Off to Zim on the 17th, hope to shoot a warthog. just want the ivory, is there a problem bringing ivory home in ones duffle.

Yes.

Correct

Can't be done legally.

Yep it's a no go !!!

Nick

I did it back in 2011. I put warthog and Bushpig tusks in my case but I have not done it since then.

Don't risk it.

Mike

I got the third degree on a couple in my case. Explained I just picked them up off the ground, got an eye roll and waved thru.

In 2007 I put a very large hippo tusk in my bag in Zimbabwe. When the airport folks were convinced it was indeed a hippo and not an elephant I was allowed to take the tusk. I have also taken several warthog tusks in my luggage in 2002-3-5 with no problems or even questions.

We are in different times now and I absolutely would not do so now.
Cal

I drive drunk regularly and have never been caught.

That is not true. I am trying to make a point.

Definitely would not do it... you get the one guy in Customs looking for a promotion and you are in trouble.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I drive drunk regularly and have never been caught.

That is not true. I am trying to make a point.

I asked a pal if he was driving to the bar on New Year's Eve, said hell yeah, been practicing all year gotta show up for the big game!

Ignorance was bliss for. "someone" found a recently killed porcupine in the bush, "someone" brought back LOTS of quills, put them all in the rifle case.... NO idea. (whew)

So all the examples seem to be about hunted or found dead things. . . .

What about purchasing animal part art or all the crap you can find at the airports and curio shops. . . warthog tusk bottle openers, tanned zebra hides, springbok throw pillows, etc. ????

I did purchase a painted ostrich egg last year and brought home, but they included a certificate for customs. It was a pain, but we were just waved through once we actually worked our way through the line.

So I can't buy a warthog tusk bottle opener and throw into my luggage??

Definitely a NO!

quote:

Definitely a NO!

to warthog tusk. Not sure about the trinkets from a store.

3-4 years ago, we were told that a German hunter was arrested that same day at Dar airport because he had a warthog tusk in his luggage.

I would not do it.

Got back from Namibia latter part of June. We bought a bunch of the warthog tusks that were made in bottle openers. Brought those all back, but I don't have any idea now if that was OK. I could have a sworn I read some place that as long as it was a finished piece and not a raw piece that it was fine. Now I'm totally second guessing that. This was coming back into the US. None of us were checked by customs.

You are supposed to have some kind of permit for curios made from wild animal parts. Usually the place that sells them can provide that piece of paper. But in practice, if it looks like a curio and not a trophy they are not going to bother you. Unless it's a CITES species (eg elephant hair) in which case you are in deeper doo doo.

Damm, I learn something new all the time.

I didn't think the law applied to finished goods sold for retail. I have brought back several carved tusks, a bottle opener, and ostrich egg stands made of warthog tusk. Even a pocket knife with tusk handles!

I guess I won't do that again.

I just did this in Zim a week ago.
Curios, but NOT CITIES curios, need an export permit from Zimbabwe. That is all that is required when you clear customs in the US.
Cal
PS. At least that is my experience.

FYI - The G-Men are very sensitive when it comes to the importation of non-human primates, swine, and a few other critters due to health and disease concerns. They require an additional level of inspection, reprocessing, and documentation. Personally, I would avoid packing swine and primate body parts in my luggage.

Quote from the Hunting Trophy's website:

"Dip & Pack – USDA, CDC & US Public Health

Please know that there are special documentation requirements for certain species of animals that are dip & pack only and not mounted overseas. Swine & Non-Human Primates and some Ruminants must go to a USDA Approved Establishment for reprocessing. Special Veterinary Certificates are required for dip and pack only animals of the Viverridea Family (Civet & Genet) and Rodentia Family (Porcupine & Springhare). These certificates must state what was done to render these animals non-infectious and we must submit the documentation to the USPHS for release before we can make entry with FWS. Non-Human Primates are now not required to have a valid CDC Import Permit, however, the shipment will normally require inspection by CDC for release before USDA and US FWS officials will process the shipment for release by their respective agencies."