Baboon on CITES

[Ryan]

Ok. Fully finished pigs DO NOT need to go to any approved facility other than being cleared in a Customs warehouse by Customs-AG and USFWS as any shipment does. I know, I read the manual I mention above just now and I had a shipment with a finished bushpig and it's finished skull clear in 2020. The whole shipment including the original crate arrived at my door. So, quit freaking out folks and get the facts.

 

[JimP]

It was 2021 when I started hearing on the forum here of finished taxidermy needing to go to a USDA shop.

I'd like to hear from someone that hunted in 2021 about it.

Here is the information that I got from Tom from Trophy Shippers:

Congrats on the upcoming hunt and im sure it will go great! Unfortunately any warthog items are currently being required to be sent directly to a USDA certified taxidermist/tannery. Certain USDA inspectors have even required finished warthog skulls mounted on plaques to go to the Certified establishments lately. So for the time being I would plan on the shipment going to the tannery first. It is quite silly at times but its what the USDA is requiring so theres no way around it.

We have a $50 discount for AH members, so that comes to a flat Customs Clearance fee of $400. That will include reviewing and approving all paperwork with the export agent prior to shipment, scheduling and overseeing the inspections upon arrival, and filing the clearances when inspections are complete. The only other charge you should see is for delivery to the tannery once everything is cleared.

Shipping prices have become much better lately so that is good news! As long as people continue to travel it should help keep shipping prices down!

Please let me know if this helps or if you have any other questions!

Best Regards,

Tom

 

[Ryan]

Animal Products Manual, from 2 April 2022
This is the guidance Ag must follow.
Fully finished can keep going. Not fully finished must go to an approved facility. If you cancfind something in that manual that proves otherwise let me know. I'll do some more research on Monday.

And if a shipper that's getting paid $400 for his services says otherwise I'd make them get the change in policy from Agriculture.

 

[375Fox]

I’ve been searching around my area in Wisconsin and have not found a USDA certified taxidermist. None of this makes any sense if the animal is all ready mounted and simply adds wasted money to the trip.
Adding up all the damn fees, Africa isn’t so cheap after all.

Type in Wisconsin in search and the options will come up. I think you are overthinking and worrying too much on this though. Your outfitter can’t help you with this. You will need to talk to a customs broker in USA. Asking here will likely get as much misinformation as good information from people trying to help.

VSPS Veterinary Services Process Streamlining

 

[375Fox]

Animal Products Manual, from 2 April 2022
This is the guidance Ag must follow.
Fully finished can keep going. Not fully finished must go to an approved facility. If you cancfind something in that manual that proves otherwise let me know. I'll do some more research on Monday.View attachment 460068View attachment 460069
And if a shipper that's getting paid $400 for his services says otherwise I'd make them get the change in policy from Agriculture.

I have a suspicion usda in anchorage is much more knowledgeable and hunting friendly than other cities, just like with firearms. You shouldn’t be too quick to criticize.

 

[buckshot85]

Type in Wisconsin in search and the options will come up. I think you are overthinking and worrying too much on this though. Your outfitter can’t help you with this. You will need to talk to a customs broker in USA. Asking here will likely get as much misinformation as good information from people trying to help.

VSPS Veterinary Services Process Streamlining

Everything I entered shows nothing to display.
I’m not worrying. Just hate surprises and spending on governmental fees.

 

[JimP]

Just decide on who your customs broker is going to be and then ask them. They do it every day day in and day out.

I wouldn't even think of trying this on my own now days.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I just wonder who it was that made the change from allowing finished taxidermy to be shipped directly to the hunter. ...

I know that it is the US Government but something had to of changed.

Given enough time the US Government will regulate itself out of existence!

 

[375Fox]

Everything I entered shows nothing to display.
I’m not worrying. Just hate surprises and spending on governmental fees.

 

[buckshot85]

View attachment 460078

WTH, I got nothing. I’ll take another look.

 

[Ryan]

Here's the link to the USFWS offices. Give your closest one a call Monday

Wildlife Trade - Wildlife Inspection Offices

www.fws.gov

 

[outwestidaho]

I said it on hear a bunch of times ! There has been no law change on this. Its how they are dealing with it now. Its their new attitude. Some guys are cherry picking the laws and doing interpretation of the laws. There is more to it than you think. The agents involved in your crate have to determine if said warthog skull is actually cleaned properly etc. They sometimes wont take the paper works word for it, and from what I've seen on some finished skulls that come back, I don't blame them. So that being said, SOME agents are lazy, to busy or just plain don't want to deal with it, so they USDA restrict the order. Soooooooo now they do the restriction paper work instead of cracking the crate to see what is actually in it and what condition said skull is in. Some mounts that come from Africa are buried in shredded paper. Especially Namibia. They probably aren't going to dig through it all. They restrict it and file 16-78 that goes to a USDA approved facility. Now I have to dig through the crate, empty it all and do 2 pages of paper work on a 16-78 form that they generate, telling them what I did. Hence, why some are restricted and others just go through with out restrictions. Some peoples crates DO some peoples DON'T !
Plus, and listen to this one closely !!!! Any agent can restrict a foreign order no matter what's in it (skulls ,hides or finished taxidermy), if he or she chooses to do so ! That little jewel trumps all others rules.

 

[Philip Glass]

I just wonder who it was that made the change from allowing finished taxidermy to be shipped directly to the hunter. My first trip only unfinished mounts and skulls needed to go to the USDA facility but something in the last few years changed to where both unfinished and finished need to go.

I know that it is the US Government but something had to of changed.

I am not sure this is correct. Finished taxidermy has always been exempt from going to a USDA taxidermist.

 

[Philip Glass]

Ok. Fully finished pigs DO NOT need to go to any approved facility other than being cleared in a Customs warehouse by Customs-AG and USFWS as any shipment does. I know, I read the manual I mention above just now and I had a shipment with a finished bushpig and it's finished skull clear in 2020. The whole shipment including the original crate arrived at my door. So, quit freaking out folks and get the facts.

Exactly. Lots of misinformation here. Getting as bad as FB!

 

[JimP]

Exactly. Lots of misinformation here. Getting as bad as FB!

When two different importers say it you have to have questions on just what is the correct information

 

[outwestidaho]

The important part of this is : "look for evidence of professional cleaning and processing . If UNABLE to determine if the trophy has been fully taxidermy finished regulate the trophy as NOT fully finished." Meaning they are going to throw a 16-78 on the crate of taxidermy mounts and restrict it if NOT determined. Some get determined some don't !

 

[C.W. Richter]

Personally, I think someone is trying to line their pockets here (like a used car salesman, for instance-or even a new car salesman!) LOL Where would your finished trophies be shipped into?

 

[buckshot85]

If you’re asking me, Sir, Chicago. About 3.5 hours away. The gentleman handling my affairs has gotten back to me and says my crate can get shipped right to my door once cleared, if that’s what I prefer.

 

[JimP]

Personally, I think someone is trying to line their pockets here (like a used car salesman, for instance-or even a new car salesman!) LOL Where would your finished trophies be shipped into?

Your importer should take care of it. When I was checking on importers for my June hunt both Tom at Trophy Shippers and Wyat at SSI confirmed that both finished and unfinished warthogs need to go to a USDA facility. I posted the message that I got from Tom.

I had used SSI on my previous hunt and decided to use them again. This time with a finished warthog wall mount. A big plus is that they are USDA certified so I am covered one way or another.

 

[C.W. Richter]

at what airport are they doing that unnecessary, extra, costly step? it may not be unilateral or it may not be happening at all. yes, always use a customs clearance brokerage, but not a crooked one. lol