Self-Clearing Trophies in Seattle

[Bivy]

Hello!

My trophies will be arriving at SeaTac in the next month. As the crate contains all finished taxidermy products, I have decided to drive over and self-clear.

Any words of advise about Sea-Tac or other airport self-clearing experiences?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Mekaniks]

I think @sestoppelman has done this and probebly has some advice...

 

[Royal27]

I think @sestoppelman has done this and probebly has some advice...

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Yah boy, @sestoppelman would definitely be the guy to talk to and listen well.

 

[sestoppelman]

LOL, I see my fine feathered friends above volunteering my assistance. In your case it should be no problem assuming you don't have more than one hunter on the shipment under one name, USFWS might take issue with that, they did with me and it was a real runaround but finally resolved peacefully. Don't know who they have at that office now but the two "gals" and one dude I dealt with there last time were all pretty by the book folks and not particularly helpful. If you have not done this before, its fairly simple. Go to the shipping warehouse that has your stuff, they give you some paperwork, take that to USFWS about a mile away, they look it over and make you fill out some forms, its all checked against the papers from the shipper, lots of questions are asked and this is where its easy to run afoul of them, they will try to trip you up, sort of like being cross examined by an attorney, and see if you make some mistakes in your testimony. If you do, its gonna be a long drive back to MT with no stuff and a return trip at a later date.. FWS may have already inspected your shipment, but if not they may go with you up to the shipper to do so. But if you clear that hurdle, you next go to the CBP office essentially next door, and give the papers to those guys who have never been a problem for me, like none, they sign off on it, and then back up the hill to the shipper and collect your stuff. I did it a few times with ease, but after my last go round with them, never again. I hired SSI on this forum here to handle my shipment for my latest trip, as I don't intend to ever cross paths with FWS again. Most times its easy and no problems, but it only takes one bad experience with them to turn the whole thing sour.
Good luck!!

 

[Royal27]

@sestoppelman is right, even if he makes fun of my autocorrect typos.

Look into @roberq and at least talk to them. I've done it with and without them. With them is easier and less stressful. They have my business for the future. It's simply great insurance. When everything goes perfectly then you "pay too much." But when it doesn't..... Priceless.

 

[Scott Slough]

I would add two additions...call the FWS and the shipping company prior to showing up. I self cleared my trophies in Houston, TX at IAH. FWS knew that I was coming and made sure to have my already inspected my box.

I called Forward Air (a trucking company that forwards freight from airports) several times to inform that I was self clearing and they still released my paperwork to the company that typically clears African trophies at IAH. This added 3 hours to my process, but was still worth the process.

Good luck!

 

[sestoppelman]

No doubt on calling ahead, absolutely.