Interesting:

http://www.justelephant.com/index.html

Thanks, Ann.

My tracker this year made me one as a gift, but I was afraid to try to bring it back, especially since I wasn't even hunting ele. Thanked him and gave it to the PH when the tracker wasn't around so as not to insult him -- believe me I loved the bracelet and it was wonderfully done.

Was probably the right call from a legality standpoint, but I want that bracelet. Thanks for a source.

but will one make it through Customs when it arrives stateside??

Says right on their website that you will get your bracelets all legal, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Says right on their website that you will get your bracelets all legal, etc.

I guess I should also believe the websites which guarantee certain parts of my body will grow four inches.

Sorry... couldn't resist.

it also says that the hairs are gathered from ancient elephant paths !!!!! i need to look harder becaiuse i havent found any yet

from their site .....

Elephant hair bracelets are created by using hair from the tail of an elephant. This hair is collected along the paths that elephants walk and at watering holes. Elephants walk along the same paths for many years -some paths are as old as 200 years although modern man has had a severe impact on the ecology.
The hair is then purchased from the South African equivalent of Fish And Wildlife. Over the years Francis has designed and developed numerous styles to suit the requirements of the market.

We sell over 2000 bracelets each month which go all over the world.


Its must be some hairy elephant paths

I have taken broken/worn elephant hair bracelets back to Zim for repair. Always just either put them in my pocket or had them on as I went thru customs.

Also brought new ones back, all from elephants I shot.

No problrms so far.

BigB

I would just put it in my luggage, no problem with 6 of them so far.

Yes, BUT did you claim them on your customs forms when re-entering the U.S.? It specifically asks about animal parts/products. Checking the "NO" box then having them find the bracelets in your luggage or pocket will prove to be quite problematic!

At a waterhole in a riverbed one day, between 3 trackers, myself and the client, picked up enough hairs to make a dozen 10 strand bracelets.
It would appear that a herd had parked itself in the shade of the overhanging branches and spent quite some time 'swinging tail'

quote:

Yes, BUT did you claim them on your customs forms when re-entering the U.S.? It specifically asks about animal parts/products. Checking the "NO" box then having them find the bracelets in your luggage or pocket will prove to be quite problematic!

Oh Crap, I must have missed that question.
I have been rousted by customs twice, once for cigars, they took them, and once I forgot my 4457 while hunting sheep in Canada, after the lecture they let it go.

what's the verdict? I was planning on wearing mine over for good luck and if successful hoping to bring one or two home. Need some of the "elephant guys" to speak up..

quote:

Originally posted by ivan carter:
it also says that the hairs are gathered from ancient elephant paths !!!!! i need to look harder becaiuse i havent found any yet

The difference being you looking for elongated teeth four foot off the ground and thin little brown things on the ground.

My tracker made me 4 of them out of the tail hair of the elephant I took 2 years ago. I put them in my luggage and didn't have a problem. I usually wear one hunting, get on the plane with it and still have it when I get home. No problems.

I bought 4 bracelets last year in Zim. Was wearing one and had the others in my luggage. No custom problems. Didn't really dawn on me that it could have been a headache if customs knew about them until I was back stateside.

I went through customs 2 yrs. ago wearing 1 I bought in the airport.
Nothing was said.
Then gave it away. Since I didn't kill it, it just didn't mean anything to me.

In Swakopmund I bought a 10 strand bracelet for $75Namibian (under $10US). I didn't think there was a problem bringing it back.

If you are taking any elephant products, rifle case, cartridgebelt, boots or bracelets you can go to Customs and have a Form 4457 filled out for it.

You describe what it exacrly is on the form.

Then if asked about it you can produce the forum.

Once upon a time, a few years ago the Federal Fish and Game people came to the Dallas Safari Show.

A vendor form Africa had a bunch of elephant bracelets for sale. Many of them had Gold on them as well. The F&G guy cut all of them up in small pieces, giving the gold back to the vendor. No arrest was made, but technically he couold have been arrested.

This is not a rumor, I was present and saw it happen and talked to both the vendor and the Federal F&G guy...

Same applies to things made out of elephant ivory that you can buy in some parts of Africa. You can not bring it in.

You can legally [unless it hss been recently changed] bring back things like giraffe hair bracelets, giraffe bone items, warthog and hippo ivory items.

so tell the assholes it is giraffe hair and see if they want to run DNA tests on it while you wait...