Shipping small trophy options ?

[roklok]

I am working through getting my trophies back from my October trip to Namibia. My buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest can be shipped direct to my taxidermist in Anchorage. However, I have two baboon skulls and that throws a wrench in things. Coppersmith tells me that primate skulls no matter what condition need to go through a USDA licensed taxidermy, of which there are none in Alaska. I am considering having a crate with everything else shipped direct to Anchorage, and the baboon skulls shipped to USDA taxidermist in Seattle. My questions are as follows; Has anyone done similar ? Do the fees of splitting shipment negate any savings, and most importantly, can small items be shipped in a parcel other than through the airlines ? The baboon skulls would fit in a shoebox, seems to me they could be shipped UPS or FedEx global if this is legal, instead of in crates on an airline. Any input ? Another option would be leave the baboon skulls over there, if they are not worth the hassle and cost.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

they will still need to clear Fish and Wildlife and Customs and USDA

 

[JimP]

The trick is using a importer that has a USDA certified warehouse at the entry port here in the US.

I understood that Coppersmith had a number of them, but it sounds like they don't. You might want to check with other importers and see what they say.

I had zero problems getting my finished baboon and warthog skulls and mount shipped directly to my home two years ago.

 

[375Fox]

The trick is using a importer that has a USDA certified warehouse at the entry port here in the US.

I understood that Coppersmith had a number of them, but it sounds like they don't. You might want to check with other importers and see what they say.

I had zero problems getting my finished baboon and warthog skulls and mount shipped directly to my home two years ago.

It depends on the inspector. Every trophy will go through USDA clearance before being released from port of entry. The inspector can mandate it goes to a USDA establishment for final shipping destination. I’ve had some warthog tusks go through fine and others required sent to a USDA approved establishment.

 

[Sabre]

Following for future reference.

 

[Sabre]

It depends on the inspector. Every trophy will go through USDA clearance before being released from port of entry. The inspector can mandate it goes to a USDA establishment for final shipping destination. I’ve had some warthog tusks go through fine and others required sent to a USDA approved establishment.

I have been told many different things by different people even on the same shipment regarding warthog parts.

Sometimes it feels like even the people who are supposed to specialize in it don't seem to know.

I am curious what the cost of going from two crates to one large and one small crate would be. I suspect it would be a significant increase in cost.

I have never shipped a baboon, but I would be interested in hearing what the rules are for that. My understanding is that it's the same as warthog, however, again, it seems not everyone agrees on that even the "specialists". And just one person along the way that decides it is an issue can derail things.

 

[375Fox]

I have been told many different things by different people even on the same shipment regarding warthog parts.

Sometimes it feels like even the people who are supposed to specialize in it don't seem to know.

I am curious what the cost of going from two crates to one large and one small crate would be. I suspect it would be a significant increase in cost.

I have never shipped a baboon, but I would be interested in hearing what the rules are for that. My understanding is that it's the same as warthog, however, again, it seems not everyone agrees on that even the "specialists". And just one person along the way that decides it is an issue can derail things.

I’ve had 8 more recent African shipments since 2018 with 3 different brokers in 2 ports of entry. I’ll have 2 more coming this year. I really don’t know what to expect anymore. Thankfully it’s not a big deal for me for the shipment to go to USDA tannery first in lower 48 if it’s required for that shipment. For the OP in Alaska, unless the baboon skulls are particularly important to him, I’d leave them rather than deal with the added uncertainty and possible cost and clearing delays.

 

[Sabre]

I’ve had 8 more recent African shipments since 2018 with 3 different brokers in 2 ports of entry. I’ll have 2 more coming this year. I really don’t know what to expect anymore. Thankfully it’s not a big deal for me for the shipment to go to USDA tannery first in lower 48 if it’s required for that shipment. For the OP in Alaska, unless the baboon skulls are particularly important to him, I’d leave them rather than deal with the added uncertainty and possible cost and clearing delays.

Do you think it would be worth it (for someone in the lower 48) to ship baboons in a separate smaller box/crate so your entire shipment wasn't diverted to a USDA tannery?

 

[JimP]

It depends on the inspector. Every trophy will go through USDA clearance before being released from port of entry. The inspector can mandate it goes to a USDA establishment for final shipping destination. I’ve had some warthog tusks go through fine and others required sent to a USDA approved establishment.

I specifically asked my importer about the warthog and baboon, and his words were, don't worry about it that they had it covered. And they did.

I've read about problems with just about every importer that has been posted about here on this forum but I haven't heard of a single problem with the importer that I used.

 

[roklok]

Everything I have ever read about importing trophies makes it sound like it is done by the airlines (Delta, Lufthansa, Qatar, etc). I am mainly wondering if this is for legal reasons or practical reasons. I can see it might be impossible or cost prohibitive to ship a large crate UPS or Fedex, but what about a small package ? I get that it still has to clear customs and inspection.

 

[roklok]

The trick is using a importer that has a USDA certified warehouse at the entry port here in the US.

I understood that Coppersmith had a number of them, but it sounds like they don't. You might want to check with other importers and see what they say.

I had zero problems getting my finished baboon and warthog skulls and mount shipped directly to my home two years ago.

Apparently Coppersmith does not, they referenced a taxidermist in the Seattle area who would have to receive skulls, then it would go to Coppersmith, then shipped to me.

 

[Sabre]

Apparently Coppersmith does not, they referenced a taxidermist in the Seattle area who would have to receive skulls, then it would go to Coppersmith, then shipped to me.

I think some confusion could come from a certified warehouse, and a certified taxidermist. If the inspector finds something they don't like with any of the animals, they can require it go to a certified taxidermist to have the problem remedied.

Like if the hide was not salted and cured properly, or if a skull wasn't cleaned properly enough etc. Even if it is in a certified warehouse, it will still need to be sent to a certified taxidermist to remedy that issue.

If it is a raw skull or skin of swine or primate it will also need to go to a certified taxidermist.

So even if the importer has a warehouse that can store it before inspection, it will still need to go to a taxidermist to be taken care of.

The certified warehouse of the importer only allows you to avoid exorbitant charges from the airlines while it waits to be inspected and while waiting to be sent on to a certified taxidermist/tannery (if necessary). Because if your importer doesn't have a certified warehouse, then it sits at the airport storage collecting expensive daily fees.

That has been my experience and understanding of it. Although, again, on swine, not primates.