First Time Firearm Travel

[Kalahari Ferrari]

After months of waiting, I'm finally getting my rifle tomorrow-the one I've been planning to take to South Africa this June.

A little background, this hunt will take place on a family farm in the Northern Cape and isn’t part of an outfitter. I hunted there last year but used a rifle they had there so I’ve never gone through the hoops of bringing one there.

Between researching this forum, other online sources, and contacting Rifle Permits I have the following understanding:

• Go to nearest customs office, in my case by DFW airport, and get CBP4457 form signed. To my knowledge, this is the only US documentation I’ll need.
• I’ll then submit the following paperwork to Rifle Permits: Completed/Signed CBP4457 form (will act as proof of ownership), Completed/Signed Saps 520, Completed/Signed mandate form, passport copy, hunting invitation letter and travel itinerary. I’ll need to submit these under the 30 day window requirement.
• I’m flying Delta out of DFW and understand there is no prior requirement to notify Delta of firearm until arriving at Airport where I’ll declare I have a firearm. I’ll need a hard case with locks on every point, also will need ammo in locked hard case inside checked bag. Planning to take 80 rounds of ammo and under 11 lbs.
• I’ll connect through Atlanta with no actions needed there and arrive in Cape Town. I’ll use the Rifle Permits meet&greet service there to get rifle and secure permit.
• The following morning I’ll take an Airlink flight leaving Cape Town to Upington. My understanding is that I need to contact Airlink at least 3 days in advance that I have a firearm and also understand ammo needs to be kept separate from checked bags. I assume firearm retrieval is straightforward in Upington airport.
• Travel back will be through same route, I'll notify Airlink in advance and declare my firearm to Delta at Cape Town. In Atlanta I'll present my Completed/Signed CBP4457 form with firearm and pickup rifle in DFW.

Current Questions I have:

- Is my general understanding above correct? Anything I might be overlooking?
- Given that I'm not hunting with an outfitter, is there a format I must follow with the hunting invitation letter? I've seen multiple examples online but no "standard" format. I have one created with some of the more generic fields I've seen online.
- Do the US Customs 4457 form and Passport copies need to be notarized? I've heard/seen conflicting takes on this.
- Has anyone flown with a firearm using Airlink? Want to know if there's anything particular I should be aware of

Lastly, I understand travel agents can help in this process but given the timing of the trip I purchased airfare before receiving the firearm. I'm also familiar with this travel having done it.

Thank you all in advance

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I think you've got it down pretty well, but there is one item of concern. As I recall in the past I've always shown a letter of invitation from my outfitter at the SAPS office. Since you don't have an outfitter you won't have one obviously. I would ask Henry at Rifle Permits about this ASAP as well your other questions regarding documents being notarized.

BTW, welcome to AH. I encourage you to post a thread in the Introduction and Greets area of the forum and tell us a bit about yourself.

 

[wesheltonj]

Unless you pre-paid your Airlink firearm fee, you will have to do the Airlink two step and shake down at the airport.

 

[Luger00]

I have flown coast to coast with checked firearms without any problems. Follow the rules and everything will be fine.

 

[Philip Glass]

My first concern is the brand new rifle. If perfect you had it a bit longer to practice. Get to the range with some sticks!
You should be good with your itinerary and planning but you just have an invitation letter. It should not matter who it is from.
Airlink is good just a bit of a process to pay the firearm fee. I think they are one of the best airlines in terms of service in the air.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

I think you've got it down pretty well, but there is one item of concern. As I recall in the past I've always shown a letter of invitation from my outfitter at the SAPS office. Since you don't have an outfitter you won't have one obviously. I would ask Henry at Rifle Permits about this ASAP as well your other questions regarding documents being notarized.

BTW, welcome to AH. I encourage you to post a thread in the Introduction and Greets area of the forum and tell us a bit about yourself.

Appreciate the feedback here...

Yes, I had actually asked Henry this and he said he needs a "letter from the family inviting you to come and hunt with them and explain that this is a family hunt, the letter must be signed." Sounded pretty straightforward but wanted to see if anyone had any further input or had been in this situation before.

On the notarized documents, Henry said just send him the normal copies and if convenient get them notarized. So just wanted to see if people get away without copies notarized.

I realize I might be overthinking this process, just want to make sure I have everything in proper order as its a new process for me.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

Unless you pre-paid your Airlink firearm fee, you will have to do the Airlink two step and shake down at the airport.

Good to know, I've only purchased the Delta airfare so far so I'll make sure to add that to the Airlink ticket

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

My first concern is the brand new rifle. If perfect you had it a bit longer to practice. Get to the range with some sticks!
You should be good with your itinerary and planning but you just have an invitation letter. It should not matter who it is from.
Airlink is good just a bit of a process to pay the firearm fee. I think they are one of the best airlines in terms of service in the air.

Agreed, its not an ideal timeline but I will have most weekends available to get some practice in. The rifles at the farm I used last year I was not accustomed to and I'd much prefer to at least some time stateside than use those rifles over again.

Also thats good to hear about Airlink.

Thanks for the input

 

[Nyati]

On the hunting invitation letter, you need an outfitter´s registration number.

However, if Henry says he can do without it, he should know

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

On the hunting invitation letter, you need an outfitter´s registration number.

However, if Henry says he can do without it, he should know

He didn't make it seem like it was necessary as a family hunt but guess I'll find out here soon enough...

 

[Hyde Hunter]

you are cutting things a little close. get you flight booked with Airlink asap and send a request to fly email as soon as you can, it will take up to 3 days or less for them to get back to you. get your passport and 4457 form notarized. call Customs they may require an appt and you will need to take the rifle with you to them. on the flight your gun case should have padlocks on it and take a set of spares, sometimes TSA has been known to cut them off and I have seen them arrive at the airport missing locks. your ammo case needs TSA locks and take spares. the whole ammo case and locks can only be 11 pounds and they will weigh it. make sure you tell your airline you have a locked ammo case in your checked bag.what gun case have you bought? I hope it is a Pelican or at least the Apache from Harbor freight they will save you some money and are pretty good. have fun and remember you will be on Africa time when you arrive so things move slowly.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

Thanks to everyone on this thread for the travel advice, I successfully arrived to my final SA destination with gun and ammo without much issue.

I can provide more details once stateside (hopefully travel back is also smooth) but I did receive my SA gun permit despite not having a formal registered outfitter with an outfit number. Figured this would be helpful if any one in the future is in my same shoes.

One question I did have was regarding bringing a few skull mounts back in checked luggage. I harvested a kudu and gemsbok last year and upon arrival this year the taxidermist had both mounts completed. I brought enough luggage and space to fit both of these in and figured it would be convenient if I could take them straight back. My question is has anyone successfully brought mounts back in checked luggage to the US? The taxidermist mentioned having to complete a Professional Hunting Register but believe this is only for having them shipped by a third party?

Thanks in advance, also please let me know if it’s better to post my question elsewhere