Bringing trophies home from South Africa in Luggage

[matt vejar]

I finished my second Safari with Tyrone Milne of Chumlet Safaris. Had another great hunt. I brought two of my trophies home from the 2023 hunt. An exceptional Nyala 28” and a very good Common Reedbuck 13”. So I’ll post the paper work required and a message fro the Fish and Game lady in charge of my shipment at San Francisco International. The only hard part of the process is uploading your documents onto the EDec Form. My sister in law was a CEO’s paralegal/ secretary so it only took her 15 minutes. You have to to have the app that will let you scan then add to their platform. She did it while I was in Africa. Anyways it’s all easy except for that. Your outfitters taxidermist has to be awesome also. Universal Taxidermy in Pretoria meets that criteria. Also remember you this is only going to fly if you return to hunt with an outfitter you’re returning to hunt with or is willing to work with you. Saved me 2k or so just spent on my return hunting trip. Anything blotted out is my shipping address and name. PM me and I’ll share my take on the phone. I came in on a Sunday so only Customs was available. No charges for anything. And my luggage was delayed so it came to my house 3 days later. I actually think it was easier this way as Fish and Game and US Ag we’re out of the loop. Customs officers just said “will put it in there box “. 10 minutes and I was on my way!!

 

[NTX]

I am considering doing this as well. Thanks for the info

 

[SwampTrooper]

As your luggage was delayed, did you also have a delayed/lost firearm coming back? Was only the luggage with the trophy delayed?

 

[matt vejar]

No fire arm. It was the first delay I’ve ever had with Virgin Atlantic. They are really on top of delayed baggage. When I got a notice by email that said “if you have declared items that must go through customs you will have to return to airport to retrieve luggage “, I thought crap I’m not filling this out - I had filled out lost luggage with there people at airport- this was a follow up message. It’s 3 hours to Frisco from my home so I just let the chips fall where they may and I got a message saying FedEx would deliver my luggage in 3 days as it was memorial weekend. It showed. I’ve flown Virgin with and without guns several times. It’s a great airline to Africa. Sir Branson has my business forever after this trip!!!!

 

[Tintin]

Well done.

For the Aussies here, I recently returned to Australia from South Africa with tanned capes / back skins and bleached skulls from a previous trip. No problems at all bringing them in - no prior paperwork required, a 5 minute inspection at airport from the Bio people.

 

[Mountaineer]

Thanks for your willingness to teach us. I’ll be in contact.