New trophy import rules and requirements

[JJHACK]

It seems that some new, or imminent rule changes are in effect now. Although still not clear on where enforcement is happening, or what cities and airports this involves.

The reason I say this is that I know of several shipments arriving just recently that have come in without the Ag permit required. However  Coppersmith in Atlanta has suggested that an Ag permit is required for all species now.

This is back to the way it used to be. There was a period where all shipments had to be cleared by an Ag Permit holder. Then they changed that to Swine only permit and processing, and now it seems to be either headed back that way, or it is already that way. Some airports must be slower to get on the new rules?

The way it shakes out is this, you must have all "RAW" trophies cleared by a Person who holds an Agriculture import permit. If the trophies are mounted in Africa they can come to you directly, but raw salted hides and horns must be imported and delivered to a Ag permit holder only.

That person must have the training and equipment to process the trophies before the owner can get them from him. This will clearly add a significant step in the process. That Ag permit holder will be required to process the trophies similar to the way the dip pack is done in Africa.

Yes that's right you will now pay for this service twice, or so it seems right now. I'm waiting on the official documents so I can sort through this and report back to you on the actual details when I get them in my hands.

At this point some brokers, agents, and cities have to follow this to the letter. It does seem that other cities are slow to get the word, or have for some reason ignored this for now. I've had two hunters collect all the raw trophies from RSA themselves in the last two weeks(no Ag permit), and now three yesterday said they could not get them without an Ag permit. Kinda confusing eh!

So it seems the days of dip pack in RSA and collect your things yourself are over for now. This is a huge leap backward for the Importing of trophies. I'm hoping that with the very strict requirements of the dip pack process in RSA that they will get an exemption from this. Other countries will need to provide the same level of dip pack prior to shipping or they will have to go through that process in the USA.

Just when you think you have it figured out!

I have found a bit of a loophole that would likely be the right way to handle trophy shipments now.

Since processed trophies are free to enter the USA, only Raw trophies require AG permit holder to process. It seem to me the hunter should have all skins and capes tanned in RSA, and all skulls mounted as a European mount( no panels). Then they arrive "processed" and you're free to collect them from the shipper after clearing USF&W and US Customs.

Then have the trophies mounted here in the USA. The tanning would have to be done anyway so that's no extra cost. Sure the European mounts would be an extra fee to complete, but certainly less then the cost of the other USA requirements now being implemented. Probably less then the domestic shipping alone, and likely far cheaper then a company with an AG permit will charge you to process the trophies for cleared admission to the USA.

There are about a dozen hands touching your trophies from the time they are shot until they hang on your wall. It's amazing anything gets completed and actually comes out good at all.

After the shot you have to wrestle the beast for photos, drag and load the game to a truck

Skin and salt the hide, hang it and fold it for shipment to the dip pack

Dip pack the trophies

Ship them in a crate to the airport by truck uncontrolled environment(Freezing? Roasting? moisture?)

Handled again and stored in a warehouse prior to shipping. They are stored among other crates of unknown contents with who knows what kind of parasite or insect in unknown levels of weather protection from rain or dampness, especially from Nov to Feb!

Loaded on that flight and carried across the ocean.

Stored in a warehouse in the USA until cleared

***** new process of dipping and clearing the trophies by a company/person with an AG permit***** rehydrate and PH test may be required again!****

Shipped to your Taxidermist by truck in a non-controlled environment dampness? Freezing? Roasting? in that same wood crate,

Unpacked and shipped again to a tannery

Rehydrated and tanned

Dried, tumbled and finish process at the tannery

Shipped back to the taxidermist

Rehydrated and stretched for mounting.

When completed you now have a mount.

Think about the amount of handling that goes on with these trophies. It's amazing any end up on the wall in decent condition!

 

[Devy55]

JJHACK,

Is it possible to outline appoximate costs for trophies so the members will have an idea of what the final costs for an African safari will be.

For myself, on top of the hunting and airline costs, I paid anywhere from $250 to $1500 USD per animal depending upon species, just to shoot the animal.  That expense was made clear upfront by my guide and coordinator.

Then the taxidermy fees are charged separately and paid to the taxidermist directly.  Although the cost were reasonable and cheaper than the same process in the states, the expense should be included in your plans.  For myself, I had a European mount, a shoulder mount, a felt lined skin, 2 tanned skins, and a fish trophy which cost about $1000.

Then the taxidermist charged an packing and shipping fee to box the trophies and send them to the point of deparkation, which was about $190 USD more.

Then the African exporter charged me $760 USD to arrange air transportation and pay export taxes and AG fees so my trophies could leave africa.

When it arrives in the US, the importer (Coppersmith) charged another $625 USD to clear US Customs and AG, plus arrange delivery to my house.  I will say that Coppersmith is an excellent firm to work with and their service is exceptional. 

Unfortunately, a couple of fins from my fish trophy were broken off because of all the hands digging and inspecting my stuff, but it was easily repaired and everything else was fine.

So basically, a $250 animal may cost you $2000-$3000 by the time it hangs on your wall.  No complaints, but first time hunters should be aware of the other 2nd and 3rd order effects and costs.

[GEMSBUCK]

That is why so many 2nd and 3rd time hunters to Africa leave the trophies behind and keep the photos instead. On a recent trip to Namibia then onto Zimbabwe I killed 11 plains game animals and my wife killed 6 more plus I killed a buffalo. The costs to bring that all back to the states would've amounted to the cost of most PG hunts for 4 animals or so including air. I am shipping the buff skull home solo and if the quote for shipping is too high I'll leave that there too and settle for about 50 digital photos of the bull.

[JJHACK]

It's not functionally possible to predict what the cost will be to get the trophies from the lodge as they sit dry salted to your home.  The variables are enormous and the people involved all want a piece of the pie. Unfortunately most folks seem to have the impression that if you hunted in Africa you must be rich, so we will contniue to pile on the charges.

That's pretty far from the truth as a PG hunt in RSA is less then a guided elk hunt in the west!

What I have been saying to people for years now and it seemed close enough was that the shipping from RSA will be about 125 bucks per specimen in the crate for the raw preped trophies. So if you have 5 species each with cape and horns then shipping would be 625 bucks.

Add to that dip pack and broker fees, and then another shipping within the USA, and now another level to somebody with a USDA permit and you can only guess what the total will be.

Over the last ten years there has been a huge trend in hunters who bring absolutely nothing back to the USA from thier trophies. It's been running about 50%

Of the remaining 50% about 1/2(25%) bring back european mounts and some tanned skins, and the other 25% bring back everything. These are not exact numbers but reflect a good average of what's going on. One friend of mine said that after his first trip the total dollars to get the trophies to the states, and mounted cost way more then the Safari itself.  He's only bringing back photo's now and has been there with me 4 times now with no trophies shipped back.

Another hunter said to me " I'm a hunter not a collector, I don't want anything shipped back.This way I can hunt with you next year or the year after again."

Makes no difference to me, it's less hassle to deal with trophies and its no income gain for me to be involved with trophies after death. Great photos and lots of meat is fine with me!

[jpsmith1]

Dumb question and maybe not entirely related, what is done with the meat after the shot.  I understand that some of it may be eaten during the hunt, but a 1000lb animal will probably outlast a 7-10 day safari.  I'm assuming that it is not shipped home with the hunter.

[JJHACK]

Nope, you cannot even bring back a vaccum sealed package of dried meat which was processed in a licensed facility.

We sell meat as part of the recovery to run the ranch and maintain wildlife management. We feed the staff and the visitors, and we give away meat to local villages and a hospital. No meat goes to waste EVER in Africa!

[dave hall]

JJ ,
   How does this affect your business.Every time some government decides to put a cost on something that affect you and others in the same business.Do you ever see a decline in clients because of it.Dave.

[JJHACK]

Certainly everytime you add cost to something people will shy away.

Africa is a bit different as it's such a good value for the first time plains game hunter that it's still a huge argain comparing it to other guided big game hunting anyplace in the world.

If Africa continues on this track then the gap will close a bit more. The increases are beginning to narrow this every passing year. Right now the airfare is the killer or the real deal breaker. After that the cost of the hunt is rally a non-issue for a fella trying to decide on a guided moose or elk hunt comparing to a 5-6 animal plains game hunt.

Or an even more expensive sheep, or bear hunt which could top $20,000 in the USA for a single animal and rough conditions when compared to a nice lodge and warm sunny weather with a staff that waits on you every moment.

Don't mistake this comment as being anti bear elk moose or any other NA species. The events that lead up to a successful hunt in NA with the conditions are what make that hunt. It's a phenominal experience. However when your trying to decide on a trip like this most people still see the extrodinary value in the Southern African Hunting experience. compared to that in NA.

Plus so many guys bring thier wives on these hunts with me and they would not likely drag her along on a ten day pack in or drop camp hunt in a tent.

[GEMSBUCK]

Hunting in south Africa is relatively cheap when compared to a NA hunt..this is true but add in rnd trip air,shipping trophies,tips,etc., etc/, etc. and the bottom line is more. But then again you get more than 1 squeeze of the trigger. Any of the larger PG animals cares a pretty steep trophy fee, somew guys just hunt the little bitty 'lopes and even some of them carry high trophy fees.
 I'm booked in 2007 to hunt moose in the Yukon I'll be staying in a trapper's cabin,eating meals fried in a cast iron skillet,and washing out of a bucket for 10 days and for that I'm dropping $9Kplus air,lisc.,tips etc which will run my trip over $11k. Forthat same $11k I could fly to SA hunt buffalo and a 1/2 dz PG animals and stay in a first class lodge...but then I must get those trophies home for another $2k-$2.5K.
 It's a toss up, just a matter of what you want to do.