- Joined
- Jun 14, 2015
- Messages
- 6,620
- Reaction score
- 15,907
- Location
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Media
- 266
- Articles
- 5
- Member of
- NRA, DSC
- Hunted
- Nam, Zam, Zim,RSA (Eastern Cape & NW), Canada, NZ, Alaska, TX, LA, MO, OH, MT, ID, WA, WY
USDA inspecting all trophy shipments in ATL
About two weeks ago, I was notified by a RSA freight forwarder that my trophies were about to ship from JNB to IAH. I am using Coppersmith and this is the first time I am shipping completed taxidermy. All previous shipments have been D&P, so I figured this shipment would go much quicker and easier.
I was told that the crate was tentatively scheduled to ship from JNB on July 19. To my surprise, the crate got on an earlier flight and actually departed JNB on July 14 on Delta 201. The crate arrived ATL in the early morning of July 15.
Coppersmith (always great communication from them) informed me that the USDA vet in ATL has requested inspection of all trophy shipments, not just the D&P. Shippers have to schedule the inspection and there will be added fees for this. Coppersmith thought this might take as long as a week to clear ATL and then it can be transported to IAH and still has to clear USF&W and Customs. Once all this happens, I plan to pick the crate up myself at Coppersmith, located just south of IAH. The freight estimate to ship it 250 miles to Shreveport was $440, so I figure it was worth it to haul it myself. If the crate dimensions are accurate, it will fit in a pickup truck.
These are the trophies from my hunt, along with my daughter, with @Game 4 Africa Safaris in August 2018, so not quite a year from the hunt to receiving final trophies. We used a local taxi, Lauriston Taxidermy, for an Eland, Blue Wildebeest, Bushbuck x2, Warthog x2, Waterbuck and a Zebra rug.
About two weeks ago, I was notified by a RSA freight forwarder that my trophies were about to ship from JNB to IAH. I am using Coppersmith and this is the first time I am shipping completed taxidermy. All previous shipments have been D&P, so I figured this shipment would go much quicker and easier.
I was told that the crate was tentatively scheduled to ship from JNB on July 19. To my surprise, the crate got on an earlier flight and actually departed JNB on July 14 on Delta 201. The crate arrived ATL in the early morning of July 15.
Coppersmith (always great communication from them) informed me that the USDA vet in ATL has requested inspection of all trophy shipments, not just the D&P. Shippers have to schedule the inspection and there will be added fees for this. Coppersmith thought this might take as long as a week to clear ATL and then it can be transported to IAH and still has to clear USF&W and Customs. Once all this happens, I plan to pick the crate up myself at Coppersmith, located just south of IAH. The freight estimate to ship it 250 miles to Shreveport was $440, so I figure it was worth it to haul it myself. If the crate dimensions are accurate, it will fit in a pickup truck.
These are the trophies from my hunt, along with my daughter, with @Game 4 Africa Safaris in August 2018, so not quite a year from the hunt to receiving final trophies. We used a local taxi, Lauriston Taxidermy, for an Eland, Blue Wildebeest, Bushbuck x2, Warthog x2, Waterbuck and a Zebra rug.