I went ahead and shipped 10 trophies from Cape Town via ocean. Coming into Los Angeles. I was thinking of trying to clear customs myself vice hiring an agent. Does anyone have a step by step process that they can share so that I avoid any problems/delays? The trophies are only Nyala, Zebras, Kudus, Bushbucks, Impalas, and Blesbuck.
Or will the hassle be so much that its better to hire an agent?
Thanks

There was another thread on this awhile back. Some think the money for an agent is well-spent. I don't agree. Last summer, my wife and I cleared our seven trophies through customs and fish and wildlife at Baltimore. It took us a couple of hours, but it was easy to do. I hate paying someone $500 to do something that easy.

What you need to do is go to the shipper who has your cargo, get the documentation (which I hope will be in order), and then take the documentation to customs and fish and wildlife for clearance. They were very nice and helpful in Baltimore. If your documentation is not in order, no customs clearing firm can help you very much anyway. After you get the clearances, you then return to the shipper and pick up your crates. Block out a day to do this, depending upon how far you have to travel to L. A. If you do a search, you might be able to find the other thread. I am not good at navigating this search engine.

Thanks Patrkyhntr

Dont know about facilities at the harbor,but did it at LAX without any problems about 2 w ago

hi-
i did it out of lax. you will have to go to 3 places. first the cargo company you are getting your shipment from. pick up the papers from them. then you will go to USFWS (fish and game office) then you will go to customs. i don't remember if i went to customs first or after the DFG but they will tell you. both offices are pretty close if i remember correctly.

just make sure you have the real names of the animals. like a kudu is "tragelaphas strepsiceros." also if that zebra is a hartmann's zebra you will also have to fill out a CITIES II permit.

it is real easy if your paper work arrives with the animals. i'd say it took me about 2 hours. most of that is standing in line.