this sucks

[Hyde Hunter]

just got an email from Laura at Coppersmiths about the shipment she is waiting on and she just told me that when it arrives at the airport that Agriculture will put a hold on it for up to n7 days to get it inspected at a cost of 349.24 per day based on volume weight of 388 pounds. now this is all finished product and no primates or dip and pack, last year my crate cleared the same day with no storage and was also finished product. One thing is for sure, with shipping prices and this now there will not be anymore trophy's coming back from Africa

 

[USN]

That is the expectation, being government double the estimated timeline. I hope it moves sooner for you though.

 

[dchum]

What airport?

 

[62flint]

I am waiting on my animals from last summer.
More than a bit anxious to see the mounts and the cost.
I have another trip planned for buffalo that will be coming home with me.
But not sure if I will be getting anymore shoulder mounts sent home after the buff.
Cost of getting trophies home are beginning to be a serious concern for over seas trips

 

[Labman]

That daily rate for storage is just outrageous. I decided long time ago that it's pictures only for me on all my African hunts.

 

[mdwest]

Coppersmith at DFW moved my crate from the Turkish Airlines warehouse to their own warehouse within 24 hours. I only got hit for 1 day of airline storage.

Which port is your crate coming into?

 

[flying sailor]

Talked to Laura weeks ago. She had informed me that the gangsters work with 3 airlines out of 4 in Chicago. free storage was cut from 2 days to one. Storage rate went from .35 to .78 per kilo and based on a different metric of measurement. Having my crate flown from Joburg to Atlanta by Delta. Delta will truck to Chicago for me. Crate will clear in Atlanta, so a quick 5 hour drive with a trailer and I have my crate. Some people saw a goldmine by cutting storage times and increasing rates. Check around to find other ways to get things here. I am getting close as I was just asked how mounts should be facing. Laura knows the business, ask before you ship to a destination.

 

[Hunt anything]

Do you have any swine or birds in the crate?

 

[flying sailor]

I have a warthog but no birds in my forthcoming crate.

 

[TXhunter65]

I was told something similar by CBP Dept. of Agriculture here in Dallas. I was clearing my own shipment, was all finished taxidermy but I did have 2 warthogs. I kept in touch with them by phone and email and let them know exactly when it landed. They cleared it in less than 24 hours after landing. Now the agents at the counter when I went to finish the paper work were another story....one for later, after I clear my two buddies shipments in the next 10-20 days.

 

[Hunt anything]

It’s seems a little strange that USDA has already put a hold on the OPs crate, I haven’t imported anything since 2022 and my crate breezed through all of the govt red tape and BS. Things change and rarely for the better.

 

[flying sailor]

I have experienced lower ranking people interpret the rules differently than the supervisors. Always helpful that you know the regs and can point out respectfully , of course, how the rules read. Been helpful dealing with the Friendly Aviation Association also.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I was told something similar by CBP Dept. of Agriculture here in Dallas. I was clearing my own shipment, was all finished taxidermy but I did have 2 warthogs. I kept in touch with them by phone and email and let them know exactly when it landed. They cleared it in less than 24 hours after landing. Now the agents at the counter when I went to finish the paper work were another story....one for later, after I clear my two buddies shipments in the next 10-20 days.

Yeah, it's a racket. The witches running the desk at Swiss Air warehouse in Toronto's Pearson were a piece of work! My hat's off to the young lad working the late shift who finally got my stuff moved through health dept inspections. Then it was customs refusing to give the stamped documents to truck driver to take over to warehouse. Of course the beasts at warehouse claimed they had to have original docs. Finally got my MP's office involved and the docs were emailed to warehouse and stuff released to truck driver. The brokers are obviously in on the scam too. One of the truck drivers waiting for service at the warehouse told me how it works ... or rather purposely doesn't work.

 

[deewayne2003]

That daily rate for storage is just outrageous. I decided long time ago that it's pictures only for me on all my African hunts.

Agreed!… First time in Africa will be July of this year and the horror stories and hassle of shipping alone has convinced me to bring nothing back but pictures and memories.

I’d rather put the shipping and taxidermy costs toward my next trip.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

It’s seems a little strange that USDA has already put a hold on the OPs crate, I haven’t imported anything since 2022 and my crate breezed through all of the govt red tape and BS. Things change and rarely for the better.

Very strange. I would suggest contacting Congressman's office and have them check into it. I was being stonewalled until I contacted my Member of Parlaiment. Then things moved very quickly. The Canada Food Inspection inspector contacted me directly. I still have her email for next shipment. If there is a next shipment. Taxidermist has gone silent for three months. And I'm not hearing anything from my lodge either.

 

[TXhunter65]

It’s seems a little strange that USDA has already put a hold on the OPs crate, I haven’t imported anything since 2022 and my crate breezed through all of the govt red tape and BS. Things change and rarely for the better.

The individuals placeing the hold are not with the USDA. They are agricluture specialist within CBP. I'm not saying that USDA can't get involved because they can. I'm not certian but I believe this is a farily new "department" or repedative waste of waste of money our goverment is known for, they do not do anything Fish and Wildlife can't do. I've imported 5 shipments myself and this year in January was the first I'd heard of a CBP Agriculture specialist, they did place a hold but like I said before they inspected it the 1st day. I know they inspected becuase there was tape all over it saying they'd opened it. Unfortuantley Fish and Wildlife just rubber stamps your 3-177 form provided all your info is correct. They actually cleared my shipment before it landed this year.

 

[Wade J VanGinkel]

My shipment came in January through jfk.
I used ssi as an agent. I'm not sure why but it took nearly 6 weeks for final clearance.
But SSI honored the original quote. They're a little higher to start but had no problems.

 

[Hunt anything]

The individuals placeing the hold are not with the USDA. They are agricluture specialist within CBP. I'm not saying that USDA can't get involved because they can. I'm not certian but I believe this is a farily new "department" or repedative waste of waste of money our goverment is known for, they do not do anything Fish and Wildlife can't do. I've imported 5 shipments myself and this year in January was the first I'd heard of a CBP Agriculture specialist, they did place a hold but like I said before they inspected it the 1st day. I know they inspected becuase there was tape all over it saying they'd opened it. Unfortuantley Fish and Wildlife just rubber stamps your 3-177 form provided all your info is correct. They actually cleared my shipment before it landed this year.

I had never heard of the CBP agricultural specialist, yes it is just another layer of govt red tape, I just assumed it was USDA when the OP mentioned agriculture. I’ve never had any delays or trouble with any of my 4 crates dating back to 2015 when my 2014 safari was shipped.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The individuals placeing the hold are not with the USDA. They are agricluture specialist within CBP. I'm not saying that USDA can't get involved because they can. I'm not certian but I believe this is a farily new "department" or repedative waste of waste of money our goverment is known for, they do not do anything Fish and Wildlife can't do. I've imported 5 shipments myself and this year in January was the first I'd heard of a CBP Agriculture specialist, they did place a hold but like I said before they inspected it the 1st day. I know they inspected becuase there was tape all over it saying they'd opened it. Unfortuantley Fish and Wildlife just rubber stamps your 3-177 form provided all your info is correct. They actually cleared my shipment before it landed this year.

Similar situation here. If my stuff came into Canada at the US crossing forty minutes from my home, a Customs person there COULD do the inspection and hold it for Food Inspection Agency if anything seems off. But at Pearson in Toronto everything MUST wait for CFIA inspectors even though Customs inspectors COULD technically do it. Job security I guess.

 

[TXhunter65]

I had never heard of the CBP agricultural specialist, yes it is just another layer of govt red tape, I just assumed it was USDA when the OP mentioned agriculture. I’ve never had any delays or trouble with any of my 4 crates dating back to 2015 when my 2014 safari was shipped.

I hear ya, I'd never had any issues at all until this year. Everything has always been very easy and way cheaper than hiring a broker to import. This year there was a new supervisor at CBP and he tried numerous times to tell me it was federal law I was required to hire a broker on shipments valued over $2,500. I insisted he was wrong and demanded he show me where the law stated that and after arguing for 30 minutes, he told me he was going to do me a favor this one time and allow me import my own shipment but he did not want to see me in CBP again. Unfortunately for him, he will be seeing me shortly and I am much more educated than I was in January, and I will be talking to his supervisors when I go back to act as my friends agent to clear their shipments in the next few weeks.