Exporting a Moose head out of Canada

[R eight]

Not too sure if this is the correct section for this? And, hopefully I’m not putting the mockers on myself asking this question before I’ve killed a moose.
Anyway, after 2 unsuccessful moose hunts in Alaska I’m heading off to BC . On my third, and probably final, attempt for a moose.

So, if the planets align and I’m successful I’d like to try and fly the (cleaned) skull and antlers home with me as excess baggage. The main thing that I would like to know is if any Canadian government paper work/permits are required.

Also, any recommendations for a Canadian taxidermist should my DIY project become too onerous.

Hopefully, I’ll be trying to get the head to Australia.

Thanks

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Not too sure if this is the correct section for this? And, hopefully I’m not putting the mockers on myself asking this question before I’ve killed a moose.
Anyway, after 2 unsuccessful moose hunts in Alaska I’m heading off to BC . On my third, and probably final, attempt for a moose.

So, if the planets align and I’m successful I’d like to try and fly the (cleaned) skull and antlers home with me as excess baggage. The main thing that I would like to know is if any Canadian government paper work/permits are required.

Also, any recommendations for a Canadian taxidermist should my DIY project become too onerous.

Hopefully, I’ll be trying to get the head to Australia.

Thanks

Your guide is the person to ask about Canadian regs. He will know. But you need to check on your end too. Livestock is big business down there and I'm sure the Australian govt is fussy about inspecting animal parts. May be a quarantine involved if the skull is not treated. And of course the airlines undoubtedly have their requirements for packing.

We have a small taxidermist business and only do a couple of moose skulls a year. The design of the skull makes them a HUGE pain in the arse to cook and clean. We charge up to $700, mostly because I don't want to mess with them. But we're the only taxidermist for hundreds of miles that does moose euros so some folks do pay it. I wouldn't. We encourage people to go cap mount. Moose skulls are huge and, in my opinion, not very attractive.

 

[R eight]

Your guide is the person to ask about Canadian regs. He will know. But you need to check on your end too. Livestock is big business down there and I'm sure the Australian govt is fussy about inspecting animal parts. May be a quarantine involved if the skull is not treated.

I’ve got the Australian end pretty well covered. As to asking the guide……well, from my experience with Alaskan guides, I think I can safely say that their knowledge of matters pertaining to export of trophies is a tad light on.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I’ve got the Australian end pretty well covered. As to asking the guide……well, from my experience with Alaskan guides, I think I can safely say that their knowledge of matters pertaining to export of trophies is a tad light on.

That's surprising. Drop your B.C. guy a line and see what he says. The BC ministry of natural resources (or equivalent) should have something on their website. I'll take a look. My daughter has taxidermy connections out there. Maybe she can contact someone. I suspect the big issue may be packaging. For dip and pack hides to come into this country, the stuff has to be in a special leakproof sealed container. If Australia has similar restrictions, finding something like that large enough for a moose skull might be difficult.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

This will help you get started.

Animals harvested in Canada or abroad: application forms - Canada.ca

The forms are to be used for specimens of animals which were harvested in Canada or abroad.

www.canada.ca

 

[R eight]

This will help you get started.

Animals harvested in Canada or abroad: application forms - Canada.ca

The forms are to be used for specimens of animals which were harvested in Canada or abroad.

www.canada.ca

Thanks. Much appreciated

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Thanks. Much appreciated

You thanked me prematurely. The pdf forms do not open. Govt updated the process without removing the old 2014 stuff. Now we are supposed to do CITES application for import/export of hunting trophies directly on their site. But guess what ... it also doesn't work! Can't input anything. Apparently the new and improved site has been up like this through the pandemic ... when govt workers were all on an extended coffee break at their home work stations.

I have to wonder if this isn't an on purpose accident of the current bleeding heart Liberal govt. I try to be nonpartisan but this bunch of nincompoops has really pushed me over the edge.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Export Permit - Authorization Guidance - Natural Resource Online Services

Export Permit Apply Now Contents: Overview Costs and Responsibilities What you need to apply What happens after you apply Links Tips...

portal.nrs.gov.bc.ca

Moose are not CITES animals. You’ll need the BC permit and attendant fees and inspections.

Shipping it without being split or uncrated might cost you an arm and a leg. The airline may demand it is crated. Volumetric weight on a big Moose! ?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Export Permit - Authorization Guidance - Natural Resource Online Services

Export Permit Apply Now Contents: Overview Costs and Responsibilities What you need to apply What happens after you apply Links Tips...

portal.nrs.gov.bc.ca

Moose are not CITES animals. You’ll need the BC permit and attendant fees and inspections.

Shipping it without being split or uncrated might cost you an arm and a leg. The airline may demand it is crated. Volumetric weight on a big Moose! ?

The link I posted above says federal application must be completed for export or import of ANY animal trophies, parts, fur, etc. But it doesn't work. pdf file opens blank. The feds have a new site for import application without pdf and it is not exclusive to CITES as far as I can tell (my mistake saying it was). But it also doesn't work.

 

[R eight]

Export Permit - Authorization Guidance - Natural Resource Online Services

Export Permit Apply Now Contents: Overview Costs and Responsibilities What you need to apply What happens after you apply Links Tips...

portal.nrs.gov.bc.ca

Moose are not CITES animals. You’ll need the BC permit and attendant fees and inspections.

Shipping it without being split or uncrated might cost you an arm and a leg. The airline may demand it is crated. Volumetric weight on a big Moose! ?

I’m prepared to split the head if I can get it home as excess or unaccompanied baggage. If this process proves problematic. Then I’ll either go with a taxidermist /freight forwarder and all the cost involved with that; or find it a home in Canada.
I’ve previously freighted a monster of a BG caribou home and know what to expect with freight costs. The freight for the beau was more than a business class ticket for the same journey.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I’m prepared to split the head if I can get it home as excess or unaccompanied baggage. If this process proves problematic. Then I’ll either go with a taxidermist /freight forwarder and all the cost involved with that; or find it a home in Canada.
I’ve previously freighted a monster of a BG caribou home and know what to expect with freight costs. The freight for the beau was more than a business class ticket for the same journey.

Not sure if it is possible to split a skull. Perhaps cut one horn off and remount it with threaded bolt? They do it both antlers for full body and shoulder mounts. Would be a challenge working with a whole skull but perhaps it's done. Hmmm. If you are willing to settle for a cap mount split, that is certainly very doable. The bolt is mounted into a mass of epoxy inside the cap. I mounted a pair of fantastic sheds on a fake skull for a client but it was very laour intensive. The end result was satisfactory for client but in my opinion not worth the money. He happily paid the severe price tag but we still lost money. Problem is the one-size-fits-all fake skull, though reasonably well detailed, only fit a narrow range of "normal" moose sheds. That old bugger was way beyond normal! Other problem is I won't do shitty work. Required a lot of "extrapolation." Where will you be hunting? I'll see if my daughter can find someone out there who can help. Sounds like money isn't an object so let's make it happen. Should be interesting.

 

[K-man]

I brought a full set of antlers and 50 lbs of frozen meat back with me from a BC moose hunt but I was coming back to the U.S. Unsure what the airfreight would be to Australia. I had to bubble wrap and tape the horns with cardboard then pay for excess baggage. The U.S. customs officer was very polite as to why I was in his line. He merely stamped my permit and said "welcome to the U.S."

 

[R eight]

Not sure if it is possible to split a skull. Perhaps cut one horn off and remount it with threaded bolt? They do it both antlers for full body and shoulder mounts. Would be a challenge working with a whole skull but perhaps it's done. Hmmm. If you are willing to settle for a cap mount split, that is certainly very doable. The bolt is mounted into a mass of epoxy inside the cap. I mounted a pair of fantastic sheds on a fake skull for a client but it was very laour intensive. The end result was satisfactory for client but in my opinion not worth the money. He happily paid the severe price tag but we still lost money. Problem is the one-size-fits-all fake skull, though reasonably well detailed, only fit a narrow range of "normal" moose sheds. That old bugger was way beyond normal! Other problem is I won't do shitty work. Required a lot of "extrapolation." Where will you be hunting? I'll see if my daughter can find someone out there who can help. Sounds like money isn't an object so let's make it happen. Should be interesting.

I wish. Money, is always an issue.

 

[R eight]

Seriously, trophies on the wall don’t mean too much to me . I’ve neither the space nor cash for a trophy room. But for some reason I wouldn’t mind a moose in the store room. Just to keep the beau company. My brown bear lives in the cupboard.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

That is a fantastic caribou. My house is very small ... and full of horns, skulls, and antlers. Sixteen African skulls (eleven more on the way), two very large elk racks, six deer racks ( two of them euros), and one mule deer wall mount pedestal. Three moose racks are up in the rafters of the garage. I should bring one of those in. There's a bit of room over the toilet.

 

[Ridge Runner]

That is a fantastic caribou. My house is very small ... and full of horns, skulls, and antlers. Sixteen African skulls (eleven more on the way), two very large elk racks, six deer racks ( two of them euros), and one mule deer wall mount pedestal. Three moose racks are up in the rafters of the garage. I should bring one of those in. There's a bit of room over the toilet.

Don't know whether to Like or Laugh. Then I counted the number of my wall mounts and noticed the lack of wall space.

Thanks for the idea; I might have just enough room to place a Kudu or hopefully eland mount over my toilet.

Not enough space for the Kudu or eland. But there was just enough space to put the full body baboon mount. Hung it from the ceiling over the toilet and placed the eland next to the Kudu where the baboon previously hung.

2 hours later:

Bad.....Very Bad idea... I now have an enormous mess to clean up and a girl friend, whom I was planning on asking to be my girlfriend, suddenly started screaming very loudly and cussing very profusely, as she came running out of the bathroom, all the while leaving a wet trail to and through the front door, to her car, while pulling up her shorts.

Guess I should have left the bathroom light on. In my defense: She said she was in a hurry and didn't give me time to warn her about the new bathroom decor.

This is sooo gonna cost me; If she is willing to make up.

In hind sight maybe the 2 warthog mounts might have been the better option.

 

[R eight]

Seriously, trophies on the wall don’t mean too much to me . I’ve neither the space nor cash for a trophy room. But for some reason I wouldn’t mind a moose in the store room. Just to keep the beau company. My brown bear lives in the cupboard.

That is a fantastic caribou. My house is very small ... and full of horns, skulls, and antlers. Sixteen African skulls (eleven more on the way), two very large elk racks, six deer racks ( two of them euros), and one mule deer wall mount pedestal. Three moose racks are up in the rafters of the garage. I should bring one of those in. There's a bit of room over the toilet.

Thanks. He was my first North American beast. The toilet wall is…..certainly thinking outside of the box

 

[AZDAVE]

The backside of a mounted warthog is what belongs over the toilet

at least that was my plan but my better half deep sixed that idea so it hangs in my shop.


Best of luck on your moose hunt and getting the skull and antlers back to home.