Sounds like people are reading a bit too much into this but still trying to get an answer regarding bringing dried cape and skull home from Azerbaijan in September.

Sounds as if Vancouver is implementing this, but not Calgary yet. Lots of confusion even at CFIA.
WTF? Since when were salted skins "high-risk"?
Will see this weekend when my next shipment arrives and I attempt to clear it.

I think your right TJ. I posted it thinking the same thing but if it does start giving traveling hunters a hard time I figured best to get it out there.

My same thoughts on the Azerbaijan hunt as well but I don't think they will be dried by the time you leave unless you plan on shipping them.

Most hunters just put it in a container or duffle bag and bring it home. I plan on that with mine. It will save you some hassle and cost I think bringing it with you.

I would hope they will be dried.

Trying to get an answer now if bringing them home as baggage is still an option...hopefully it is as it was before.

Keep us posted in what you find out. In the SCI Canada email that came out yesterday they mention that not only are trophies originating from the US exempt but also all of the EU, New Zealand and a number of other designated countries. I am trying to find the list to see who the "other designated countries" are. Hoping Turkey is one of them.

Found the list here:

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/an...587424/1306649135327

Sad not to see Azerbaijan on the list. I've got a couple people digging deeper into this so hopefully some answers surface soon.

Turkey? Ibex?

Here is a letter that a friend wrote to his MP regarding the recent decision by the government regarding the importation of hunting trophies to Canada. Please read it and use it as a template to write your MP.

Ted
I am writing as a strong supporter (both financially and at the polls) of the Conservative party of Canada and as a voter within your riding. Recent changes (and apparently very suddenly) in importation rules with regard to international hunting trophies has me quite concerned. For years , hunters travelling internationally would have their big game trophies follow them home in the form of salted hides and associated skull/horns/antlers. The process included complete vet checks from both the international vet and a vet here in Canada upon arrival. Before any trophies left the shipping country they had to go through a complete sanitation process for entry into Canada. If the sanitization process was insufficient when it arrived into Canada, the trophies , upon inspection by Canadian vets/authorities were not released to the hunter. All charges involved were of course at the expense of the international hunter. On top of that the hunter was also obliged to pay GST on the trophy fee charged in the foreign country for each animal imported. These fees for an average trip to Africa , for example, would be in the order of $10,000 to $25,000, depending upon the animals harvested.
Apparently, the new rules for importation from many countries will now require (as of yesterday!!) FULL TAXIDERMY on all animals. I don't believe the consequences of these changes have been fully Evaluated by your government for the following reasons:

- Taxidermy in foreign countries can be anywhere from excellent to downright shoddy - leaving open the possibility of insects and disease to be much worse than treated capes (hides)

- You have now cut out a substantial amount of work for taxidermists in this country , many who rely on animals from foreign countries to "make ends meet".

- This ruling will require ridiculous costs of shipping already taxidermied animals (can you imagine the shipping cost of a fully taxidermied cape buffalo or full mount lion or leopard)
If this ruling was designed to reduce accidental insect and disease importation, I think the government is fooling themselves. I believe the problem could be much worse with already mounted animals. Of course in the back of my mind there is always a suspicion that the naïve anti-hunting lobby has something to do with the new rulings. As you well know CITIES regulations (world wide) control animal importation quotas extremely carefully.
I would very much like to hear your thoughts on these changes and the reasons behind them.

quote:

Originally posted by sheephunterab:
Sad not to see Azerbaijan on the list. I've got a couple people digging deeper into this so hopefully some answers surface soon.

Turkey? Ibex?

Yes a bit of a combo trip. Some touristy/cultural stuff and an Ibex hunt next year.

Thank goodness my Nambia trophies weren't delayed anymore than they were and cleared CFIA May 11 in Calgary.

Here what SCI sent me yesterday on this new Policy:

Good afternoon:

We at SCI-Canada have been informed that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has changed its policy concerning the importation of hunting trophies into Canada from certain countries. Very simply put, trophies that enter Canada after July 22, 2013 from Africa, for example, must be in a fully taxidermied state, meaning ready to mount on a wall or fully mounted (no other taxidermy needed). Any skins, skulls, horns etc. that are not fully taxidermied will have to be sent in specified containers to a certified taxidermist (CFIA approved) to be fully taxidermied before clearance will be issued. They will be treated like quarantined shipments. These changes do not apply to trophies taken in the U.S., New Zealand, the European Union, as well as a number of other designated countries.

Please Click here to go to the CFIA web site and see the complete policy details.

I have made enquiries with the government and with several affected people including taxidermists. In addition to the effects on travelling hunters and on our friends in the taxidermy business, I am concerned about the effect the new policy could have on the interest in and prices we can get for African hunts at our future fundraising banquets. So the first step in our strategy to try to affect these changes is to send targeted letters. I think that is the best first course of action in the current circumstances.

In order to alert the federal government that we have very serious concerns about these changes, I have sent a letter to the Minister responsible for the CFIA, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz form Saskatchewan. It is also copied to the new Environment Minister, Leona Aglukkaq who will be the new chair of the National Hunting & Angling Advisory Panel, of which SCI-Canada is a member. This letter is attached here for your information.

I have also attached a similar letter, in template form, that I would encourage you and your membership to send to Minister Ritz as well. It should also be either copied or sent directly to your respective Members of Parliament. Click here to find your MP.

The CFIA also has a formal online Complaints and Appeals process that allows stakeholders to register complaints and appeals related to quality of service, administrative errors and regulatory decisions. Please feel free to direct your membership to this online form: Complaint form:

Step two, depending upon the response I will receive from the Minister, will involve getting the support of the two parliamentary hunting caucuses. I will keep you informed.

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication. Best regards,
-Bob.

One question I have about all this is that CFIA states that the Disinfection procedures have been found to be widely fraudulent.

Has anyone ever heard of a shipment from africa being found to no be disinfected and CFIA turning it away? I would be willing to be that the reality is that this is a bureaucrat trying to intentionally trying to limit hunters from bringing back trophies to Canada.

A classic example of why people should belong to SCI Canada. Apparently the sounds of back pedaling can be heard in Ottawa right now and a new statement will be issued early next week that should be better news for international hunters but it's a great day to write your MP and let them know how displeased you are with this garbage.

The latest from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency:

Hello Everyone,

Please note: Due to confusion caused by emails that were distributed on July 8 and July 18, 2013, the CFIA wishes to clarify that there have been no regulatory changes with regards to imports of integumentary tissues as per the Importation of Integumentary Tissue (TAHD-DSAT-IE-2001-1-2).

The updated version of the CFIA policy on the Importation of Integumentary Tissue was published in January, 2013. This updated policy includes clarifications to the preceding version, however, there are no significant changes to import procedures with regard to the import of hunting trophies into Canada. The information included in this notice is for clarification purposes, and does not replace the policy in any way.

-- Imports of hunting trophies and integumentary tissues from countries other than the USA must be visually inspected by the CFIA at the port-of-landing. This includes fully taxidermied articles.

-- Products imported from the USA, do not require visual inspection, but do require a certificate of origin, and/or an SRM permit in the case of bovine sculls from bovines over 30 months of age.

-- As per the "Procedures for Importation of Integumentary Tissues" Section of the policy, Fully tanned hides and skins and professionally prepared taxidermy mounts, horns, and hooves in display form that are free from all feces, blood, dirt, and ectoparasites are eligible to enter Canada without any certification or disinfection. Any items that are found to be soiled are to be refused entry and may either be destroyed, returned to the country of origin or directed to a pre-approved premise for disinfection.

-- Items from countries that are designated as free of diseases of concern of the species of origin (other than the USA) may be released after inspection, with the appropriate zoosanitary certification, if they are found to be free of dirt, blood, feces, soil, etc. An official veterinary certificate from the competent authority is required, that fully describes the products, stating the country of origin and that the country is free of the diseases of concern. Regardless of the species of animal or type of material imported, any item that is found to be dirty or contaminated with blood, soil, vegetable material, straw, hay or manure will not be allowed entry into Canada unless directed to a pre-approved premise for disinfection.

-- Items from countries that are not designated as free of diseases of concern of the species from which they originate must be directed to a pre-approved disinfection facility for distribution after arrival. A copy of the CFIA premise approval certificate must be provided by the importer to the CFIA at the time of importation. The items must be sealed and transported directly from the port-of-landing to the pre-approved disinfection facility, in sealed leak-proof containers, under CFIA supervision. If items arrive without an approval certificate, and no premise has been pre-approved for the shipment, the items may be retained for a maximum of 30 days awaiting premises approval. If no premises approval has been obtained in 30 days, the items will be ordered removed from Canada.

For more detail, please consult the policy directly. Specific questions regarding the policy can be directed to the respective CFIA Area Import Specialist: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/an...382369/1300462438912
We regret any confusion or inconvenience any previous emails may have caused.

Regards,
Desiree
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Richmond Sub-District Office/
Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments, Bureau de sous-district Richmond
Animal Health/Santé des animaux
Tel: (604) 666-7042
Fax: (604) 666-6027
Plant Health/Santé des végétaux
Tel: (604) 666-7177
Fax: (604) 666-7170
richmond.insp@inspection.gc.ca

Well sonofabitch. I,m Canadian, there have been times when I,ve gotten dirty, gotten blood, soil, ( not entirely sure about the vegetable material..), straw or hay on me, any time you,re dealing with the government, the shits flyin for sure.

So if I kick the bucket, per these new rules, does that mean they can,t ship my carcass back home?