Hunter Harvested wild meat export to USA

Hunter-Harvested Wild Ruminant Meat from Canada
Effective August 8, 2003
Definitions:
o Commercial importation - an importation where the product will be sold and/or further distributed.
o Personal Use - meat and trophies from legally hunted wild ruminants imported strictly for the use of the hunter.
o Wild ruminants - may include bison, caribou, deer, elk, moose, mountain goats, mountain sheep, pronghorns, and musk ox.
o Trophy - hides, skin, horns, hoofs, bones, teeth and antlers (with or without the skull cap) . The skull cap is the small section of bone beneath the antlers, from which the antlers grow.
o Veterinary Services Special Permit (attached): filled out by the hunter, then dated and stamped by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when hunter-harvested meat is released at the port.

This Guideline outlines procedures for the importation of -
o Whole dressed carcasses from hunter harvested wild ruminants for personal use.
o Meat, with or without bone, and sausage from hunter harvested ruminants for personal use.
o Finished and Unfinished trophies for personal use.

This Guideline DOES NOT allow for the importation of -
o Meat from domestic, farmed or captive ruminants or ruminants harvested from game farms.
o Ruminant offal and glands (e.g., internal organs such as liver, kidney, tongue, kidney, brain, adrenal gland, pancreas, thymus, thyroid, pituitary, lymph nodes).
o Intact heads containing brain, eyes, tongue, etc.
o Meat from domestic cattle, sheep or goats.
o Commercial importation of any type of domestic or game meat from ruminants.

Procedures:
o For hunter-harvested ruminant meat:
Harvested game meat may be imported only if accompanied by a Veterinary Services Special Permit (attached) and a current Canadian hunting license. These documents must accompany the shipment.

o For finished or unfinished trophies:
See attached document entitled "Hunting Trophies From Canada."

Shipping documents must be available for review by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of entry. Entry may be made only through the following ports of entry (Importer to contact port for hours of operation):

Houlton, ME 207-532-5902
Derby Line, VT 802-873-9578
Highgate Springs, VT 802-868-3192
Champlain, NY 518-298-4332
Alexandria Bay, NY 315-482-3857
Buffalo, NY 716-881-5755
(includes Lewiston Bridge, Peace Bridge and Rainbow Bridge)
Port Huron, MI 810-985-6126
Detroit, MI 313-964-3458
Sault St. Marie, MI 906-253-1987
International Falls, MN 218-285-6101
Pembina, ND 701-825-0101
Sweetgrass, MT 406-335-2282
Roosville, MT 406-889-5700
Blaine, WA
Peace Arch 360-332-8891
Pacific Highway 360-332-2351
Cargo Ops 360-332-1640
Lynden, WA 360-318-1587
Sumas, WA 360-988-0612
Oroville, WA 509-476-2256

If meat or trophies are shipped by mail instead of hand carried, then the above information must be included with the other shipping documents, such as a U.S. Customs declaration and invoice. Please instruct your shippers to provide this information. Do not put documents INSIDE shipping containers.

If the above information is not supplied, the shipment may be subject to delays and compliance processing fees. If the material to be imported cannot meet these criteria, then it is not eligible for entry and will either be re-exported back to Canada or confiscated.
We recommend that a copy of this guideline accompany each shipment.

Hunting Trophies from Canada
August 8, 2003

The trophy prohibition from Canada as a result of the confirmed case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) applies to ruminants (including cervids) only. Bears, wolves, mountain lions, etc. remain unaffected. Completely finished trophies are also unaffected and are allowed unrestricted entry. With respect to ruminant hunting trophies, the following applies:

1. Antlers/racks - enterable:

As personal trophies, hunters are allowed to import a maximum of 2 sets of antlers/racks (with or without the skull cap,and with or without velvet For antlers imported attached to the skull cap, the skull cap must be free of brain tissue.. Antlers attached to an intact skull will be refused entry. Two sets may be imported without documentation. A larger number of antlers/racks may be imported provided the quantity to be imported corresponds to the number authorized by a current Canadian hunting license. For example, if the hunting license authorizes 3 elk to be hunted, then the hunter may import 3 sets of elk antlers.

2. Bones, including skulls - enterable:

As personal trophies, hunters are allowed to import a maximum of 2 skulls, without documentation, as long as the skulls are clean, dry, and free of blood. Skulls that are found not to meet these requirements will be refused entry. For greater than 2 skulls, see requirements for antlers/racks above.

Please note: Commercial shipments of antlers/racks, skulls or other bones are prohibited. However, combined shipments of antlers/racks, skulls, and other bones that result from a group hunting expedition may be imported, provided the number of antlers/racks and skulls can be linked to the number of corresponding hunting licenses. There are no restrictions on the types of carriers used to ship trophies to the U.S

3. Hides and capes (hide from the head & neck used to make a cape mount) - enterable:

Hides are enterable as long as the hide is removed from the carcass of the animal. Capes are enterable if the hide has been removed from the skull and the head is no longer intact. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors (formally PPQ) at the port of arrival will inspect the trophy condition. If the hide or cape has not been removed from the animal, the material will be refused entry.

Note: Hunting trophies from Canada may only be imported through the following ports of entry (Importer to contact port for hours of operation):

Veterinary Services Special Permit for the Importation of
Hunter-Harvested Wild Ruminant Meat

(This form may be typed or printed)
1. NAME AND ADDRESS OF HUNTER:
_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

2. IMPORTER HAS Canadian hunting license (photocopy is acceptable)

_____ Yes ______ No

3. ATTESTATIONS:
a) I am importing meat from the following wild game (circle as applicable):

Bison caribou deer elk moose mountain goat mountain sheep pronghorns musk ox
Other (specify)___________________________

b) I am importing this meat for my personal use; I am not importing it for commercial sale or distribution.

4. HUNTER SIGNATURE __________________________________

RELEASED ON THIS DATE BY DHS/CBP INSPECTOR

Date ___________________
(stamp)

Inspector_________________
DHS/CBP Inspector:
Please send/fax completed forms on a monthly basis to the following address -
USDA,APHIS,VS, NCIE
4700 River Road Unit #40
Riverdale, MD 20737-1231
Fax: 301-734-8226

Blank forms may be photocopied.