Hello,

In the Pow-Wow forum I mentioned I intended to add snake skins to the limbs of my T/D Bob Lee longbow.  This is the bow I intend to hunt in Africa with in '07.  But then I had an after thought concerning customs agents.  With snake skins being animal parts, would I run into trouble going into South Africa or getting back into the U.S. with a skin backed bow?  I would hate to arrive for my dream hunting trip and have my bow confiscated.  Has anyone traveled internationally with snake skin backed bows and actually had them inspected?  Do I have a legitimate concern that should make me choose an alternative way to decorate / camouflage my bow, or is it a non-issue?

Paul,

I dont know, but - I would think that if you listed the bow on your customs form prior to departing the US with serial Number and description stating it has Snake Skin Backing it would not be a problem.

I packed my bows in my checked baggage and had them listed on my customs form but they were never inspected (Africa or US).

If I were in your shoes I would check with US Customs prior to Adding Skins.

I have my second trip to RSA planned for July 07. When in 07 and where are you going?

Regards;
T-Bell

Thanks for the info.  We have tenatively planned on mid-July at Fort Richmond Safaris.  The dates we want are available, but we are trying to work out a couple variables before we book.

I hunted RSA in 2003 with a snaked skin BBO and there were no problems

Ken Gifford

take a few pics, (with date stamp preferably... Take the pics and bow to any customs office during business hours and ask to get the items registered. Its a small 2 1/ in, by 3 or so form that you can regsiter any item (camera, puters and such...) Ask them to stamp the backs of the developed pictires with a customs date stamp and seal to carry with.

Also any optics or cameras stuff too... this should get you by the duty(tax part), but if you had an exotic or endangered species or Ivory inlays... you would still probably fall under the USFWS laws on those items...

Its a 5 min process, just call and find out where the office is and their hours... Hard to carry a bow through security to get to an office, but there is usually an office accessible by car around for clearing air freight...

A real esy deal for anything serialized and not made in the usa... watches, cameras, and if you hunt overseas, guns and bows....