The freight is here, the documents are here - now how long does it take?

The freight is here, the documents are here - now how long does it take?
We immediately begin the classification and data entry process when we get the original documents from the carrier. CBP's Automated Manifest System requires there must be at least one piece/box/crate for each hunter entry. Separate entries must be made for each individual hunter with Fish and Wildlife. Customs and Border Protection now requires that the Fish and Wildlife Service clear trophies prior to submission of documents to CBP. The Fish and Wildlife Service requires clearance by CDC and USPHS on animals requiring special handling prior to filing of the original documents, which accompany a 3-177 form (or e-Decs) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fish and Wildlife will determine if a physical inspection is necessary or if they can release the cargo based on the documents submitted. This can take from 3 - 10 working days in some ports. When the actual FWS release is received we can then physically file the entry with Customs and Border Protection.

Customs who will usually clear the shipment within 24 hours. Once we have Customs and all the other Government Agency releases, we then prepare to pick up the trophies from the carrier where they have been held in-bond. Because this process often exceeds the allotted free time (72 hours usually) from the carrier we must find out how much storage is owed and prepare a check for that plus pay the Cargo Import Service Charge charged by the carrier.

Our local cartman will retrieve the trophies and bring them to either our warehouse or the cartman's warehouse. Upon receipt we will contact you to reaffirm where you want them to be delivered. Then we will obtain a quote for transport to your desired destination on a prepaid basis, prepare our invoice and fax or scan it to you for payment.

Hunting Trophy

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What happens if the original documents are lost?

What happens if the original documents are lost?
The carrier will notify Coppersmith that freight has arrived and there are no documents. Then the USDA inspectors cannot allow the shipment to leave the first port (of unlading). When we are notified we will immediately request a system wide search of the carrier. We then will go immediately back to the overseas agent and request fax copies be sent and certified copies of any Cites documents be applied for and sent via courier to the Coppersmith office clearing the freight. If the documents are lost after release at the first port of unlading, the shipment will accrue storage charges at the port of entry until the replacement documents are received. At that point we suggest that you request us to move the shipment to our Bonded Container Freight Station (if applicable) or to the local Customs Bonded Examination Station

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The freight finally gets to the United States now what?

The freight finally gets to the United States now what?

The first airport your cargo arrives at in the United States is called the Port of Unlading. At this port the U.S. Department of Agriculture will review the manifest of the cargo on board the carrier and indicate either that they have inspected your freight and it is okay to move in-bond to the Port of Entry or they will call us, since we are supposed to be listed on the MAWB as the notify party and ask us who the Approved U.S.D.A. taxidermist is for that shipment. (This only happens on dip and packed skins - not mounted trophies).

If we do not know whom you want used or the information is not in our computer and we cannot reach you we will either name an approved local USDA taxidermist at the Port of Entry to do the work or tell the inspector at the airline to hold the freight. Cost for this will be added to your invoice.

Ok, USDA does their thing and my trophies are then put on a connecting flight to the city where the Coppersmith office is - when do I get my trophies?
First of all, your cargo will not be placed on a plane for movement to the destination Port of Entry. Since 9/11 DHS does not permit inland in-bond transport by any mode other than Truck or Train.

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When do I find out what is going on with my shipment?

When do I find out what is going on?

Our Coppersmith offices will receive a pre-advice or pre-alert from the overseas agent when your freight has been dispatched to the origin airport. We then begin the tracing process with the carrier using the Master Air Way Bill number. If you receive a message with the MAWB number please contact your Coppersmith office at once. All MAWB's have a 3-digit prefix (this identifies the air carrier) and an 8-digit suffix, for a total of 11 digits.

It must be pointed out, however, that shippers from smaller countries like Tanzania or Mozambique will tender your shipments directly to the air carrier without advance notice to you or us and you will be expected to pay whatever the cost indicated on the MAWB in order to retrieve your freight.

THIS IS A SUBJECT YOU SHOULD ADDRESS WITH YOUR PH, BOOKING AGENT OR OUTFITTER AS STORAGE CHARGES CAN RAMP UP QUICKLY.

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Ok, in regards to the process of shipping my trophy home after the hunt, what's a consolidation?

Ok, what's a consolidation?

When an agent tenders many different shippers freight as one shipment to the airline they do so on what is called a Master Bill of Lading. Each individual's shipment is moved on what is called a House Bill of Lading. The air carrier is supposed to move these consolidations as booked and this is done in a perfect world. However, carriers determine the load capabilities for each flight on the tarmac. Affecting the capacity is passenger load; live animals, temperature, fuel constraints; perishables and mail, all of which take precedence over freight. Therefore MAWB's are often broken down from the originally tendered number of packages.

The carrier will move the remaining freight on various flights to destination until all of it is received at the port of destination. Every hunter must now be packed in his or her own carton/box/crate for CBP/AMS reporting purposes. There needs to be one single Importer of Record due to ACS system limitations, which only allow for the submission of a single ultimate consignee per each piece count.

Okay I am over the shock of the freight charge, is it ok to prepay the freight or can it come in on a freight collect basis?

Nearly all agents will ship to you on an airfreight collect basis. Please keep in mind that these agents must be paid on a timely basis. Therefore, effective March 1, 2005, if you instruct us to have a shipment sent on a freight collect basis, we will need that instruction from you in writing. At that time we will also ask you to provide us with your credit card details on a Credit Card Authorization Form. When the shipment comes in and we get it cleared we will fax or scan to you our invoice to include those freight charges. Should we not receive payment from you within 10 days of our invoice, we will then process your credit card for the invoiced charges due. We must transfer funds to our agents overseas every month and we have guaranteed them they will be paid on a timely basis. Ocean Freight shipments require pre-payment, either by wire transfer or via your credit card due to the delay in transit time for these types of shipments. Also the overseas agent cannot obtain your shipping documents to send to us for clearance if the freight is not paid. All ocean freight and airfreight shipments are shipped in what is normally called a consolidation in the industry.

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I keep seeing ads for Ocean Freight shipments offering a 60% savings – what's the deal?

I keep seeing ads for Ocean Freight shipments offering a 60% savings – what's the deal?
Ocean freight can generally only be used for shipment of finished Trophies. Obviously the transit time is longer - somewhere between 45 and 60 days. While the crates are containerized and stowed below deck, they may still be affected by humidity. Make sure that none of your mounted trophies are ever shipped wrapped tightly in plastic, (air or ocean). This can cause heat and humidity to accumulate inside the plastic and the end result could be hair slippage. Ask the packer to be especially vigilant in the manner the trophies are blocked and braced into the container. The constant motion of container could cause one of the trophies to move into another trophy causing damage that will not be easily repairable. The Department of Homeland Security establishes threat levels based on various commodities. Unfortunately, in their opinion, curios and hunting trophies are among the highest security threats. As a result those containers are being selected for more intensive exam. CBP will begin with a VACUS exam (Gamma Ray). If something appears suspect during the exam CBP will have the container moved to a Bonded Customs Exam Station and order it to be stripped of its contents. The crates may then be opened. After the physical exam, the crates must be reloaded back into a container. Ocean Freight shipments will always have additional charges, which we will be unaware of in advance. These could include Document Transfer, Terminal Handling, Port Security, Exam Charges, Documentation, and Stripping Charges. Well guess who gets to pay for all of these charges - you do! We always provide copies of backup of the charges we are required to pay out on your behalf with our invoice. Therefore very often that 60% savings may evaporate into thin air.

I've got my quote for airfreight - what's the deal - my shipment weighs one thing, but I am being charged for a higher weight?

I've got my quote for airfreight - what's the deal - my shipment weighs one thing, but I am being charged for a higher weight?
Welcome to the wonderful world of dimensional volume. Every air carrier charges you freight based on the weight or space displaced or utilized on their equipment. If your shipment displaces more space than it actually weighs - you will be charged the dimensional volume weight. There is a formula to compute this. Remember the rest of the world uses the metric system. Your quote will give you dimensions in centimeters. To convert centimeters to inches you multiply by .3937. Round that number up and multiple the inches of the Length by the Width by the Height and divide the total by 166. That will give you the chargeable pounds. To convert the pounds to kilos divide by 2.20463.

Ok, the taxidermist has received all the export permits, I've paid them, now what?

Ok the taxidermist has received all the export permits, I've paid him, now what?

If your instructions have been followed, the agent will forward either to us, or to you directly, a quotation for the shipping of your trophies. This quote should include insurance. Insurance can be purchased for this commodity in the U.S. but the cost is quite high. (Minimum premium is approximately $275) The agent will suggest a coverage amount based on SCI published values. It can be increased or decreased at your request.

If the overseas taxidermist decides to ignore your instructions and use whatever transportation agent offers them the largest bounty for their business, we can still act as your Customs Broker in the U.S. That agent will be requiring you to prepay your freight with a credit card or bank wire transfer. Before doing so determine from them to whom and in what port in the U.S. your shipment will be sent. Advise them that you will not be making any payments to them unless the shipment is consigned directly to the Coppersmith office nearest to your home, taxidermist or tannery. If need be we will be happy to intervene on your behalf.

If you choose to prepay the shipment, there should be a credit card authorization form following the quote which you would fax directly back to the overseas agent for processing. If you prefer just one invoice from Coppersmith for all charges ask the agent to send the shipment on freight collect basis. Air shipments can generally be made on a collect basis; however ocean freight shipments must nearly always be made on a prepaid basis because of extended transit times.

How do I make sure that the taxidermist uses Coppersmith's services?

How do I make sure that the taxidermist uses Coppersmith's services?
You advise them when you place your taxidermy order that Coppersmith is your Customs Broker. If they try to tell you that your trophies can only be imported over one U.S. Port and you must use another broker - remind them that you know otherwise and assert your ownership rights. After all you are the one paying all the charges. Another area of importance is the preparation of the actual invoice by the Taxidermist to reflect what was done to your trophies. Ask to see a sample of their export invoice.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE PHYSICAL STATE OF THE ANIMAL, AT TIME OF SHIPMENT, BE REFLECTED ON THE TAXIDERMY INVOICE.

If the animals are fully mounted, or skins have been tanned and the skull and horns have been bleached and mounted on a plaque - they are considered a finished trophy and the invoice and shipping documents must state this. No other treatment will be required upon arrival in the U.S.

If the animal parts have only been chemically treated and packed then they are called dip and pack and these may require reprocessing of some sort in the U.S. before they can be transferred to you or your U.S. taxidermist. The invoice and shipping documents must then indicate that the animals are unfinished.

All taxidermy invoices must reflect the cost (with type of currency indicated) assessed for the processing of each individual animal as well as the actual name of the genus and species of the animal being shipped. This is why we ask for you to obtain the taxidermist business cards.

Once you notify us that your trophies are at a specific location we will either contact that taxidermist or advise one of our agents in the area to do so. Our Agent will in turn advise or remind the overseas taxidermist of your request for shipment via our combined services - this is called a routing order. We will be happy to follow-up to get an update on the status of your shipment as part of our Customer Service Commitment. That is all part of our PROFESSIONAL SERVICE PROVIDED WITH PERSONAL CARE.

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A customs power of attorney, what is that and what am I signing?

When a hunter is planning an international hunt or safari, there are a lot of aspects to consider. A customs broker is often used to facilitate the process. One of the terms that comes up in the conversation is customs power of attorney. So, what is power of attorney?

A customs power of attorney, what is that and what am I signing?
This form allows us to act on your behalf with not only Customs and Border Protection, but also any other Government Agency required to clear your trophies. Pursuant to Customs Regulations a Customs Power of Attorney must be obtained for each and every party we represent.

What do you need from me to complete a customs power of attorney?
We need your full given name, as provided to the Social Security Administration. Also both your mailing and physical home addresses. If you live in a rural area this must be your United States Postal Service approved fire department address.

We will need your Social Security number. CBP Regulation 19CFR 24.5 (b) (ii) reads if no Internal Revenue Service Employer Identification Number has been assigned, the Social Security number is required to identify the Importer of Record. We are not permitted to share your personal information with anyone other than the Government Agencies involved in your specific transaction.

Ok, I've signed the Customs POA - now what?
With the POA you will have received a cover sheet from a Coppersmith office. It will provide you with the complete name and address of the person handling this portion of the transaction for you. We are now required by CBP to validate the information that you have given to us. In order to do that we will require a copy of either your Social Security Card or a copy of correspondence from the IRS/SSA dated within the past two years and a copy of a picture ID such as Driver's License or Passport. Along with these items return your originally signed fax copy of the POA to the address on the fax cover sheet. If you have an original U.S. Cites Import Form for one of the animals being imported send that along with the POA to Coppersmith.


Will I have to fill out this form again?
No, once you have done this and are entered in our computer's database your POA will remain in effect until you revoke it. As a note, if you already have a POA on file with another Customs Broker, you might want to call or fax them to advise that you are revoking the POA you have on file with them.

What happens to my trophies when I return home from my hunt?

AFTER THE HUNT PORTION OF YOUR SAFARI AND BEFORE YOU LEAVE EACH COUNTRY YOU'VE HUNTED IN MAKE SURE TO OBTAIN A PHOTOCOPY OF THE HUNT REGISTER THAT YOUR PH OR OUTFITTER WILL BE FILING ON YOUR BEHALF WITH THE LOCAL NATURE CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES.

We will need to know if you are bringing back any of the following animals, because they will require special document handling:

• Primates - Monkeys or Baboons • Swine - Bush Pig or Wart Hogs • Rodentia Family - Porcupine, Squirrels, Spring Hare, Rats, Hedgehogs or Shrews • Viverridae Family - Civets, Genets and Mongoose • A USDA Approved Taxidermist or Tannery must reprocess any porcupine, swine or non-human primates arriving in a dip and pack state into the U.S.

Decide before your hunt which Approved Establishment you will be using. Your professional hunter or outfitter will either offer to dip and pack your catch himself or take you to visit with his buddy, a local taxidermist. Try to talk your PH into visiting at least two, or better yet, three; such firms before deciding if you want your trophies mounted overseas. After making a decision as to whom you want to use - obtain several of that taxidermist's cards and get an e-mail address for them.

What is a customs broker and do I need one for shipping hunting trophies?

A Customs Broker is a person licensed by the Treasury Department, who has passed an extraordinarily difficult examination, as well as having been vetted by the FBI to represent a company or individual in their transactions with Customs and Border Protection as well as the other Government Agencies required for the product being imported.

Simply put, Hunters may clear their own trophies and hides. They would have to make their own arrangements to go to the various Government Agencies in the proper order and file the applicable paperwork each agency requires. If you prefer to act on your own behalf please be sure to advise the parties overseas of your current contact numbers as the airlines only give you a limited number of hours to clear your shipment before the storage clock starts running. Anyone acting on behalf of another MUST be given a signed Power of Attorney by the other party to act on his or her behalf.

We like to use the analogy that we act in the same capacity as the CPA you use to file your taxes with the Internal Revenue Service. We have taken the trouble to learn all the necessary regulations as well as keep current on the nearly weekly changes in the various government agency regulations. We know what information is needed on each form and how to smooth the bumpy road through Other Government Agencies to achieve a successful result.

Happy Hunting,

HuntingTrophy.Com

a division of Coppersmith Global Logistics, Inc.

Why is HuntingTrophy.Com your trusted source for trophy importation?

HuntingTrophy.Com is a division of Coppersmith Global Logistics. Jeff Coppersmith is President of Coppersmith Inc. and President of the NCBFAA. Jeff has been active in NCBFAA as an area director, Freight Forwarding Chair, Annual Conference Chairman, Treasurer and Vice President. Jeff also served on the Board of the Los Angeles Brokers Association, Chairman of the Los Angeles World Trade Week, and also served as Chairman of the Pacific Coast Council.Coppersmith Inc. is celebrating 60 years in business.

Started by his grandmother Adrienne, Jeff and his brother Bud are the third generation in the family business. Coppersmith has acquired several companies in the last few years and now offers complete Global Logistics. Coppersmith has 11 offices throughout the United States and prides itself on the ability to give personal service with big time technology. Jeff who received his brokers License in 1985 and has been President of Coppersmith since 2002, is married to Roberta and they have two grown sons.

What do I do to ensure my trophies get back to me?

Hunters often ask the question, "What do I do to ensure my trophies get back to me?" There are many steps, but here is one of them.

Your first line of defense is to apply hunt tags to the individual trophy parts in the field. This means every separate skin and horn has its own luggage-type tag. We recommend you use your business card on one side, and on the other, indicate which Coppersmith office you want your trophies shipped back to.

You can usually get 8 luggage tags laminated at your local office supply store for about $7.50. Purchase the 8-inch day-glow colors variety pack of plastic electrical ties from your local hardware store. Assign one color to each hunter in your group - this way when they walk past the skinning area they can see at what stage their skins are in the process.

We have developed a new kind of hunt tag for our clients. It will even survive the tanning process. If you would like some, please contact your local Coppersmith Global hunting trophy coordinator.

Lynley Bishop

Eastern Regional Manager

National Hunting Trophy Coordinator

lbishop@coppersmith.com

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Hunting Trophy Transportation & Importation

Tired of trying to determine what is the best way to bring your trophies home from safari; or what laws will affect the importation of your animals? Well, you've finally found the place that will answer your questions in plain English.
How may we help you?

Service is all we have to sell and we specialize in several niche markets. The transportation and importation of Hunting Trophies from around the world is one such niche. For a recap of what you should know before you go click here to view "Getting your Trophies home", or for other related articles click here.

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section to quickly answer any questions that you may have about what happens to your trophies after you leave camp.

If you prefer to speak with a live human being, contact us toll free at 888-827-4388 or call the Trophy Specialist listed at the office closest to you on the Coppersmith U S Office & Trophy Contact List. You may also contact Lynley Bishop by email lbishop@coppersmith.com .

Fill out a Hunter Information Sheet today!

Jeff Coppersmith & Lynley Bishop

HuntingTrophy.Com

a division of Coppersmith Global Logistics

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