TROPHIES – FIELD PREPARATION TAXIDERMY – SHIPPING

In camp all your trophies will be measured, documented and clearly tagged, skins washed, dry salted and disinfected, skulls are cleaned using the maceration method which involves soaking the skull in water in order to allow natural bacteria break down the bond between the tissues.  Once your bow hunt trophies are properly dried we deliver to the Namibia Taxidermy of your choice, this service is free of charge.

All trophies are delivered to a Namibia Taxidermy, who will disinfect and pack your trophies for shipping or prepare, tan and mount your trophies to your specifications.

Trophies for dip & ship are cleaned and bleached by a taxidermist as no meat or fat may occur on any skulls and no juices from horns may occur. Trophies must remain in Namibia for a minimum of 90 days before shipping. No raw trophy skins and/or skulls can be exported without being dried and treated in Namibia.

The Namibian Taxidermist will require a deposit for Full body or shoulder animal mounts and European skull mount trophies before commencing with the taxidermy work, the full amount is due before they deliver the completed and packed crate to the shipper in Windhoek.

All crates for shipping your trophies from Namibia must be constructed from processed wood - no natural wood may be exported.

African souvenirs and curios made from wood are allowed to be exported with your trophies in the same box crate.
Trophies from bow hunters that are unrelated, in other words with different surnames, can not be packed together in one crate for the USA. To date this is not a regulation for any European countries.

A mix of mounted trophies and trophies that are only prepared for dipping & shipping are allowed to be crated together.
All warthog-related products must be packed in a separate box, inside the main box of trophies. No skeletons of animals can be exported - only skulls, horns and skins.

Please ensure your US Taxidermist is a duly USDA approved facility or that they have a US Clearing Agent who can clear and import un-worked (dipped) Baboon & Warthog trophy parts which are subject to special US import requirements with regard to treatment and packaging.

Any processed and/or unprocessed bird products (feathers and/or ostrich eggs) are subject to special and approved treatments.

Usually fully mounted and/or tanned trophy parts, unless specially protected game species can be imported into most countries without any complications.

Most destination countries insist on proof of “bona fide hunting trophies". If CITES Species are included in your trophy shipment, ensure that all trophy parts subject to Cites permits are hunted on a valid Namibian Trophy Hunting Permit.

Trophies that may not be exported from Namibia:
-All kinds of snakes or reptiles, non-huntable game birds and game animals not permitted on a Ministry of Environment (MET) trophy-hunting permit.
-Leopard, Lion and Cheetah caught in snares, cages and hunted with dog packs or which does not have the appropriate tags and photographs signed by the bowhunter.

VIERANAS SAFARIS can unfortunately not accept any responsibility for damage or loss after your field prepared trophies were signed over to the Taxidermy or Shipping freight agent.  We will be glad to assist our bowhunters in the event of a complaint.

Please remember, that many shipping and import requirements are subject to regular changes and new conditions..

USEFULL LINKS:

Namibia Shipping Agent - Namibia Safari Services, Windhoek.
Namibia Taxidermist - Retoma Taxidermy, Outjo.
U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Guidelines and Regulations for Hunters Importing Personal Sport-hunted Trophies from Africa: 

• Australia and New Zealand:
  -The import of all products of animal origin is subject to stringent import requirements. Raw un-worked trophies require special treatment and treatment certificates.
  -It is absolutely advisable that a registered taxidermist is engaged for proper import guidance and support.
  -Trophies for multiple hunters can be packed and shipped together.
• European Union States:
  -New EU import requirements stipulate, that all un-worked (dipped) trophy parts must originate via a EU "Traces" System registered company i.e. Namibian Taxidermist or official treatment station.
  -It is advisable, that un-worked trophies are addressed to a registered taxidermist.
  -Trophies for multiple hunters can be packed and shipped together.

Registered European Union ports of entry (restrictions apply with regards to registered veterinary ports of entries):
Frankfurt & Munich (served directly from Windhoek, Namibia)
London, Paris, Madrid, Brussels, Vienna, Copenhagen, Torino, Zurich, Oslo, Stockholm, Warsaw and Lisbon.

• United States of America:
  -Most hunting trophies imported from Africa must come through a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated port. Under limited circumstances, you may be authorized under permit to use a port that does not normally handle wildlife trade.
  -You must show that using one of the esignated ports would result in substantial deterioration or loss of the wildlife, or would cause undue economic hardship. If you are importing your trophy through a non-designated port, you must have a copy of your valid port exception permit.

US Fish & Wildlife designated ports of entry for hunting trophies into the United States of America:
Anchorage, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle.
Denver CO, are subject to a US FWS port exception permit.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Regulations:

You must file a Declaration for Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife (Form 3-177) with our wildlife inspectors at an authorized FWS port of entry and receive clearance before U.S. Customs and Border Protection releases your shipment.
You may file your declaration electronically (https://edecs.fws.gov/) or in hard copy form (form available at: http://www.fws.gov/le/ImpExp/faqs.htm).

We will charge a premium fee for inspecting your protected species trophy when you clear it through a designated port during normal business hours. You will pay both base inspection and premium fees if you use a port exception permit. You will pay overtime fees if you import outside of normal business hours. The Service also charges a fee when you apply for CITES or other wildlife import permits.

If your trophy animal is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), you will need an original valid CITES export document from the country of export or re-export. If the animal is listed on CITES Appendix I (for example, leopard), you also need an original import permit from the United States. You must obtain this permit from the Service before you import your trophy.

Trophies must be imported into the United States before all of your documents expire, and your CITES documents must be validated upon export by the foreign country’s inspecting officials. Your CITES documents must contain the information required by our regulations. See our guidance at: http://www.fws.gov/le/ImpExp/Info_Importers_Exporters.htm.

Import of Sport-hunted Trophies of Southern African Leopard, African Elephant, and
Namibian Southern White Rhinoceros. http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-19.pdf

If you import worked, manufactured or handicraft items made from your trophy for use as clothing, curios, ornamentation, jewelry, or other utilitarian items, you must have CITES documents that indicate a purpose other than hunting (H) for the items (i.e., personal, commercial). If you plan to import curios or other items either separately or in your trophy shipment that you purchased while overseas, be aware that there might be restrictions on what you can import.

You must follow all permit conditions and make sure your trophies are tagged or marked as required. For example, crocodile or leopard skins must have a CITES tag inserted through the skin and locked in place using the locking mechanism of the tag. A mounted trophy must be accompanied by the tag from the skin used to make the mount. CITES documents must contain all the information that appears on the CITES tag.

You should be aware that there are several U.S. wildlife laws that may restrict the import of your trophy. If the animal is protected by the Endangered Species Act (for example, leopard, brown hyena or bontebok), you will need to obtain an endangered species import permit before importing your trophy. You can find the list of endangered species at: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/wildlife.html. Some bird trophies (for example, hoopoe) may need permits under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. You can find the list of migratory birds at: http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/intrnltr/mbta/mbtintro.html.

Many countries require export permits for wildlife, even for species not protected under CITES. Be sure to check with the exporting country for any additional requirements. Importing trophies without permits required by a foreign country is a violation of U.S. law.

Many hunting trophies are subject to requirements and restrictions enforced by other U.S. federal agencies.

General import requirements for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can be found at: http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/import/infrequent_importer_info/. If you are exporting and re-importing any guns, you should register with CBP before you go (http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/register_items.xml).

You can find animal import information for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/NCIE/, including specific guidelines for importing ruminant, swine and bird trophies. Hunters should be aware that some shipments may need to be consigned and shipped to a USDA approved establishment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have restrictions on the import of animals that might be vectors, hosts or agents of disease. You can find information on these restrictions, in particular, on African rodents, non-human primates, and civets at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/animal.htm.

For additional information, contact:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Office of Law Enforcement
Phone: 703-358-1949
Fax: 703-358-2271