Has anyone cleared their own trophy shipment at DFW and if so...how much trouble was it and has anyone used a customs broker at DFW? We hav always in the past had our shipment sent to Houston for clearance, but I would like to attempt sending it to DFW if it is feasible.

Talk to Don Truly at Coppersmith in Dallas. Phone # 972-262-0539. They have cleared 14 Safari shipments for me over the years. I would guess they clear a lot more trophy shipments than Houston each year??

I personally wouldn't attempt to clear trophies myself, too many unknowns and unless you lived within a few minutes of DFW would drive you nuts running back and forth to jump through all the hoops. The brokerage fee they charge for doing all of this correctly is a small amount compared to the overall Safari cost.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

I agree with Larry, Coppersmith is an excellent choice and I have used them often over the years. I have also cleared my own trophies, but I am close to the airport, but the guys there are not friendly and will make you wait if they are in the wrong mood. Coppersmith does it daily, knows the guys at F&G and make the process very simple. Don Truly is indeed a very good guy to have clear your stuff and well worth the fee.

Yeah we send a lot of shipments into DFW and Don handles most of them it. Never a problem!!

don T

I am about an hour from DFW, but don't want to make several trips, so it looks like Coopersmith it is....unless Dave wants to do it for me.

I'm an hour from JFK,and have done my own.

The Gov't types ain't to friendly and found them to be frustratingly not helpful until I found a supervisor.

Having more time than money at that moment;it was an interesting learning curve.Gave me a better understanding of customs brokers in general and the hastles involved.

Flora+Fauna did the next trip

+ another one for Don, I had problems in the past with a shipment and Coppersmith was the only one to help me even though it was not their fault.

I have cleared several shipment of trophies myself. It is not a big deal. I did it when I lived in Seattle and did it again going through Atlanta. Your shipment is already inspected by Agriculture vets when it first comes in. What you will do is fill out a declaration form by USFWS. They inspect the shipment then you take it customs they clear it and you are on your way. It takes about an hour. One problem is pigs. After clearing they must be shipped to a Agriculture approved Taxidermist or Tannery for processing. You make not take any pigs with you. Primates are the other problem. But, not a big deal as long as export paperwork (cites and health certificates are in order. As long as the people shipping your trophies have complied with all the export requirments that is by country of origin and U.S. I do not see a problem and you fill out the proper paperwork for USFWS. The inspectors havey always been very helpful. I have always contacted them ahead of time and told them when it was coming in and get the import paper work filled out of ahead of time.

But, if you do not feel comfortable doing I would do as previous posters advise.

It sll boils down to what you are bringing home. I used Coppersmith in 2008, but we were also bringing back some CITES animals from my father's hunt in 2001. We did renew permits, but could not get the Bontebuck back, as the landowner had died. It costs you, but worth it in the long run.

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
It sll boils down to what you are bringing home. I used Coppersmith in 2008, but we were also bringing back some CITES animals from my father's hunt in 2001. We did renew permits, but could not get the Bontebuck back, as the landowner had died. It costs you, but worth it in the long run.

What he said. If you are bringing plainsgame, non-cites animals its pretty easy. Animals like baboons and Warthogs can be a pain as you have to send them to a taxidermist registered with the USDA that can spray them for hoof and mouth and other diseases (may be other species, call the customs agency in Dallas to confirm which animals are a problem). I have done them myself when they came through Dallas and it took about 30 minutes. When my skins from this recent trip come in, they are coming through New York so I am using a clearance agency.

Yes, to Don at Coppersmith.

All you need for a real cluster is to have some very small detail wrong on paperwork done by PH ,Game Dept, African vet,African customs and who knows who else or shipping company to have a real problem. Problems that can be frustrating and cost both time and money. I hear all the time complaints on shipping company's issues on this forum. I let Coppersmith arrange shipping. Never a problem. Suppose I could do it all myself but what is the value of my time ? Not to say they can arrange the cheapest African shipping. But I have received all shipments in a timely fashion. Coppersmith gets to see a lot of shipping companys and their service or lack of.... They also see the costs and have saved us more money and heartache than what we have ever paid them by selecting shippers who have preformed. Ofter it is cheaper in the long run to have a pro avoid pitfalls and iron out the unexpected.

May I suggest a trip sometime to a customs center and get a tour or just a chat with an agent. Most will be surprised at the number of trophies in limbo..or worse.

Remember, if shipping from Africa it is different and it is after all.... still Africa.

First time I cleared them myself at said airport... not a problem. i thought it was stupid I was going to pay someone to do this... But I like adventure and I have a lot of patience.

Sencond time I got some kind of exception through Jonahs brothers in Colorado and the shipment came to my house. I still don't understand how that worked but it did.

Aaron

Thanks to all of you for the help and advice....

I cleared through Atlanta plains game from Namibia. No problems, took about an hour. Going to Moz in September and plan to do the same.

I can also recommend Ronnie Williams at Artistic & Realistic Taxidermy in Lewisville. He's a licensed customs broker as well as an outstanding taxidermist.

I've cleared a couple of shipments myself through DFW. I didn't find it hard, and I must have caught the guys at Fish & Game on their good days as they weren't even unfriendly.

But now I'm sort of spoiled; I find it very convenient not having to deal with the trophy until it's ready to go on the wall.

He may not the best solution for someone in Waxahachie as he's on the wrong side of the metroplex.