Has anyone brought back tanned hides in their luggage?

I brought a springbuck hide in 2005.

Dave

You will need to contact US Fish and Wildlife first and fill out a 3-177 form. You must then declare the backskin (etc) when you enter the country. Will be inspected most likely.

Risking this without the proper permit will result in confiscation and possible fine...

https://www.fws.gov/le/declaration-form-3-177.html

I brought a springbok tanned hide from Cape Town last month in my luggage. The seller gave me paperwork showing it had been legally culled and tanned. I didn't bother to declare it individually but lumped it in with curios on an oral declaration. Was never asked to show the various items. BTW, it was only $35, so I wasn't too concerned about losing it.

Do your homework at your port of entry. In the last year rules have changed in that any untanned hides must go from the Customs "receiver" to a USDA "approved" tannery. If you get a customs agent that can't tell the difference between a tanned and untanned hide be prepared to lose it.