Importing Sport-Hunted Trophies Into The U.S.A

Approved Establishment

Approved establishments are taxidermy facilities that handle specific types of processing needed to kill potential foreign animal disease viruses. They are inspected and approved annually by the USDA. The role of an Approved Establishment is to ensure sport- hunted trophies are safely imported; and to treat materials appropriately. With proper processing, disease agents are destroyed.

You need an Approved Establishment if you are bringing unfinished bird/poultry items coming from areas of the world with foreign animal diseases. Such as: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or Virulent New Castle Disease. Unfinished items must undergo special processing to protect against introducing disease into the U.S.

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service page aphis.usda.gov has information regarding foreign animal disease status; information for importing sport- hunted trophies of all kinds, directions for proper importing, and an Approved Establishment database. On their website, APHIS suggests checking with the Center for Disease Control Prevention, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service before importing.

Trip Guidance

When booking flights allow for two hours minimum to clear customs, have birds inspected, and make connecting flights. Be aware of airline baggage policies and weight restrictions if you plan to put birds in your checked luggage.

Packing Suggestions

Bring appropriate sized sealable plastic bags, and a permanent marker to label them. Consider colored zip ties to place on bird legs to ensure no confusion of ownership after a long day in the field. Bring an easy to recognize bag in case birds are placed in a large camp freezer; so they don’t get lost among others. Also, a leak proof container to bring birds home. A soft ice chest carry-on works great.

You will need information for a 1678 form from Avian Taxidermy; and a Fish and Wildlife Service Declaration for Importation 3-177 form. You can easily find a 3-177 form by searching for (3-177 form Fish and Wildlife) through google. Bring blank copies and instructions for your 3-177 form with you on your trip.

Return Travel

Complete the 3-177 form at the lodge prior to your return travel. Organize and prepare your documents, (3-177 form, 1678 form information, hunting permits, tags, and any paperwork provided by your outfitter to enter customs). Do Not Lose Paperwork, tags can not be replaced.

Hunters must import their own birds. You may use the same container for transport as another hunter; but an individual must declare their own bird. Birds must be tagged individually to include: hunter name, address, species, date collected, and location collected.

You are responsible for safekeeping and storage of your birds. Do not leave birds in the country you are visiting! If left behind, consider them gone.

Clearing Customs

When entering U.S. Customs indicate you are importing meat/animal/wildlife products, and show your documents.

Following inspection, your container will be wrapped in quarantine tape that will travel with you. At certain airports birds must be consigned back to the airline at time of import; check beforehand. They are released after the USDA and USFWS inspects them. Custom brokers must be hired to ensure trophies are returned to hunters.

Shipping Trophies

Package trophies in leak proof containers. Work with a shipping company (express mail, air cargo, etc.) to correctly identify the shipment and parties included. Your chosen Approved Establishment will be your consignee. Include all required documents. Contact customs at your airport of arrival to make arrangements for your shipment to be inspected.

Customs will review documents, and inspect the shipment to ensure your Approved Establishment is authorized to handle materials. Customs will complete a 1678 form to accompany shipment. The USDA will be notified if shipment does not arrive at the Approved Establishment. When the Approved Establishment completes required processing, trophies will be released back to the hunter as a finished mount.

Back Home

Consign your birds to a USDA Approved establishment within 10 days of your arrival home. Hand deliver or ship to Avian Taxidermy sealed in quarantine tape. If you are sending your trophies by mail, communicate in advance to Avian Taxidermy.

Penalties and confiscation are the result of smuggling (not declaring) or improperly declared wildlife. USFWS requires hunters to maintain import records for five years.