I know this has been covered many times, but I wanted to share my experience with self- clearing of my and a friends African trophies from RSA. Since I live in the metro Atlanta area and Atlanta is a designated port of entry, I volunteered to clear them myself, partly to save the $500 or so that Coppersmith would charge us but also I wanted to see what the process was like.
In our shipment are the horns, skulls and skins from one waterbuck, one nyala, one bushbuck, one impala and one duiker. There are also the skulls and horns from three additional impala and skull mounts for three warthog. Field & Stream Taxidermy did the Dip & Pack and Safari Cargo handled the shipment. I informed them both upfront that I would be clearing the shipment myself and to send me all the export and shipping paperwork, which they did.
I have to give a huge plug to Colin at Safari Cargo. After the crate had been released to Safari Cargo, it was discovered that the warthogs were just shipped loose and not mounted on plaques as was requested and paid for. Colin went out of his way to get this corrected by the taxidermist and save us from having our shipment potentially having to go to a USDA approved taxidermist for additional cleaning.
I did a bunch of research on the requirements for importing trophies from abroad and found a myriad of gov’t BS that was intimidating. However a call to the Atlanta US Fish & Wildlife office put me at ease. A very helpful inspector walked me thru the one page form and told me how to submit it online. I submitted this form along with export documents from Field & Stream and Airbill from Safari Cargo a few days prior to my shipments arrival date indicated on the Airbill.
This morning I got a call from the airline and was told my trophies had been inspected by the USDA and was ready for clearing. Safari Cargo used Qatar Airways for shipping, but they do not have their own cargo facility in Atlanta and so they sub it out to Swissport. The lady on the phone gave me Swissport’s address and so I got my copies of all the documents and drove down to their warehouse. I showed a friendly lady at Swissport’s import office the copy of the Airbill and she had me on my way with paperwork in hand in about five minutes. She did inform me that there was a $50 minimum storage fee that had to paid in cash, money order or cashiers check when I returned to pick of my trophies. Next stop was the US Fish & Wildlife office, about two miles away.
After giving my paperwork to the receptionist at USF&W, the same inspector I had spoken to on the phone came up and had me sign the forms I had submitted online. He looked over everything and then went back to stamp all the documents. He was back in a few minutes with everything stamped and ready to go. Customs was next and it is in the same office park as USF&W and just up the street.
I have mixed feelings about Customs from having been down there a few times to get 4457 forms stamped for guns and cameras and other stuff taken abroad. While never having had any problems with the agents that did the inspecting and stamping, the ones behind the desk up front were always less than helpful and unfriendly. This time was different. The young agent behind the bullet proof glass was friendly and asked had if I had been to USF&W first and had them clear it. When I answered yes and sent my paperwork thru the drawer, he confirmed the stamp by USF&W and called another agent over who took the paperwork and stamped “Released” on it in! In and out in less than two minutes!
Since I had about $8 in my wallet, I had to go find an ATM machine so I could get some cash to pay Swissport. The area around the airport is very industrial with most of the business’s around serving the airlines and freight companies and such. The closest branch of my bank with an ATM was about five miles away and Verizon Navigator on my phone sent me on a route where I caught every red light imaginable! Cash in hand I made it back to Swissport and met with the same sweet lady from before. Since the shipment had both me and my friends name on it, I had to show her a Power of Attorney form signed by my buddy showing that I could clear the shipment on his behalf before she could release it. This was a simple form we found on the internet that we both signed and she made a copy of it for her files. I paid the $50 and she directed me to back my truck into the drive up dock and someone would be there with my crate. I did and they were and I was on my way in about 10 minutes with a big wooden crate that smelled like mothballs in the bed of my truck!!
No one despises gov’t bureaucracy and the snail’s pace that they sometimes function at more than me, so I was not sure how this thing would turn out. All told it took about an hour and 45 minutes of which I spent maybe a combined 20 minutes in Swissport, USF&W and US Customs offices. The rest was spent driving between offices, the bank and home. Everyone was friendly and efficient. The US paperwork, USF&W Form 3-177 is very simple, the rest of the documents all come from the African side and requires no effort other than to collect and send to USF&W. We did not have any CITES animals so this was about as simple an import process as it gets I imagine. Other than the $50 storage fee to Swissport, I was not charged any inspection fees by Customs or USF&W. Other than the Department of Agriculture inspecting the crate upon arrival, which I understand they do with all imports, neither Customs not USF&W chose to inspect it. I’m glad I chose to clear it myself and now know it’s pretty darn easy and I saved my friend and me some money.

How can anyone only have $8 in their wallet?

Good job Adam. I might try this if I ever manage to get to Africa again.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
How can anyone only have $8 in their wallet?

Because he'd been on a safari...and came home $7 under budget.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
How can anyone only have $8 in their wallet?

He has a wife and children?

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
How can anyone only have $8 in their wallet?

Because it was not a custom made elephant skin wallet....

Adam:

Since you know the ropes now and I'm such a good guy, I'll just get my next shipment sent via you.

Kidding aside, I do salute anyone who successfully negoiates the government. Way to go!

Now all of us around Atlanta will be contracting with Adam to get our stuff cleared.

Surprising that it was that easy since last year I had to get my guns since they came into Atlanta without me, I was put in a hospital in PR on the way back. It took me a week just to find out where and who had my rifles. Delta did not seem to know they had them in cargo holding area but Customs was great, they knew where and who had them and helped me get thru the whole hassle.

Good on ya, Adam!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
How can anyone only have $8 in their wallet?

He has a wife and children?

Yup...and they went to Africa with me too!

In reality, why even bother carrying cash now. It's the 21st century and everyone accepts debit/credit cards (all except Swissport). I put everything on a rewards card and pay it off every month. That way I get FF miles and by paying the balance off each month I dont pay any interest.

Way to go Adam.

Good job!!

I'm going to add this to my favorites to use as a reference to clear my own next time.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
How can anyone only have $8 in their wallet?

He has a wife and children?

No way would my wife or kids leave $8 in my wallet. I get a buck or two if lucky.

In 2011 I cleared my trophies at Dulles and it was the same experience - very easy, less than two hours. Just by luck I had $50.00 cash on me as the same deal with the cargo handler.

I used Safari Air cargo as well - they are great. Mine came via Delta Air cargo - once SAC sent me the shipping info I went to Delta's web site and tracked it all the way to Dulles.

It was funny - when I told the USFWS agent I was clearing my own trophies and had hoped I done everything correctly, he laughed.. said not to worry it was easy and that he was not surprised I was worried "considering all the propaganda the brokers spew about how hard it is.." He said most of the agents he knows prefer to see the hunters clear their own trophies.. I got the impression they really did not care for the import brokers very much....

Needless to say I'm clearing mine myself again after this years trip...

quote:

but also I wanted to see what the process was like.

The key to much success in life is being willing to take a chance on the unknown...looks like panned out. Very good!!

Thanks for sharing and the information!