Just saw this on SCI's "In the Crosshairs" Called my USDA inspector, it is true:

More on Trophy Imports from Europe
Recent discussions between SCI representatives, trophy importers and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) indicate that trophies of deer and other ruminants coming into the U.S. from Europe will be cleared for entry by APHIS if they are labeled as hunting trophies and are marked to show that the trophy is clean and dry.

Window.....

Stay tuned to this spot.

I am currently working with a German Taxidermist and Forwarding Agent who receives 3-5 containers of Trophies annually from South Africa.

For European clients we have realized a huge Forwarding/Transportation savings as we wait until a container is full in Africa and then ship to Germany. The clients are then charged their "Portion" of the total container cost at a considerable cost savings versus induvidual shipments.

Our current time schedule is about 7-12 months from the animals demise until it's hanging on the client's wall, depending on when the container is shipped. Naturally more containers are shipped in September-November time frame due to the preferred Africa hunting months of June-August. This accelerates the schedule. A delay is incurred when the hunting is sorta "outside" of the main seasons.

Currently we are researching the potential cost savings and administration of receiving trophy shipments for both Europe & North America and then ultimately forwarding the North American clients their trophies in a full container. We haven't ironed it all out yet but we are working on it.

Gerry, I am also interested in what savings you may be able to come up with. I have a small lot of trophies (one eland shield mount, one set of Waterbuck horns, skull and cape and one tanned jackal skin). Normally SAC arranges for me to transit through Belgium because the French agents qualified to forward trophies (and do all the paperwork and customs etc.) are a ripoff. What can you tell me? It is for forwarding to France of course.