Some news from the shipping front

https://www.freightwaves.com/n...the-bad-and-the-ugly

Short summary:
-airfreight is back and moving, but struggling to find planes to travel on
-Ocean freight is as backed up as Chick-fila at lunchtime, but sadly not run as efficiently
-seems like prices will be based on availability of cargo space, combined with fuel costs

These factors, along with ever changing rules on CITES, permits, etc. further prove that it helps to have experts manage this process for you

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Short summary:
-airfreight is back and moving, but struggling to find planes to travel on
-seems like prices will be based on availability of cargo space, combined with fuel costs

Seems to me that prices are way up, I have one crate sitting in SA waiting on space, small crate...charges almost $2500.00. Likely be the last crate I have shipped home.

It’s now become a question of do you want to double the cost of a safari by paying for dip/pack, shipping, customs clearance and taxidermy. For me, it’s a simple no. The people doing these services are pricing themselves out of business....

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The people doing these services are pricing themselves out of business....

Exactly!!!!


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Originally posted by JTEX:

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The people doing these services are pricing themselves out of business....

Exactly!!!!.

Yep...

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The people doing these services are pricing themselves out of business....

Yes indeed. I had to literally argue with the last shippers in South Africa. Their shipping quotes were obscene, and they knew it when I finished with them. They cut their prices accordingly. The only reasonable shipping agent was Andy Hunter in Zimbawe. Those involved in the business: take note.

Big corporations are run by clueless "environmentalists"

They have threatened airlines to stop carrying hunting trophies or they will not use their services.

Shipping agents thought they got a golden egg laying goose.

So they up their prices, service hits rock bottom, and they think they are going to make a killing.

They did.

I have promised to never have any more trophies shipped back home.

I hope everyone involved in this shameful enterprise go bankrupt!

The downside to hunters shooting trophies and leaving them laying where shot, I know the meat will be used but heads and skins not, will be even more vitriol against hunting i.e. shooting prime specimens of animals and leaving them to rot (that's the antis take on it).

I am not a trophy hunter and prefer to shoot animals for their meat value or if it has a set of horns or antlers, just a representative head, preferable on an old animal and maybe worn down or broken. The buffalo in my avatar was used for meat and the head was pretty average. After our buffalo hunt the helicopters were brought in by the Western Australian government to cull these buffalo so leaving them to rot was not an issue in the big scheme of things.

I have asked the question on this forum in the past, what happens to trophy heads if you didn't want to take them and are you treated differently if you tell your outfitter/PH you only want to shoot old or just representative animals for photos only?

I can see the antis having a field day if they find out prime trophy animals are shot and left to rot, either way you can't win.

That is not strictly correct.

Nothing is wasted in Africa when it comes to animals.

But, as you say, the stupid antis might have another angle to play with.

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Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

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The people doing these services are pricing themselves out of business....

Yes indeed. I had to literally argue with the last shippers in South Africa. Their shipping quotes were obscene, and they knew it when I finished with them. They cut their prices accordingly. The only reasonable shipping agent was Andy Hunter in Zimbawe. Those involved in the business: take note.

"The only reasonable shipping agent was Andy Hunter in Zimbabwe."

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I hope everyone involved in this shameful enterprise go bankrupt!

My sentiments as well. I gave up bringing trophies home long ago. Pictures and memories work fine for me.

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Originally posted by Labman:

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I hope everyone involved in this shameful enterprise go bankrupt!

My sentiments as well. I gave up bringing trophies home long ago. Pictures and memories work fine for me.

I have never bought a trophy home and it is about time that if one cannot afford this process then simply relax and enjoy the sporting opportunities. Nothing goes to waste in Africa and we simply change direction.

The hunting "experience" is incredible, as you say.

The trophy is a reminder of, and a tribute to the experience.

To me, they go hand in hand. If I can't bring the trophy home......I think ill pass.

Meat hunting is a whole different thing all together, I don't need to spend the effort of travelling to Africa to hunt for meat I can't bring home.....

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A long time ago I hunted on the west side of the Selous - Residents license. We picked up an anti-poaching patrol - just for the ride - and shot a couple of kongoni. The only thing left on the ground was the contents of the gut.

Yes - NOTHING wasted,

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Originally posted by Saeed:
That is not strictly correct.

Nothing is wasted in Africa when it comes to animals.

But, as you say, the stupid antis might have another angle to play with.

With these obscene shipping costs there has to be a market opening for someone new to enter the game and do extremely well.

Perhaps most on this forum, who seem to largely be seasoned African hunters, are over bringing their trophies home. But it seems that the average first-timer to SA wants to bring home everything and have everything mounted.

Don't forget in Zimbabwe there is a 15% VAT tax on any animals shot and not exported versus the 4% if you do export. I know the 15% tax is still cheaper than the D&P/export/shipping/taxidermy.

We have trophies in Zim right now from 2019 and 2020. I told my wife if the shipping estimate is too high they can keep the heads and hides.

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The only reasonable shipping agent was Andy Hunter in Zimbawe.

Yes, he is. Good man.

I'll also point out that costs charged by clearing agents here stateside have also been ridiculous.

We're not the only ones complaining:

https://www.africahunting.com/...hipping-costs.62016/

I read an account of a pilot flying for an freighter airlines. His company was struggling big time pre-covid, preparing to file for bankruptcy. Big debts and old inefficient planes.
Covid hit, 95% of planes stopped flying because of the huge drop in passengers. But the drop on freight was much less, and the freight capacity dropped much more than the supply. So airfreight prices sky-rocketed, his company completely turned around, paid of debts, bought new planes and the sky is the limit.

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Originally posted by Gundog 64:
Don't forget in Zimbabwe there is a 15% VAT tax on any animals shot and not exported versus the 4% if you do export. I know the 15% tax is still cheaper than the D&P/export/shipping/taxidermy.

We have trophies in Zim right now from 2019 and 2020. I told my wife if the shipping estimate is too high they can keep the heads and hides.

I believe South Africa is the same.


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I am in the “we are getting hosed” camp. These prices make me question bringing things back.

I had another issue . The FL Department of Revenue hit me with a $4,000 use tax bill for some shipments a few years back. My wife just had a spinal fusion and I didn’t have the time to fight with them. I expect more .

I am seriously questioning bringing things back.

I find it interesting that this thread was started by SSI. I bet it hasn’t turned out as expected.

Prices are high?

Of course they are.

The pandemic and a struggling airline industry are to blame.

As a result, prices are high, in historical terms, in any business or industry that depends on international commerce.

In the United States, even interstate commerce has seen a significant rise in shipping costs for goods and materials.

Is there some price gouging? Of course there is.

But prices are high. To me it’s a simple matter.

First, shop around. Then, either pay the best price you find, or don’t.

They were high before the pandemic. My latest gouging incident occurred two full years before the pandemic ever started. And yes, SSI may not like a majority of the answers, but then maybe they'll take note and make things reasonable before there is nothing more to ship. Most hunters are fed up with everyone thinking that hunters are nothing more than bottomless money pits willing to accept anything that is thrown our way without questioning the price, the fee, the rate, the invoice or the bid.

Demand is so high right now that, IMHO, supply prices are and will remain inelastic for the foreseeable future.

Now is not a good time to be paying shipping costs for anything.

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Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
They were high before the pandemic. My latest gouging incident occurred two full years before the pandemic ever started. .

Yep, Africans look at Americans as walking checkbooks.....its gonna bite em in the azz.....

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The Chink virus has nothing to do with it.

It was GREED.

Pure and simple GREED!

No one puts a gun to your head.

First, shop the price.

Then, pay or don’t.

For 13 years, SSI has focused on providing accurate information to hunters: the good, the bad, and the ugly. We have posted many articles in this and other forums to help educate hunters on the ins and outs of the importation of hunting trophies. We work as advocates for our clients, doing the research and ground work to ensure that they are getting the best pricing available for shipping, while guaranteeing that their will be a smooth clearing process when the shipments arrive in the US.

We are able to secure better shipping rates than the individual hunter because we are able to consolidate multiple clients’ shipments into a larger, bulk shipment. This lowers the total cost for all shipments in the consolidation.

The Post-Covid shipping world has become an ever-changing field. SSI is able to navigate and blaze the way to get your trophies home quickly, safely, and reasonably so that our clients do not have to worry about a thing. If you have a quote on a current shipment, please send it to us and let us see if we can secure a better deal for you.

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Originally posted by larryshores:
I am in the “we are getting hosed” camp. These prices make me question bringing things back.

I had another issue . The FL Department of Revenue hit me with a $4,000 use tax bill for some shipments a few years back. My wife just had a spinal fusion and I didn’t have the time to fight with them. I expect more .

I am seriously questioning bringing things back.

Larry, personal hunting trophies should not have any tax or duty levied against them. The only items that would have a tax are any curios or other non-hunting trophy items.

I would review your bill to ensure they are not taxing you for the hunting trophies on it.

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Originally posted by Safari Specialty Importers:

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Originally posted by larryshores:
I am in the “we are getting hosed” camp. These prices make me question bringing things back.

I had another issue . The FL Department of Revenue hit me with a $4,000 use tax bill for some shipments a few years back. My wife just had a spinal fusion and I didn’t have the time to fight with them. I expect more .

I am seriously questioning bringing things back.

Larry, personal hunting trophies should not have any tax or duty levied against them. The only items that would have a tax are any curios or other non-hunting trophy items.

I would review your bill to ensure they are not taxing you for the hunting trophies on it.

They have audited me twice. The first time, they did no t assess any tax on the trophies. The second time, they did assess tax on the trophy fees listed.

I didn't have time to fight with them the second time around. It was easier to pay the tax.

I expect they will hit me again. I will fight them this time.

Bottom lime is bringing trophies home and having them mounted will double the initial cost of the hunt. Is it worth it?? Personal decision which I made years ago. Now I can make twice as many trips for the same cash outlay.....

I got ripped off a couple times with costs being padded on both sides of the ocean. The doozy was getting charged $400 for a crate to ship my trophies in that MIGHT have cost $30 tops to make.

I hunt, enjoy good friends while there, and take a lot of photos.

UPDATE: Upon retirement and downsizing, I sold off most of my 'dusty/hairy bowling trophies' for about 5 cents on the dollar as just what were my adult sons going to do with them? I kept the elephant ivory, leopard skin, 'buff, and haven't looked back. While hauling a pick-up load of european mounts of kudu, gemsbok, impala, blesbok etc to the auction site we got got some strange looks and questions while stopping at McDonalds!

SSI. Coppersmith, Hunters International, etc need to realize that they are becoming endangered species. They may fool the first timers into screwing themselves once but there comes a point where the house of cards collapses. Does anyone really want to double their cost on any given hunt?? Doubtful....

It is a misleading statement to say that companies like SSI are not needed in the hunting industry.

Individual hunters are fully capable of handling the import process of trophies themselves. Likewise, anyone is fully capable of tackling their plumbing, electrical, or heating issues themselves in order to save money. The question is if something goes wrong, do you have the knowledge, means, and ability to solve issues involving international shipping companies, export permits/documents that differ from country to country, or misinformed USFW or Customs Officers who do not know the very laws they are trying to enforce? The 96-hour window USFW gives to provide evidence to release a seized hunting trophy is not the best time to realize that you may need an expert.

SSI, unlike simple brokers that have been mentioned in this thread, provide a Concierge Service that consults and advocates for our clients from before they leave for their hunt, until their trophies are safely delivered to the final destination. SSI provides the peace of mind that your trophies will be taken care of while you return to your regular life. We do not control the pricing of shipping, the main issue that this article and discussion is about, but we can assist in securing the best pricing available by consolidating shipments whenever possible.

Hunting is our only business, thus we focus on being the premier experts in this field.

Your idea of consolidating shipments makes sense.

Also you might be able to negotiate better prices because you deal with them all the time.

But, the ultimate question is why are we even discussing it?

We get shipments from all over the world.

I have had trophies shipped many times before.

But lately trying to get a decent price from shippers when it comes to trophies the answer one gets back is obscene!

That is why I have decided they can bloody well lump it.

I will go and hunt.

But forget about bringing anything back.

Sadly, even taxidermist would be loosing too.

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Originally posted by Safari Specialty Importers:
It is a misleading statement to say that companies like SSI are not needed in the hunting industry.

Individual hunters are fully capable of handling the import process of trophies themselves. Likewise, anyone is fully capable of tackling their plumbing, electrical, or heating issues themselves in order to save money. The question is if something goes wrong, do you have the knowledge, means, and ability to solve issues involving international shipping companies, export permits/documents that differ from country to country, or misinformed USFW or Customs Officers who do not know the very laws they are trying to enforce? The 96-hour window USFW gives to provide evidence to release a seized hunting trophy is not the best time to realize that you may need an expert.

SSI, unlike simple brokers that have been mentioned in this thread, provide a Concierge Service that consults and advocates for our clients from before they leave for their hunt, until their trophies are safely delivered to the final destination. SSI provides the peace of mind that your trophies will be taken care of while you return to your regular life. We do not control the pricing of shipping, the main issue that this article and discussion is about, but we can assist in securing the best pricing available by consolidating shipments whenever possible.

Hunting is our only business, thus we focus on being the premier experts in this field.

Thank you Robert for a nice reply.

I have met and talked to Robert and his wife a few times over the years. I believe that he provides a quality service to international hunters.

Anyone who is thinking about shipping your trophies from Africa or another country, needs to sit and think about, do I want to do this myself or have a professional do it for me.

How many on here do their own taxes, or do you hire a professional to do it for you. I could do my own taxes, however I hire a professional to do it for me.

Most on here know that Africa basically shut down in December and things slow down at that time.

One year my hunt was in September, with the 90 day waiting period to clear the inspection stage and be inspected for shipment, that put it toward the end of November. Well, my trophies were boxed for transport, I paid all the dip and pack and shipping. All the paperwork is completed and I am provided the information on my shipment. My container went into a dark hole and disappeared. My items was moved to the area for air transport and now it is December. MY box is buried behind other containers to be shipped and forgotten. Email's were sent to my importer and the shipper in Africa. Nothing is coming out of Africa as far as information is concerned. My importer is not able to get a response. We move into January and they are responding to emails and now want to be paid again to ship my container. I provide the information that they were paid and they find everything. Now the new cost to ship my container cost more, as pricing has increased. My importer was now working on my shipment as contact has finally be reached. The container was shipped and it did not cost me any additional money. My importer was helping and working with me to make the shipment happen.

Another year my hunt was in August, and with the 90 day waiting period to clear the inspections for the shipment to be a go. This shipment was in play in November and the dip and pack and shipping were all addressed. My container was in the air lands in Atlanta for initial inspection and it disappears. My importer was on it right away. The container could not be located in Atlanta and the search was on. It container is found in January, and customs has now charged storage. We are talking right at 6 weeks of storage costs. My importer was able to have the storage charges dropped and my container was on it way to San Francisco.

So if you ask me hiring a professional to clear your trophies is the way to go. Stay involved, however let the professionals do the working for you.

I have also learned to try and not book a hunt in August or September if I plan to bring back my trophies. However if I have the taxidermy work completed in Africa, I work with the taxidermist to schedule my work to be completed between February to July.

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Originally posted by Overland:
With these obscene shipping costs there has to be a market opening for someone new to enter the game and do extremely well.

Perhaps most on this forum, who seem to largely be seasoned African hunters, are over bringing their trophies home. But it seems that the average first-timer to SA wants to bring home everything and have everything mounted.

The issue is the lack of planes because there are a lot less passenger flights right now. Most air cargo goes in the bottom of passenger jets. Over 50% of the cargo space on any passenger jet is composed of non passenger cargo.

Some shipping companies and even airlines are pulling older jets into the hangers, stripping their interiors and fitting cargo decks to convert them to carry cargo only to help with the problem but this is a time consuming and not inexpensive conversion that will take some time to alleviate the cargo backlog.

SSI, I sent you a PM