Just talked to US Fish and Wildlife today and my CITES import permit for my Leopard taken in Mozambique in September has been issued and is on it's way!! I didn't apply for the permit until December, so didn't think that was too bad time wise for them to get it in order.

My shipment from September has been in RSA for over a month waiting on this permit for shipment to the States. Less than 5 months is a real good turnaround time if you ask me.

Now it's wait and see if all the paperwork is in order for our import folks. Don at Coppersmith in Dallas seems to always get things figured out and on to New Mexico.

I really feel for those of you out there with the stories of 18 months or more and still no trophies. Good luck with that!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

You did not apply and get your CITES permit until 'after' you got back home? Or am I misunderstanding your post. I had to apply for an extension as my leopard took so long to make it's way home from Zimbabwe. The year expiration date lapsed before it shipped.

Congrats Larry. I understand that in the past it has been difficult to get leopard trophies out of Moz.

I shot my leopard in Zimbabwe in August 2009. I applied for the CITES permit in mid-October and got it just before Christmas. The taxidermy in Zimbabwe had already contacted me and Coppersmith that they were ready as soon as I got the permit. I was a little slow getting the permit to Coppersmith, I think mid January. My trophies are on the way to the USA now. If I had not been slow on applying for the CITES permit and then getting it to Coppersmith, I would probably already have the trophies here in North Carolina.

Vandy- I too, applied for leopard cites after the fact. I would suggest doing so quickly after your return. One big issue is to make sure the cites issued in Zimbabwe and the one you apply for in the US have exactly the same information on them. Any slip up there and you could lose your skin. Hunter International Brokerage caught this problem for me in 2008 and I still had time to reapply for the change.

Congrats Larry...hope it all continues to go so smooth...

Vandy, that is correct that I didn't apply for the permit until after I returned home. I waited until my shipment was about 45 days out of being ready to ship and applied. This would have been spot on without the Holidays and the 7 day or so "shut down" of Govt. offices due to the snow storm. No problem, the shipment is sitting ready to go, just waiting for the copy of CITIES to get there and then it's off to Dallas.

Don't tell Steve about this as he doesn't understand how this works on this side of the pond?

Thanks all and will post back when the trohpies are in hand.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by vandyboy:
You did not apply and get your CITES permit until 'after' you got back home? Or am I misunderstanding your post. I had to apply for an extension as my leopard took so long to make it's way home from Zimbabwe. The year expiration date lapsed before it shipped.

It ain't at your house just yet.

Rich

Rich - That is correct, snarled in the "Ice Storm Shutdown" mailing system. I'll let you know when my hot little hands are on it.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
It ain't at your house just yet.

Rich