Everyone: I realize this isn't the SA forum but I know some of you travel to SA to hunt doves, ducks and geese. Some of my friends just returned from Argentina and the first thing they were told was "bird flu" had been discovered and they would not be allowed to import any birds home....period. Anyone have the scoop? Juan? I've been planning on a trip but I want to bring some waterfowl home for mounting. LDK

I know that the government had been talking about doing this for a while. I do not know if any formal laws or policies have actually been innacted. Sometimes you will get customs and USFWS that start thier own agendas absent of actual law. However every educated person I have discussed this with have all said it is impossible to stop it from coming here even if export/import of all materials were perfectly controlled going from Asia and Africa to the Americas because of natural bird migration patterns. However most predictions were showing it entering via the northwest coast through Canada or Alaska. If there is Bird Flue in South America predictions were obviously flawed. Either way whatever Customs is doing to restrict us will have zero effect on whether bird flue arrives here and it should arrive now within one year if it is in South America.

I was in Salta last year and several of us brought back 50 lbs of frozen dove breasts with no problems.

I was there again a couple weeks ago and we were told that you now needed an export permit from the Argentina Govt. to take any birds out and that would take some time to obtain. Not really caring enought to check any closer we didn't bring anything home but photos. (9 of us shot 25,500 in 3 days)

Before going last year I checked with USDA in Miami and recieved great cooperation and a written response from them saying it was ok to import for personal cunsumption and use and that Argentina was not a problem country.

See e-mail and contact info below;

From:Judy L. Moreno
Export Document Examiner
USDA APHIS VS
7022 NW 10th Place
Gainesville, FL 32605
352-333-3120 EXT 200
352-333-1912 fax

Since Argentina does not have any poultry diseases of interest, these doves should be allowed entry without restriction, cleaned or not. As for the amount, under 50 pounds, for personal use, should be OK. It is recommended that these hunters bring along any Argentinian hunting licenses they may have. Also, they should definitely check with FWS (Fish and Wildlife
Service) in advance, in case there are special restrictions.

Judy L. Moreno
USDA APHIS VS


So I also checked with USF&WL who stated that a wing needed to remain attached to each so that the they could be identified. And that only 15 could be brought back of the US indiginous species. When explaining to them that all the Argentina common dove is an eared dove not a morning dove and that the only identifying difference was 2 black spots on the cheek they stated that they were aware of this and to leave the wing for identification anyway.

That time some of us flew into Dallas and others into Miami and directed to USDA but no one was checked any further than being asked what we had and where we had been. No one from USFWL was called in or involved or seemed to care.

This time they "USDA" were very particular in Miami about our shoes but didn't question anything about birds "but we didn't have or declare any" and were not questioned or sent USF&WL.

So I'd check with USDA and USF&WL in advance of going since things are subject to change quickly.

PS; you should have seen the look I got from the local TSA guy at the x-ray when he scanned my carry on "cooler full of zip locked doves". Other than something he had never seen before no problem then but it might be a problem with too much liquid this year since they took my 4 oz bottle of sun screen.

Mike O

Dateline:Miami, just over one year ago--

Four hunters, three different customs inspectors, same return flight. All hunters had birds with them. Two inspectors congratulated three hunters on their success. One inspector confiscated birds saying bird flu et al.

Like TSA it all depends who you get and just how informed they are.

Thats the point I was trying to say Nkonka. Most of these inspectors know nothing and enforce what ever agenda they woke up with that morning. We all take our chances I guess. I bring birds back from Africa sometimes and the isnspectors always act like they have better things to do than deal with me and I am thankful.