Permits required for my bow in SA?

[Kusko]

Are there any permits required for traveling to SA with a bow? We fly into Joburg.

 

[wesheltonj]

No, unless something has changed.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Nope, Nada, Non, Nein!

 

[Kusko]

One of my PH's said I should get this....

USA 4457 form

 

[Ty Howard]

One of my PH's said I should get this....

USA 4457 form

Wonder why

To prove you're bringing the same bow back?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

One of my PH's said I should get this....

USA 4457 form

Wonder why

To prove you're bringing the same bow back?

Good idea as it will prove you owned the bow before leaving and you'll avoid paying duty if a CBP officer decides to be grumpy. The 4457 form is an all encompassing form for U.S. citizens to avoid paying duty on items that were purchased in the U.S.

 

[JimP]

To add to the list of items for your 4457 form I would put all camera gear, binoculars, and anything else that has a serial number on it.

The few times that I have crossed the US border with my hunting gear the only time that I had to show my rifle or anything else was when I came back from Africa. When I returned from Canada all the agent asked was if my rifle was the same one that was on the 4457.

But all it takes is one that is having a bad day when you step up to them to make your day miserable.

 

[firehuntfish]

@Kusko ,

As others have stated, you do not need any special permitting to get your bow into RSA. The 4457 form is always a good idea to have all of your bases covered for personal items. It really depends on the agent(s) that clear you when you arrive home. Some have the ability to use common sense and can distinguish used personal gear and equipment from newly purchased items.

I think the agents at Atlanta and JFK are so used to seeing hunting/photography gear arriving from Africa, they are able to apply common sense. I haven't heard of any serious issues with these locations offering much of fuss unless you are trying to bring back a greasy bag of biltong.

Another tip I would offer when flying with your bow is to put a piece of 2-3" wide masking tape across the top of the case where it can't be missed and write with a marker "Bow & Arrows only. No guns." This will usually help in keeping your bow case from going to the SAPS office with the gun cases. It's hit and miss where your case will actually end up once it arrives in Jo'burg. Sometimes it will come out at the over-sized baggage area behind the baggage carousels, and sometimes it will go to the holding office in baggage claim. It's a small office that has glass walls you will be able to see cases and hunters lined up there..... Hopefully, it will not go to SAPS with the rifle cases, and the tape label will help in that regard.... If you can't find it anywhere in either location in the baggage claim area, it probably went to SAPS. In that event, I would ask for the assistance of your PH in retrieving it from there in a timely manner.

 

[wesheltonj]

Years ago, back in 1985, I took my Nikon Camera to Customs to registered it. The Custom's guy said it was a waste of time, in that camera's where cheaper in NYC then everywhere else in the world.

 

[Kusko]

Thanks all for responses! Great tips!!