns. 2 warthogs skull, tusks and bottom jaw.

Crate 1: 48" x 28" x 15" - 116lb volume.
Crate 2: 20" x 18" x13" - 26lb volume.

Trophy Solutions dip and pack $1557.
Condor Cargo/Delta air freight SA to CHI $1126.
Truck freight CHI to N/East Lower MI TBD (minimal).
Total cost should be ~$2800.

With my limited knowledge, this seems reasonable, to me. Anyone agree/disagree?

As usual, would appreciate your comments/feedback.

Thanks.

Seems pretty reasonable, the one item I don't see in your cost estimates is the importer fees. Are you having Coppersmith in Atlanta or someone else do the import with US Customs / USFWS? This will have to be done, especially with the 2 warthogs included. I would plan on $1000 to $1400 for this expense.

 

[MarkinMI]

Seems pretty reasonable, the one item I don't see in your cost estimates is the importer fees. Are you having Coppersmith in Atlanta or someone else do the import with US Customs / USFWS? This will have to be done, especially with the 2 warthogs included. I would plan on $1000 to $1400 for this expense.

...importation/clearance in ATL is included, done by JDC International out of CHI.
As I was typing the original post, they e-mailed me that crates were cleared by Customs and on the way to CHI.

Mark

 

[Muskox]

Way too many. 6 shoulder mounts, several Euros and 3 flat skins. I used the excuse I just built a house with 14ft ceiling in foyer and needed them for that. View attachment 658593View attachment 658593

Man I would love to see more photos of that house. Very interesting. I don't really understand how the lay out goes.

I have this idea of 12 food side walls single story.

 

[Fryeguy]

How long did you guys wait for your stuff to clear in Atlanta? My stuff arrived 3/16, cleared customs, moved to airline warehouse and waiting usda inspection, even though there are no pigs or primates…then on to Baltimore where it gets final clearing. Painful to wait!!! Just wish they would hurry just a bit!!

 

[Hunt anything]

All of my shipments have been cleared within 2 to three days using Coppersmiths. All in Atlanta. Why a final clearing in Baltimore? I had 1 shipment that went on to Chicago and then to Michigan and they were treated as normal cargo.

 

[Sabre]

How long did you guys wait for your stuff to clear in Atlanta? My stuff arrived 3/16, cleared customs, moved to airline warehouse and waiting usda inspection, even though there are no pigs or primates…then on to Baltimore where it gets final clearing. Painful to wait!!! Just wish they would hurry just a bit!!

I think it took 4 days in Atlanta to clear inspection, but I think it took a while longer for it to end up shipping out from Atlanta after that even once cleared.

All of my shipments have been cleared within 2 to three days using Coppersmiths. All in Atlanta. Why a final clearing in Baltimore? I had 1 shipment that went on to Chicago and then to Michigan and they were treated as normal cargo.

I was told by Coppersmith last time that it had to be cleared when it touched down in Atlanta as it was the first port of entry. Initially they had said that was the only clearing needed. But then was told it also needed to be cleared at their warehouse again before they could release it from the warehouse in Chicago. Not because of some problem, but they said this was normal and required on every crate.

I think if you ask 10 export/import experts the same question you would likely get 10 different answers.

 

[TheRealHorskin]

My shipment arrived at JFK on 3/10 and I am still waiting for it to clear…

 

[Fryeguy]

Final destination is Baltimore. I didn’t use coppersmith’s. I used Laing international in Baltimore area as I’ve used them in past, but it didn’t go thru Atlanta first last time. It’s only 4 hours away, and I can go pick it up myself. I didn’t realize all the stuff in Atlanta when I made decision. Hopefully it gets out of there in next day or two. Then I can hopefully pick up next week!!

 

[3chunter]

It doesn’t make sense to me to go out there and ship stuff back unless you take 8+ plains game animals dip and pack.
You end up not spending much more to ship 15 then you do shipping 5. The fees and paperwork costs same. The volume and weight is the least of it in the grand scheme of things unless it’s finished taxidermy.

 

[HookMeUpII]

My shipment arrived at JFK on 3/10 and I am still waiting for it to clear…

I'll be following this. I would imagine in the next 4-6 months I'll get the call and I'll be using Wyatt as well. Curious to see how it goes coming through JFK. I know the last time talking to Wyatt that's his old home-turf.

This is what I have coming back.

Kudu shoulder
Wildebeest shoulder
Impala shoulder
Blesbok euro
Warthog euro
And assorted back skins from the above game which I hope won't take up too much space.

That warehouse charge was for his bonded warehouse right? Last I remember it was a flat rate for him?

 

[TheRealHorskin]

I'll be following this. I would imagine in the next 4-6 months I'll get the call and I'll be using Wyatt as well. Curious to see how it goes coming through JFK. I know the last time talking to Wyatt that's his old home-turf.

This is what I have coming back.

Kudu shoulder
Wildebeest shoulder
Impala shoulder
Blesbok euro
Warthog euro
And assorted back skins from the above game which I hope won't take up too much space.

That warehouse charge was for his bonded warehouse right? Last I remember it was a flat rate for him?

I set up everything with Wyatt before departure and all my trophies used his supplied tags and the outfitter's tags. So it has been really smooth. It is the bonded warehouse he uses and is flat rate, fortunately as I could only imagine the charges had I not used his services since we are now 12 days in and still awaiting release.

 

[HookMeUpII]

I set up everything with Wyatt before departure and all my trophies used his supplied tags and the outfitter's tags. So it has been really smooth. It is the bonded warehouse he uses and is flat rate, fortunately as I could only imagine the charges had I not used his services since we are now 12 days in and still awaiting release.

I have a pig skull on the way....so the bonded warehouse at a flat rate was an easy choice.

Hindsight being 20/20 I probably won't be shooting any pig or primate next time I go.

 

[Hunt anything]

I’m not sure of all of the negativity about bringing home swine or primates. I’ve e brought home several pigs both bushpig and warthog and a baboon. I had no troubles whatsoever, not even any delays or extra cost. That being said the last pig was in 2022 and the baboon was in 2023, things may have changed.

 

[Sabre]

I’m not sure of all of the negativity about bringing home swine or primates. I’ve e brought home several pigs both bushpig and warthog and a baboon. I had no troubles whatsoever, not even any delays or extra cost. That being said the last pig was in 2022 and the baboon was in 2023, things may have changed.

Did you have finished taxidermy sent back for the swine and primates?

I imagine some of the hangup comes from people having swine and primate sent to the states and not realizing unfinished swine and primates need to be sent to a USDA approved taxidermist.

And I'm sure some people use an import company that doesn't have an approved warehouse for that stuff and it gets stuck at the airport holding instead, racking up charges.

So I'd guess some people think the shipment can just go to their local taxidermist and use any importer. Then it gets here and they get held at the airport for extortion level rates and told it needs to be sent to somewhere like Wildlife Gallery to be cleared before it can go to their local taxidermist. I imagine those extra hurdles, and fees that they weren't expecting make people very upset and against warthog shipments in the future.

To be fair, when you are over there the PH and taxidermist and shipping people don't say much about how it can possibly end up with a bunch more hurdles and fees if you don't do your research.

 

[Sabre]

I’m not sure of all of the negativity about bringing home swine or primates. I’ve e brought home several pigs both bushpig and warthog and a baboon. I had no troubles whatsoever, not even any delays or extra cost. That being said the last pig was in 2022 and the baboon was in 2023, things may have changed.

It's also worth saying for anyone new, or researching their first hunt reading this thread later, that there is a ton of conflicting information on this site about Swine and Primates as far as import. There are a few factors that could make things sail through quickly, or hang up the shipment and have it sent to USDA approved taxidermist.

Even the Outfitter, Taxidermist, Shipping, and Import Agents will tell you conflicting information when it comes to this stuff a lot of times.

 

[Hunt anything]

Did you have finished taxidermy sent back for the swine and primates?

I imagine some of the hangup comes from people having swine and primate sent to the states and not realizing unfinished swine and primates need to be sent to a USDA approved taxidermist.

And I'm sure some people use an import company that doesn't have an approved warehouse for that stuff and it gets stuck at the airport holding instead, racking up charges.

So I'd guess some people think the shipment can just go to their local taxidermist and use any importer. Then it gets here and they get held at the airport for extortion level rates and told it needs to be sent to somewhere like Wildlife Gallery to be cleared before it can go to their local taxidermist. I imagine those extra hurdles, and fees that they weren't expecting make people very upset and against warthog shipments in the future.

To be fair, when you are over there the PH and taxidermist and shipping people don't say much about how it can possibly end up with a bunch more hurdles and fees if you don't do your research.

I had 2 D&P warthogs come in and they did go to a USDA taxidermist, the Wildlife Gallery. A bushpig came in as finished taxidermy as did the baboon. If I see a huge warthog or bushpig in August I will not hesitate to shoot.


At this moment I’m planning on D&P and having my next shipment sent to @gizmo and Top of Texas. He is USDA certified.
I have used 3 different shipping companies, I was able to combine both 2023 safaris into one shipment.
As for customs brokers I’ve used D&L out of Chicago for my first shipment and have switched to Coppersmiths for the others. No complaints from either.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Did you have finished taxidermy sent back for the swine and primates?

I imagine some of the hangup comes from people having swine and primate sent to the states and not realizing unfinished swine and primates need to be sent to a USDA approved taxidermist.

And I'm sure some people use an import company that doesn't have an approved warehouse for that stuff and it gets stuck at the airport holding instead, racking up charges.

So I'd guess some people think the shipment can just go to their local taxidermist and use any importer. Then it gets here and they get held at the airport for extortion level rates and told it needs to be sent to somewhere like Wildlife Gallery to be cleared before it can go to their local taxidermist. I imagine those extra hurdles, and fees that they weren't expecting make people very upset and against warthog shipments in the future.

To be fair, when you are over there the PH and taxidermist and shipping people don't say much about how it can possibly end up with a bunch more hurdles and fees if you don't do your research.

This is really it. I haven't done it but there are tales on here from members where a crate with pig/primate is stuck at the Turkish airlines warehouse waiting for USDA inspection at $400 a day. In fact, I remember reading about that on here not too long ago.

When I called Wyatt, that was what made me decide to use him. They have a bonded, flat-rate, warehouse.

I believe one of the individuals on here who had an issue was using Coppersmith. I'm sure a lot of it depends what port the crate comes in as well.

 

[Hunt anything]

This is really it. I haven't done it but there are tales on here from members where a crate with pig/primate is stuck at the Turkish airlines warehouse waiting for USDA inspection at $400 a day. In fact, I remember reading about that on here not too long ago.

When I called Wyatt, that was what made me decide to use him. They have a bonded, flat-rate, warehouse.

I believe one of the individuals on here who had an issue was using Coppersmith. I'm sure a lot of it depends what port the crate comes in as well.

That’s been happening even without primates or swine in crates. I’ve tried to ship on Delta when possible, straight shot from Johanasburg to Atlanta.
In my opinion Turkish figured out they could hold crates just to make extra money, no proof just my suspicions.

 

[Sabre]

That’s been happening even without primates or swine in crates. I’ve tried to ship on Delta when possible, straight shot from Johanasburg to Atlanta.
In my opinion Turkish figured out they could hold crates just to make extra money, no proof just my suspicions.

I agree and I feel like all of the airlines flying cargo got greedy like this after COVID. I think that some are worse than others. But even delta used to have, I believe it was 2 or 3 days grace period for the crate to be picked up before you were charged holding fees. Then they went to 24 hours. They also drastically increased their holding fee daily rates to absurd extortion levels.

A person shouldn't have to worry that if their crate gets held up somewhere, completely out of their own control, it will cost them thousands of dollars extra over the quoted shipping price.