Trophy elephant?

31 January 2011, 03:46

Peter

Trophy elephant?

OK let's say I kill a trophy elephant. What is involved in getting the tusks back to the USA? Procedures? Costs?
Thanks, Peter.

Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;

31 January 2011, 04:08

jeff h

Peter, Just like any other trophy as far as cost. You may need CITES depends on where you take your ele. I have shipped two back, Usually costs me a little less because of the somewhat smaller create. Get quotes on shipping.
May want to have some hide tanned, this can get a little pricey

31 January 2011, 05:15

MJines

Piece of cake. Your outfitter will have the CITES permit, they clear the tusks in the country where the ele was hunted. The tusks are shipped to the States just like any other trophy and cleared through Fish and Wildlife. Then on to your taxidermist. For the hunter, there is no paperwork required. The outfitter handles all the paperwork. Just need to make sure that outfitter has all the paperwork filled out correctly (I rely on the receiving shipping company to check all the paperwork before the tusks are shipped). Easy.

On the hide, do a panel swap. Have the outfitter swap your salted panels for tanned panels. You will pay some for the tanned panels, but it is far less than shipping the salted panels. Besides, the tanneries over here do not do a very good job of tanning ele hide.

31 January 2011, 05:56

retreever

Now if shot in Tanzania, you have to get a cites app from USF&W fill out and send back to them and a check $100
You will receive it in a month or so. Looks like a car title id#
You then send cites number to your PH and he will
then get it to his man in country and it will go to packing people and be cut into ivory
Then packed and shipped to your broker, broker has to have cites in hand for clearance.
On the cites you will have to have listed all you are importing ivory (2) skull, 2 front feet
skin panels how many, tail, ears
Have done three costs vary on weight shipped cartons.

Mike

31 January 2011, 06:03

Peter

Wow! Thank you gentlemen. I may be getting too far ahead here but perhaps others may benefit as well: what does one do with the tusks when they arrive?

quote:
Then on to your taxidermist.

Or, what does he do with them? I may have to hide them from my wife!
Peter.
PS. I like the idea of swapping for already tanned hides, but, do they come with the tusks then?

Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;

31 January 2011, 06:15

MJines

The taxidermist will do nothing with them unless you want him to. Most will be mounted in a base which may require the taxidermist to fill the nerve cavity with something to keep the thin ivory from cracking. If you just want the unmounted tusks, you could probably just pick them up from the shipping company once they are cleared.

Yes, the tanned hides are shipped with the tusks.

31 January 2011, 06:56

venda axe

Some people choose to have some of the taxidermy work done over there. Some companies will offer to do artwork like a map on the ears.DO NOT let them do this!!!! U.S. Fish & Wildlife will not let you bring any worked elephant products into the contry. I believe tanned leather is ok.

31 January 2011, 07:03

<generalwar>

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
Piece of cake. Your outfitter will have the CITES permit, they clear the tusks in the country where the ele was hunted. The tusks are shipped to the States just like any other trophy and cleared through Fish and Wildlife. Then on to your taxidermist. For the hunter, there is no paperwork required. The outfitter handles all the paperwork. Just need to make sure that outfitter has all the paperwork filled out correctly (I rely on the receiving shipping company to check all the paperwork before the tusks are shipped). Easy.

On the hide, do a panel swap. Have the outfitter swap your salted panels for tanned panels. You will pay some for the tanned panels, but it is far less than shipping the salted panels. Besides, the tanneries over here do not do a very good job of tanning ele hide.

31 January 2011, 07:05

MJines

Tanned leather is fine. That is not considered to be finished product. I checked with John Jackson with Conservation Force before I attempted this. I have done the tanned leather swap twice now with no issues.

31 January 2011, 07:35

larryshores

Gentlemen:

I recently submitted an application for a CITES permit for an elephant. USFW returned it and my check with a letter saying they are no longer required.

I was very surprised. Haven't had time to look into it yet. Is this true?

31 January 2011, 07:44

MJines

All of my bulls have come from Zim and the CITES is provided by the Zim government, nothing to apply for here in the States. Not sure about other countries.

31 January 2011, 15:48

Chris Lozano

quote:
Originally posted by venda axe:
Some people choose to have some of the taxidermy work done over there. Some companies will offer to do artwork like a map on the ears.DO NOT let them do this!!!! U.S. Fish & Wildlife will not let you bring any worked elephant products into the contry. I believe tanned leather is ok.

This is not true. In October i received a crate from Zim with a tusk, skin panels tanned, two feet, 1 painted ear and a pile of things i had made from the hide. Had no problems at all.

31 January 2011, 16:08

shakari

It's a bit more complicated than has been mentioned so far.

It all depends on where in Africa you shoot the elephant and what country you're importing into. For example, despite Mozambique having a perfectly legitimate CITES elephant quota, USF&WS don't allow elephant products from Mozambique to be imported.

These links might help: http://www.shakariconnection.c...ITES-appendices.html.

http://www.shakariconnection.c...frican-trophies.html

01 February 2011, 19:01

Peter

Thanks for all the help, gentlemen!
Peter.

Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright, that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong;

02 February 2011, 05:40

steve davis

I wouldn't advise shipping hide unless it's tanned. Then be aware there will be holes in the hide. It is very expensive for just three panels. I know, I paid the shipping bill. Just have them make you some gun cases and mount your tusk.