Getting Capes back from MX

[ceg]

USDA has changed their policy for capes coming back into the US form Mexico. I am still trying to figure out exactly what the procedure now is, and will post any info I can find. If anyone else has knowledge of the requirements, please post them so we can prevent hunters from losing their capes at the border.

[soazarcher]

Here's a link to the USDA's "New Requirements"

 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/an..._hide_alert.pdf

 

Capes need to be frozen then thawed? Dipped? Vet certified?

 

Nice.....These guys are genius'!

 

 

Here is the training manual on what these guys are looking for. Still not clear at all.

 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/pl..._17trophies.pdf

 

I believe there will be issues at the border this year....

[ceg]

Hey Matt, I agree that the USDA policies are vague and I think enforcement is not very consistent. From what I gather, the capes still have to be frozen for 24 hours to kill the ticks, but they must then be thawed out by the time you reach the border so they can be inspected for ticks. You must sign a notice of arrival form at the border that certifies the cape has been frozen for 24 hours, which is how it has been in the past. They will then inspect the cape and if they find even one tick, whether dead or alive, the cape will be confiscated. My suggestion would be to take a comb and after the deer is skinned, lay it out and slowly comb forward looking for any ticks and remove them. Do this to the whole cape including the ears and don't forget to look down in the ear canals. Then go ahead and feeze the cape like has been required in the past. I am going to pull my cape from the freezer the night before I leave for the border so it can thaw and then will stop and look it over for ticks again right before I get to the border to make sure their aren't anymore ticks visible. It seems like a hassle to do this, but it is more than worth it due to the fact there is not a huge surplus of stock coues deer capes here in the States to replace confiscated capes with. Remember to keep your capes out of the sun when searching for and removing ticks and also, do not thaw them out in the sun. This is only for clearing your cape with the USDA: US Fish and Wildlife still requires all of the proper paperwork on their part as well. I don't garantee that this will get you across the border with your cape, so I would recommend calling the USDA. This is a new policy change and everyone needs to be aware of it so that they don't have their capes consfiscated when coming back across. The phone number I have for the USDA at Douglas is 480-491-1895, so I would recommend calling them prior to your trip and ask them directly what they require for a deer cape to cross the border. If anyone has crossed this season already, please post up the experience you had at the border.

[soazarcher]

From what I gather, the capes still have to be frozen for 24 hours to kill the ticks, but they must then be thawed out by the time you reach the border so they can be inspected for ticks.

 

Clay,

This is how I understand it also.

[COOSEFAN]

It is true that now the hides have to be thawed out for inspection at the border.

 

Another fact is that to be considered an "official certificate", you have to have a paper with the ranch name and info on the letterhead! That paper has to have it stated and signed by you and the ranch owner, that the cape had been frozen for 24 hours and found to be free of ticks. Also, make sure your tag has the same ranch name on it as your letterhead, sounds silly but check just to make sure

 

We had a bunch of forms printed up with the ranch name and info in the letterhead just for this reason and so we have them on hand to be signed by the hunters and ranch owner.

 

I'm one of the many who lost a cape at the border last year because they didn't have a clue about the law changes or how to enforce em! It's smart to call the border regularly and especially before crossing with a cape to verify you meet the current requirements and to make sure no changes were made to the laws while you were down there! I wish I had called last year, it's been hard to find a "Dwarf" Coues cape to replace the one they trashed!

 

Be safe and smart and good luck! JIM>

[Chiefs]

It is true that now the hides have to be thawed out for inspection at the border.

 

Another fact is that to be considered an "official certificate", you have to have a paper with the ranch name and info on the letterhead! That paper has to have it stated and signed by you and the ranch owner, that the cape had been frozen for 24 hours and found to be free of ticks. Also, make sure your tag has the same ranch name on it as your letterhead, sounds silly but check just to make sure

 

We had a bunch of forms printed up with the ranch name and info in the letterhead just for this reason and so we have them on hand to be signed by the hunters and ranch owner.

 

I'm one of the many who lost a cape at the border last year because they didn't have a clue about the law changes or how to enforce em! It's smart to call the border regularly and especially before crossing with a cape to verify you meet the current requirements and to make sure no changes were made to the laws while you were down there! I wish I had called last year, it's been hard to find a "Dwarf" Coues cape to replace the one they trashed!

 

Be safe and smart and good luck! JIM>

I have been down into Mexico for about 15 years and have not lost a cape yet, knock on wood. The statements above as I understand it are correct for a green or unsalted cape, BUT I have always worked the capes up myself down there, split the lips, nose, turn ears etc and then salted them down, usually it is my experience once the cape is dry salted the ticks all fall off. It states in the USDA regs that the cape can come back slted as long as it is dry, no blood, no drips, and all meat cleaned from the horns, which have been cut from the skull. I have run into problems twice where they were not going to let me thru and I explained Their policy to the border agent and was told I was wrong , both times until a Supervisor walked by asked what was up and when told, he told them I was right and I was on my way, both times taking more than an hour. I now carry a copy of this reg with me and when presenting this to them upon arrival at the border, have been there only a short amount of time. I do not bring back any capes frozen or thawed.

 

[ceg]

I believe that even with a salted cape, you could have problems with the new policy. The way understand it is that if there is even one dead tick on the cape, then it will be confiscated. I know that sometimes ticks will die on the cape when it is salted, so make sure that there aren't any visible when you get to the border. I quit salting capes down there years ago when I had trouble at the border with the ticks. For many years, a cape that had been frozen for 24 hours took care of any tick problems at the border, but that isn't the case anymore. Call and check before you head down.

[CRB]

We just got back and had no problems getting capes across but they will take your cape if there is even one tick dead or alive on it

[Ernesto C]

We just got back and had no problems getting capes across but they will take your cape if there is even one tick dead or alive on it

 

Excellente, now lets hear the story and post some pics