Thread: Importing trophies to EU from Waikato area

Not really a taxidermy question but I did not know which other topic to place it under. I'm looking to send some (not so very impressive but my only one's so far) trophies to the EU. It concerns cleaned skulls, tanned hide, and some sheds. I was planning to do it all myself but there's some administration involved and I'm now looking for a taxidermist or someone like that to help me with that. Anyone here know if someone who might be able to help me in the Te Aroha area? I would hate for these trophies to be destroyed upon arrival in the EU because of a missing form or some such.

I have had friends take clean stag heads home to Europe with no dramas, just turned up to the airport with it properly packaged. I bought a roe buck skull back to nz a few months ago, no paperwork, no problem. Barely opened the packaging to inspect.


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Taking them yourself should be easy, as MSL has stated.

But shipping is expensive and requires lots of paperwork, finding a freight Forwarders/Broker that is willing to help is probably your best bet.

Any NZ taxidermists doing big game mounts or pre shipping prep are likely doing, or have connections with, expeditors who arrange trophy shipping ex NZ to overseas cuctomers. You could contact a few taxidermists and ask which service they recommend or they may be happy to price a shipment if they do this themselves. It would pay to get pricing before committing yourself as cost may surprise you.

Bullivant Taxidermy and Big Game Artistry are you closest taxidermists if you get stuck.

I've dropped heads in to Simon Bullivant for Americans to get prepped for them to take home with them.
Simon was very accommodating and did them in a few days. But they did make arrangements before they came over.

Which country of eu out of interest?
French customs can be a pein in the ass when they want to be!

Sending (exporting) to any Eu country they require you to go through an Eu export approved premise, I am just going through the registration and it's a good pile of paperwork .
If you are taking animal products not for human consumption in your luggage it is a lot less hassle and cheaper too.

There is a solid procedure for getting animals into EU, most expediters or taxidermist should have the paperwork required pre approved, my family expedite trophies and have approved certificates for the transfer of animal parts to EU. In chch though…
As long as it’s not a pig! Don’t bother with any pig parts!
Call the largest company near you, some guys will say they can and the whole crate is destroyed on arrival in EU.
They don’t ask or wait, just destroy!

Also, only one name on everything! If someone else has an animal part in the same box as ‘Fred’ then it’s labeled ‘Fred B’.
Send Nothing but the animals! People try to send things in the crate to save taking it with them, DONT.

Originally Posted by Pete@tte

There is a solid procedure for getting animals into EU, most expediters or taxidermist should have the paperwork required pre approved, my family expedite trophies and have approved certificates for the transfer of animal parts to EU. In chch though…
As long as it’s not a pig! Don’t bother with any pig parts!
Call the largest company near you, some guys will say they can and the whole crate is destroyed on arrival in EU.
They don’t ask or wait, just destroy!

Yes, good point. I know if a guy, actually living in Germany, shipped an Ibex trophy from one of the Stans to Germany. Shipment was detained on arrival due to some missing paperwork, fault of the Stan side but simple and quick to solve, which was done. But by the time the proper paperwork got lodged the Germans had incinerated the shipment and no compensation entertained.

Thanks for the input all! It seems that maybe trying to get them into my suitcase might be my best bet as I am there in person to settle things if necessary. It is a ram’s skull and a wallaby skull, I might be able to fit them into my suitcase. Sheds (one fallow, one red) should also fit, I’ll just discard some of my wife’s shoes. The destination is the Netherlands. Usually, Dutch customs are not very strict but I’ve heard that they can get nasty if paperwork is missing. I’ll contact the taxidermists mentioned to see if they can help me with the paperwork.

suitcase or not, it wasn't the biggest concern when I bring back my skull.
Airplane compagnie have politic for those kind of luggage, in my case it had to pass the Over-size section and have a maximum all sides dimensions.

Don't overthink the packaging, cardboard box, tape, bag expansion foam can do magic