BCHunter · Preparation and travel
Bringing Your Hunting Trophy into the USA
You've finished your hunt in Canada and are ready to head home. Maybe you've got moose antlers in the truck, meat packed in coolers or a cape waiting at the taxidermist.
Before crossing the border, you'll want to know what you can bring into the United States and which documents you'll need.
The rules depend on the species, the condition of the meat or trophy, and whether you're bringing it home yourself or having it shipped later.
Can you bring game meat home from Canada?
In many cases, yes.
USDA APHIS generally allows hunters entering the United States from Canada by land to bring personal-use quantities of legally harvested deer, elk, moose and caribou meat, provided they meet the applicable requirements.
You'll need evidence identifying the product as cervid meat, such as a valid hunting licence, supported by your harvest records.
The familiar 50-pound limit for certain meats from Canada does not apply to hunter-harvested cervid meat; allowable amounts are determined from the hunting licence.
Before traveling, check the USDA APHIS rules for bringing agricultural products across the Canadian land border.
If you're planning to bring meat home, ask your outfitter about local processing. Find out whether the meat can be cut, wrapped and frozen before your departure, and allow enough time for the work to be completed.
What about antlers, skulls and hides?
Cleaned antlers and finished trophies are generally easier to transport than raw animal parts, but preparation matters.
APHIS lists finished or mounted trophies and cleaned, dried bones, antlers and horns among items that don't need special processing at an approved establishment. Canadian-origin documentation is still needed; raw hides, capes and other unfinished material need a separate check.
USDA APHIS has separate requirements for animal trophies and products that may carry animal diseases.
Ask your outfitter or taxidermist how your trophy should be prepared for entry into the United States. Don't assume that freezing a skull or wrapping it for transport satisfies the rules.
Don't overlook your home state's regulations
Federal import requirements are only part of the picture.
Many states have restrictions on transporting deer, elk, moose and other cervid carcasses because of chronic wasting disease, commonly called CWD. Washington's carcass rules are one example.
Depending on the state, you may be allowed to bring home deboned meat, cleaned antlers or finished taxidermy while being restricted from transporting whole carcasses or certain parts of the head and spine.
Check your home state's wildlife agency and the rules along your route before your hunt, particularly if you intend to bring meat or an unfinished trophy home.
Do you need a wildlife import declaration?
Game and game trophies generally require a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service declaration using Form 3-177.
The personal-baggage exemption in 50 CFR 14.62 does not cover game or game trophies. Don't assume driving home with your own trophy removes that paperwork.
Wildlife protected under CITES or other federal laws may require additional permits, inspections or entry through specific ports.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service importer and exporter guidance is a useful starting point.
If you're bringing home a bear, wolf or another regulated species, confirm the requirements before leaving Canada.
Driving home or shipping your trophy later?
Driving home with your own meat and trophies is different from having a taxidermist ship them after your hunt.
When you accompany your harvest, certain species-specific permit or port exceptions may apply, but they don't automatically waive Form 3-177. A separately shipped trophy needs its own declaration, inspection and customs arrangements.
If you're flying, check the airline's policies for meat, antlers and oversized baggage. Airline acceptance doesn't replace government import requirements.
For trophies being shipped later, ask who will handle the paperwork, customs clearance and delivery.
It's also worth requesting an estimate for crating, freight, brokerage and any inspection charges before leaving the trophy behind.
What should you declare at the border?
Tell U.S. Customs and Border Protection about the meat, antlers, hides and other wildlife products you're bringing into the country.
Have your hunting documents available and explain what you're transporting.
Declaring an item doesn't guarantee that it can enter the United States, but it allows the border officer to determine which requirements apply.
You can find additional information through CBP guidance on game and hunting trophies.
Make the arrangements before your hunt
The best time to work through these questions is before you leave home, not when you're standing at the border.
Ask your outfitter what happens after a successful harvest. Who handles the meat? Is there a local butcher? Will the cape and antlers be prepared for travel? What happens if the taxidermist needs to ship them later?
Those arrangements can affect your return travel plans and your total hunting budget.
If you're hunting in British Columbia, our companion article, Bringing Your Hunting Trophy Home from British Columbia, explains the provincial export requirements.
You can also use our meat, hide and trophy transport planning guide to organize the practical details before booking your trip.