Okay, I won't bother asking for help in getting my trophies home...after all, I've only been waiting 19 MONTHS!

Looking ahead to a possible second African trip, I'm wondering about the possibility of bringing trophies back with me on the plane. Specifically, is this permissible with hippo tusks, or warthog tusks? If I go back, I suspect my goal will be a non-trophy elephant, i.e. nothing to bring back. If I could combine that with a hippo I'd rather not wait a lifetime for a small box of teeth, weighing just a few pounds. Any ideas?

John

Don't see why not. But importing warthog into Canada check with taxidermist there. Here in USA swineflu bugs.

Mike

jwm, you might slip by "customs" in Africa, especially if palms are greased (sometimes they want to X-ray your baggage) but get caught here without paperwork and it can get serious real fast. You must claim any animal parts or you violate the law (in the US at least, not sure about Canada). If you have your export paperwork, probably no sweat, so be sure you talk your your fish and game people, after all, they will be the ones that make or break the deal.
Cheers,
David

Thanks for the responses, gents.

David, I did not, and would not in future, transit any part of the U.S. while going to Africa. Toronto to Frankfurt to Windhoek allowed me to avoid TSA problems and I would hope to arrange something similar the next time.

I didn't mean to imply that I want to sneak the tusks out of Africa. Rather, I was hoping for clarification of what would need to be done to legally and openly leave with them in my possession. I assume this will vary from country to country, and I have no firm plans yet, so I'm just prospecting for ideas now. I would also make all preparations to bring them into Canada legally.

Thanks for the input...it seems promising so far. If anyone has any further thoughts, keep'em coming.

John

customs asked me if I had any white bone's of any kind. The last time I was in atlanta. I assume it would have been confiscated or worse if I would have had anything. with out the proper paper work from a taxidermist or vet.

Mounted on a slab of wood, with rubber cement, they can be claimed as "arts and crafts" and not require any paperwork. Then, you can easily remove them for knife handles or other projects.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:
Mounted on a slab of wood, with rubber cement, they can be claimed as "arts and crafts" and not require any paperwork. Then, you can easily remove them for knife handles or other projects.

I'm not 100% sure that is correct, as far as not requiring paperwork.

I did bring back a set of WH tusks that I had shot about 5 days before that I had mounted on a plaque(with 5 min epoxy). I did have the export paperwork. They looked at the paperwork, but just glanced at the tusks. I went through customs and USF&W in Atlanta with no problems.(but this was in 2002)

quote:

Originally posted by jwm:
Okay, I won't bother asking for help in getting my trophies home...after all, I've only been waiting 19 MONTHS!

Looking ahead to a possible second African trip, I'm wondering about the possibility of bringing trophies back with me on the plane. Specifically, is this permissible with hippo tusks, or warthog tusks? If I go back, I suspect my goal will be a non-trophy elephant, i.e. nothing to bring back. If I could combine that with a hippo I'd rather not wait a lifetime for a small box of teeth, weighing just a few pounds. Any ideas?

John

With whom did you hunt that takes longer than 12 months to get trophies back???

quote:

Originally posted by JBrown:

I'm not 100% sure that is correct, as far as not requiring paperwork.

I did bring back a set of WH tusks that I had shot about 5 days before that I had mounted on a plaque(with 5 min epoxy). I did have the export paperwork. They looked at the paperwork, but just glanced at the tusks. I went through customs and USF&W in Atlanta with no problems.(but this was in 2002)

JBrown,

That is the normal procedure, although as you know, if they want to be a problem to you, they can.

However, if you had something resembling a receipt, it would be all the paperwork you would need for even the most surly customs agent.

Just keep in mind that hippo tusks needs cites papers!!i allways take my warthog tusks in the luggage no problems here in Norway!i just get papers that they are bought as suvenirs!

I watched a guy get busted on my last trip home with warthog tusks. They confiscated all of them. He said he had bought them at a souviner shop but it was not the case.

I have a former friend that absconded with non-trophy, ie bait animal, Hippo tusks/teeth from the salting shed in Mozi...after talking it over with the PH and receiving warnings about paperwork and fees of something like $100 and he would be OK....He left with them packed up in the night and traveled to Zambia for flight back to another African country. Going through the bag x-ray screening at Lusaka airport they nailed him!! Attempted to arrest him for possession and smuggling of animal parts, the MOSI outfitter intervened with a local fellow in Lusaka representing him...he was detained for a week, lost the tusks and was fined heavily!!
I don't know if they put a flag on your passport for something like this...but I am sure it goes in the Zambia computers...for later entries...and this guy is an American and works over there and travels in his job every month...it mortally embarassed me with the outfitter as I was supposed to be there with this guy accompanying me...I had to cancel for medical issues...the beat goes on. Good luck. Be Careful and make sure you have the outfitters proper paperwork "stamped" by local wildlife officials, and documents for proper fees that need to be paid. Cheers!