Trophies are ready, question on Customs and collect charges

[EarlsSon]

First off I want to thank anyone in advance that takes the time to respond to my question below. Unfortunate as it may be I've heard telltale nightmare about ridiculous incurred costs once the trophies are in this country. I currently have two reputable importers (both came from recommendations on this site) that provided a proposal for their handling the paperwork here in the US once my crate arrives. All of the taxidermy work was done and crated in South Africa, the crate measures 49" wide x 53" high x 117" long and it weight 1,000 lbs. The crate contains the following animals: Cape Buffalo, Blue and Black and Golden Wildebeest, Blesbok, Zebra, Eland, Kudu, Gemsbok, and an Impala that are all wall pedestal mounts or true pedestal mounts as well as a Roan that's a European Mount.

My question is "can someone whose recently imported several animal trophies give me an idea what the costs are our US Customs Exams are ?? and if there were any other charges that were "after their arrival" that I should be looking at.

Respectfully,
Earl's Son

 

[375Fox]

It depends on the broker, port of entry, and what you have and from where. Choosing a broker that has a bonded warehouse at port of entry is important consideration to me to avoid airline storage. A South African shipment like you have without any warthogs or baboon should be pretty straightforward. Excluding final shipping all my recent shipments have been around $1000-$1400 about 2 per year.
You might consider asking broker if there are additional handling fees being such a huge crate in your case.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Ag, US F&W and Customs charge nothing. Anything you pay for those are what you pay the broker for his services to clear through those agencies.

 

[375Fox]

Here’s a breakdown of my most recent shipment. I’ve never had 2 invoices the same. Broker fee is $400 then subtract out the final shipping. I’m told 1 day of airline storage is unavoidable now.

 

[wesheltonj]

Do NOT use DFW as your first port of entry.

 

[farmer_john]

It depends on the broker, port of entry, and what you have and from where. Choosing a broker that has a bonded warehouse at port of entry is important consideration to me to avoid airline storage. A South African shipment like you have without any warthogs or baboon should be pretty straightforward. Excluding final shipping all my recent shipments have been around $1000-$1400 about 2 per year.
You might consider asking broker if there are additional handling fees being such a huge crate in your case.

WHat is the issue with warthogs and baboons?

 

[375Fox]

WHat is the issue with warthogs and baboons?

Swine, primates, and birds are looked at as higher disease risk entering US so get a higher level of scrutiny.

 

[farmer_john]

Swine, primates, and birds are looked at as higher disease risk entering US so get a higher level of scrutiny.

Even if dead and taxidermied?

And do most people get their taxadermy done in africa or back stateside?

 

[wesheltonj]

What is the issue with warthogs and baboons?

Even if dead and taxidermied?

And do most people get their taxadermy done in africa or back stateside?

Yes, even if dead and mounted.

Majority, Dip and Ship.

 

[375Fox]

Even if dead and taxidermied?

And do most people get their taxadermy done in africa or back stateside?

If it’s a finished product it’s not supposed to receive the scrutiny, but it depends on the inspector. I’ve been required to send tusks to USDA taxidermist as final destination when I shouldn’t have to.

 

[Doug3006]

Yes, even if dead and mounted.

Majority, Dip and Ship.

My experience with importing swine trophies has been that taxidermied specimens sail through fairly quickly. Raw unprocessed, skins, and skulls seem to gum up the works.

 

[wesheltonj]

My experience with importing swine trophies has been that taxidermied specimens sail through fairly quickly. Raw unprocessed, skins, and skulls seem to gum up the works.

Tell that to USDA at DFW.

 

[Doug3006]

I’ve never dealt with DFW as a port of entry. My stuff has always gone through Chicago or New York. There is something seriously wrong with the state of affairs in this nation that DFW lags behind Chicago or New York in terms of efficiency.

 

[Rhoyland4]

Do NOT use DFW as your first port of entry.

I have seen you say that several times lately. What is the issue with DFW? What other options do you have in Texas? Houston?

 

[samson7x]

Do NOT use DFW as your first port of entry.

Aw hell, don't say that. I have a shipment that just got there. Why you say that?

My last crate went to ATL but this one went to DFW. I assumed it was because I had buff this time but I'm not sure.

 

[Hunt anything]

Aw hell, don't say that. I have a shipment that just got there. Why you say that?

My last crate went to ATL but this one went to DFW. I assumed it was because I had buff this time but I'm not sure.

Buffalo shouldn’t make any difference, most likely the airline I would think.

 

[samson7x]

Buffalo shouldn’t make any difference, most likely the airline I would think.

Yeah, had to go Turkish since Delta won't fly big 5 from my understanding.

 

[Hunt anything]

I should’ve added that about Delta. I haven’t used them for shipping since 2014, Turkish has handled my last 3 shipments into Atlanta.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Do NOT use DFW as your first port of entry.

Why?

 

[wesheltonj]

USDA in DFW charges an exam fee based on the weight and size of the crate. No more free animals. Mine for 4 animals from Europe was $639.50, that just the USDA fee. The total from Coppersmith was $2,126.47. Dip and pack - Chamois, Red, Chamois, Fallow and Roe Deers.

In Texas, use IAH as the work around as they are not currently charge a fee for inspection. However, new fees coming to an inspection station near you soon.