I will be traveling from B.C. in August returning into the US from Calgary, Alberta to Dallas, Texas. Any issue with carrying Sheep horns and cape in luggage? Do I need any special paperwork and is it allowed? Or, should I ship them back and use a broker, but I rather not.

I am guessing from you post you are planning on killing a ram on a hunt in BC? You should have no problems as long as you killed the ram and the sheep is accompanying you with your cancelled tag and licence. The ram will have to go through compulsory inspection and get a plug in the horns with an identifying number prior to it being exported.

Your outfitter should be filling you in on this and will know exactly what has to be done prior to your leaving with the trophy.

There is a USDA form to fill out at the US Customs when you reenter the US. Your outfitter can/should be able to provide that for you as well.

Hello Bearhunter you sound as though Canadian paper work is all you need. Yes you do need Canadian paper work but you must also clear your trophy with USF&Wildlife at a port of entry
if you have it with you and this must be the first time you land on US soil. I think Dallas is a port of entry but you need to talk with fish & wildlife before you go. They are probably only available during working hours. But do talk with them first and you may be able to clear it yourself. Several years ago a group of us came home from Russia with bear hides to New York with all the proper paper work and arrangments had been made to meet the broker
{fauna & flora} which we did at about 3 in the afternoon, he called fish and wild life to come and they said they would after about an hour he called back and fish & wildlife said they were not coming as it would run them into overtime. We were a group of 8 and a day late leaving Russia, new tickets were issued and one fellow went through Atlanta he had his bear in 3 days the rest of us waited 30 days for ours. What I am trying to tell you is it has a lot ot do with the agent you get and luck and we also paid the broker $500.00 each. But do talk with fish & wildlife ahead of time at the port of entry you intend to use. Good luck

I cleared my stones and dalla sheep in calgary airport. Just brought my mule deer back this nov. once you go thru customs, they will send you into a room to have fish and wildlife and gun people then on your way. Seems as if my sheep were both plugged before we got to the airport.

Brent

Brent you mean you did not have to clear with
fish and wildlife here in the states on your
return.

That is correct. I remember the dalls sheep getting plugged in watson lake, yukon. I stuck it and cape in backpack, it was salted but not real dry. Cleared everything in vancouver. I can not remember the stones, it was 12 years ago. This past nov, the mule deer skull and frozen, not salted cape, was all cleared in clagary. As soon as you go thru the immigration line you are in the US. Rifles, luggage, animals, all taken care of right there. Had animal in a totes type of tub, the looked at it for a couple seconf
Ds and i closed it back up. Sheep would probably have to be plugged prior to airport.

Brent,

Thank you.I have heard the same from one other, but was not sure how it worked. I contacted US Fish & Wildlife, but had no definite answers. I have a 7am flight on American Airlines out of Calgary and hope to have a sheep and yes, plugged in BC. Should I get to airport extra early? And will someone be there at that time of day from USF&W in Calgary? I hate not knowing and do not wish to chance having it seized. Thanks again.

Don't forget you are dealing with Gov't employees, likely 8;00am to 4;30pm types.
You may want to call and check that out for sure;


U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency Calgary
403 221 1634
1 703 526 4200

quote:

Originally posted by Bearhunter:
Brent,

Thank you.I have heard the same from one other, but was not sure how it worked. I contacted US Fish & Wildlife, but had no definite answers. I have a 7am flight on American Airlines out of Calgary and hope to have a sheep and yes, plugged in BC. Should I get to airport extra early? And will someone be there at that time of day from USF&W in Calgary? I hate not knowing and do not wish to chance having it seized. Thanks again.

I got to airport at 4am for a 7 am flight. The ticket counter did not open until 5. Big. Sign do not arrive MORE than 90 min before flight. Kinda backwards to what we hear here. Be in line early, get thru customs early and should be ok. Back hide and horns in a box you can get into. I used a large tote, we had two mulie skull/horns and capes. I had it taped, but before i went in i poked 4holes so i could zip tie the lid down when fish and wildlife got down.

It always makes me nervous, but it always works out. You will be dealing with US agents.

Brent

Again, thanks for the information. Much appreciated.

This is news to me, but that is what this
Forum is for. Thanks again Saeed