OCELLATED & GOULDS TURKEY HUNTS 2013

[slamman]

Got a call from the USDA informing me that NO BIRDS from Mexico will be allowed entry into the US.
There is a very large breakout of the BIRD FLU VIRUS.
Ask your outfitter plenty of questions prior to booking an Ocellated hunt if you plan on bringing back any trophies, you will not be able to bring back ANY BIRDS.

[Wingbone]

Wow! Thanks for the info cuz that would really be bad to get there and not be able to bring your birds back. I don't know anybody that would go through the hassle of hunting in Campeche or Sonora just to leave their trophies behind.

[Deputy 14]

I read that today. It had a list of birds that couldn't be brought across the border, however, turkeys were not mentioned. Might be worth checking on.

[slamman]

more info

"Recently, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in Mexico. In response, the USDA placed restrictions on the importation of avian (bird and poultry) products from Mexico. The restrictions require that upon importation, avian products be accompanied by a Veterinary Services (VS) issued import permit and the product be mitigated for HPAI prior to importation. These restrictions also apply to bird trophies. Bird trophies from Mexico now require processing to inactivate the HPAI virus and be accompanied by a VS import permit. Consignment to a USDA approved establishment is not an option for regions recognized by the USDA for HPAI. However, please be advised that fully taxidermy finished (mounted) bird trophies continue to have unrestricted entry.
For people traveling to the United States from Mexico who wish further clarification on what avian products can be allowed in passenger baggage, please contact the National Center for Imports and Exports at 301-851-3300, press the number five and ask to speak with a staff import veterinary officer.
email your questions to "askNCIEProducts@aphis.usda.gov"

[TurkeyLegg]

I'm a USDA officer, but I work for APHIS (animal and plant health inspection service), PPQ (plant protection and quarantine).  I'll look into it and let everyone know what I find out, but I work on the plant side of things.

[TurkeyLegg]

I'm a USDA Officer.  I work for Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) so I deal with the plant side of things.  The current regulations show that game bird trophies being imported from Mexico are restricted.  However, they CAN be brought in.  Game bird trophies are being restricted for Exotic Newcastle Disease (END) and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).  According to the Animal Product Manual (deals with importing animal products) Appendix E there is a list of approved establishments to receive and/or process restricted imported animal byproducts.  This is a list of taxidermists by state....there's a bunch of 'em.  So, if you contact one of these places you can have the trophy sent to them from Mexico...they can import it to their establishment.  Now, it limits your choices as to who you can have mount the bird for you, but generally businesses that seek this approval are larger, well established places.  I do have an email into the people who deal with this sort of thing directly and I'll post whatever reply I get.  But if you're planning a trip contact one of the approved establishments and ask them...they should know.  The list can be found by going to:  www.aphis.USDA.gov
in the left hand column about halfway down click on import and export.  On the next page, click on animal and animal product import information.  On the next page, under Import Facilitation, click on Animal Product Manual.  On the next page you'll find a list of chapters.  The regulations are under section 3-17 Trophies.  Appendix E is further down the list....Appendix E has the list.  But, as slamman said you can have the bird mounted in Mexico and carry it across....that's not restricted at all.

[TurkeyLegg]

I heard back from VS today.  Like I thought, birds from Mexico can be brought in.  But, you need a VS permit to import it.  The list of approved establishments that I mentioned before is where you want to start.  You need to have one to have the bird sent to.  You apply for the import permit online (www.aphis.gov/animal_health/permits/).  On the application the hunter should be listed as the importer.  Then, add that the application is c/o a contact person at the USDA approved establishment and give the name and address of the establishment.  The hunter should sign the application.  This came directly from the APHIS-ask NICE as a response to my asking them directly.

[slamman]

I heard back from VS today.  Like I thought, birds from Mexico can be brought in.  But, you need a VS permit to import it.  The list of approved establishments that I mentioned before is where you want to start.  You need to have one to have the bird sent to.  You apply for the import permit online (www.aphis.gov/animal_health/permits/).  On the application the hunter should be listed as the importer.  Then, add that the application is c/o a contact person at the USDA approved establishment and give the name and address of the establishment.  The hunter should sign the application.  This came directly from the APHIS-ask NICE as a response to my asking them directly.

thank you for the info.  as i understand it your bird has to go through some chemical dippings and or heat treatments prior to bringing the bird to the U.S..  I also understand you DO NOT want to submit your bird to any of these treatments if you want a quality mount.  can you confirm or deny, please?

[GSLAM95]

I heard back from VS today.  Like I thought, birds from Mexico can be brought in.  But, you need a VS permit to import it.  The list of approved establishments that I mentioned before is where you want to start.  You need to have one to have the bird sent to.  You apply for the import permit online (www.aphis.gov/animal_health/permits/).  On the application the hunter should be listed as the importer.  Then, add that the application is c/o a contact person at the USDA approved establishment and give the name and address of the establishment.  The hunter should sign the application.  This came directly from the APHIS-ask NICE as a response to my asking them directly.

thank you for the info.  as i understand it your bird has to go through some chemical dippings and or heat treatments prior to bringing the bird to the U.S..  I also understand you DO NOT want to submit your bird to any of these treatments if you want a quality mount.  can you confirm or deny, please?

Nothing has changed as the requirements are the same as they have been for years.
The bird skins are brought back in your possession (usually salted) and upon entry back into the states you must go through the USDA line and have your bird checked.
A good reputable outfitter will have helped you fill out the appropriate forms in advance that are required at this check point.  It is there and then that you will need a name and address of the USDA approved taxidermist that you wish to ship your bird skin to as they record this info and it must arrive at that particular taxidermist within I believe 48 hrs.

I over night UPS'd mine to the UDSA taxidermist who processed the skins (kept them frozen for a particular amount of time and then fleshed and dipped them.  He has to have them inspected before he can ship them to my local taxidermist and he is to burn the box and any parts of the animal left over after he processes.

If properly done, none of the above will affect the quality of your mount.  The main thing is getting it there and done in  a timely fashion.  Some of the USDA taxidermist on the list want to charge you an enormous fee for processing and shipping onto your personal taxidermist but there are some honest ones out there who will process and then ship it to your local taxidermist for a fair price.

[GobbleNut]

In reference to the question regarding the mounting of birds that have been subjected to the treatment process, I can tell you that it can definitely impact the quality of the mount.  If the processor does not take good care of the cape during the treatment, it can come out with feathers broken or missing, and with the cape having greasy/oily chemicals on the feathers. 

Regardless, the cape needs to be thoroughly washed and cleaned beyond that which is generally necessary for mounting to make sure to get the chemical residues out of the feathers.  If it is not, the mount will come out with matted feathers.  If the taxidermist who does the mount is aware of the problems associated with imported birds, he can take the necessary precautions and everything should work out okay. 

Choosing a taxidermist that has experience with these problems is probably a good idea with birds that have to go through the treatment process.

[TurkeyLegg]

I don't know what the specific sanitary treatments are.  The NEW requirement that was added in June 2011 is for avian flu.....these rules are NOT the same as they have been for years.  A salted skin would satisfy the requirement in the past, but the avian flu virus can remain viable for a time in the birds feathers from what I understand

[GobbleNut]

Up until about three years ago, several of us were going into Mexico on Goulds hunts each spring,...hunts that we organized ourselves (we quit going because of the violence that starting escalating down there about that time). I had to find out from U.S. Customs exactly what was required to bring our capes back (we could supposedly bring the meat back but there was confusion, even at Customs, as to whether that was allowable or not,...we just ate the meat there or gave it away to the locals). 

I wrote an article once that detailed the requirements we had to deal with.  Here they are.  Of course, if anything has changed since about 2008, I am not aware of it.  Some of the stuff does not really apply to this conversation, but I left it in for informational purposes for everybody.


"As turkey hunting increases in popularity across the country, more and more hunters are becoming interested in traveling to Mexico to hunt the fifth of the North American subspecies, the Gould's, in an effort to complete their "royal slam".   Although we went to great lengths to try to avoid any pitfalls with our trip, we did encounter some stumbling blocks along the way.  From my experience, it appears that the rules and regulations are subject to interpretation, depending on what port of entry is used to cross back and forth into Mexico.  Hunters who plan hunting trips into Mexico should be aware of the following:
1)   Make sure you have acquired a passport (a birth certificate and drivers license or I.D. will no longer be acceptable beginning in 2008), and make sure you get your passport properly stamped when entering and exiting Mexico.  Not getting the proper stamps on your passport when you depart Mexico could result in complications if you were to try to re-enter at a later time.   There will generally be a nominal fee associated with your entry into Mexico for your hunt.
2)   If you take your own vehicle into Mexico, make sure you arrange for supplemental insurance on it for the time you will be down there (you can contact your insurance agent for information on this---the cost for five days of full coverage for my pick-up was about $75.00 American).  You also must have the vehicle registration (current) with you and proof of insurance coverage on the vehicle.  You will be issued a vehicle permit at the Mexican port of entry.  (The cost for this permit for our five day stay was about $30.00).   You must relinquish this permit when you leave the country.
3)   If your vehicle has a lien holder, you should contact them and ask for a letter of permission to take the vehicle into Mexico.  Although I was not asked to present this document, I have been told that it is best to have it available just in case, as you may be denied entry if you don't have one and are asked to show it.
4)   While in Mexico, you most likely will be able to pay for things with American dollars, and in many cases this will be preferred.  Make sure you take small denominations with you to pay for incidentals like food, gas, and tolls and become familiar with the currency exchange rate between Mexican pesos and American dollars.  Many vendors/stores will take American credit cards, as well, but don't depend on paying for things with them. 
5)   Make sure the Mexican outfitter you deal with can provide you with all of the licenses, permits, and documents that you will need  (and don't assume that he knows about everything you are supposed to have---make sure you review the documentation needed and go over it with him).  You must have a signed contract with the outfitter that outlines the details of the hunt and the ranch you are hunting.  You also must have an official certificate with state seal (UMA hunting permit) from the Mexican state you are hunting  that verifies you are hunting on a property that has filed for and met all of the hunt management criteria as required by the state.  The outfitter should provide you with a numbered tag (cintillo) for each bird you kill and the tag number should be recorded on the contract.  You must attach a validated, numbered tag to each bird you harvest. We were told by the field officers at U.S. Customs that it is a common problem to have hunters coming back from Mexico without all of the licensing and proper documentation that is needed.
6)   Unless you have gone through all of the registration and licensing process to take your own guns for your hunt, make sure you do not have any firearms or ammunition with you when you enter Mexico.  Having any kind of firearm or ammunition that is not properly licensed and registered will most likely bring a sudden and unpleasant end to your Mexican adventure and will probably result in you and your hunting party ending up in a Mexican jail.  If you are relying on your Mexican outfitter to provide shotguns for your hunt, be certain that you and he have ironed-out all of those details.     
7)   At this time, you may bring the meat and of the turkeys you harvest back into the U.S. if you desire (We gave all of the meat from our birds to the ranch hands and our guides).  Also, you may bring the capes of the birds and they should be packaged in a sealable container or bag (we put ours inside heavy duty trash bags and then put the bags in an ice chest.  All capes are required to be sent to a certified taxidermist to go through a fumigation/delousing process before the bird can be mounted.  You should obtain a list of the certified taxidermists from U.S. Customs (or your hunt booking agent, if you have one) prior to your trip, contact that taxidermist to confirm your intent to use his services for the process, and obtain the required form (Report of Entry/Shipment of Restricted Animal Products) for this.  This document, which indicates where the birds will be sent to be processed, must be presented to U.S. Customs when you cross back into the United States. 
   Along with the above, a declaration form (Declaration of Importation of Wildlife) must be filled out and presented to Customs, as well.  This document lists the numbers and the species that you are declaring to bring back across the border."