BigHornyRam
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That New Ruminant Ban & Your Canadian Hunt" If you have heard that the US Department of Agriculture has banned the importation of big game trophies from Canada, don't cancel your hunt for this season just yet. The ban we're talking about of course is the recent decision by the US Dept. of Ag to ban the import of rumminants from Cnanda after a cow there was diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), better known as "mad cow disease". Ruminants are four-footed, cud-chewing mammals, such as cattle, and include sport-hunted animals, such as deer, elk, moose, caribou, muskox, bison, wild sheep and mountain goats. Well, hold the phone. The Hunting Report has learned that the ban on sport-hunted animals applies only to meat, not capes and skulls with antlers/horns. We have that from Hallie Pickhardt, spokesperson for the USDA's Animal Health Inspection Service (APHIS). She also confirmed for us the conditions under which these items may be imported. Many hunters will be relieved to know that green capes are acceptable for importation; they do not have to be flint dried or tanned. Also, skulls attached to horns/antlers must be "finished," meaning the skull must be skinned, scraped and boiled to remove all flesh. And while there is no limit on the number of finished trophies that may be brought over the border, if you're bringing back antlers only (such as pick-ups that are not attached to the skull) then you are restricted to two sets. According to Pickhardt, more than two sets of loose antlers would be considered as commercial instead of personal use and thus are inadmissable. So, if you booked a hunt to Canada for this season or were considering one, move forward with your plans. Just remeber that you will ahve to leave your meat behind. -Barbara Crown, Managing Editor.
