Travelling with guns ?
I know I have covered this area before but here's a new angle for you, travel with guns from the US, something which I have never done before! AGAIN I am in my client's shoes and after hearing all the bad stuff about travelling with a firearm, I have finally joined the club and it is NOT THAT BAD!
You see, these days any travel is more complicated than before, as you can guess, and there are a number of steps you need to take and prepare yourself for - the major one being patience! Coming from a country where you have to wait at least 6 months to get a firearm permit (not a few hours) and having to deal with hungry officials, I found my experience, although lengthy, quite pleasant.
OK here's what I had to do - assuming you are the type who pitches up at the airport and starts asking questions from that point onwards. Of course you have to send your firearm details to your outfitter beforehand so you probably have your US CBP Form 4457 (required to get an import permit into SA, Namibia etc.) already but if you don't you can get it at the airport of final departure before you leave the US. The form is actually not specific to firearms, it covers any article you intend taking with you and bringing back into the US - so it can be done with minimal hassle.
This was the easiest part and the CBP officer was a fellow gun nut and collector so we talked about those magnificent German Lugers from the wars, guns shows, pesky tourists and the finer things about a Remington 870 express shotgun. He kind of reminded me of my grandfather and I was quite hesitatnt to leave, I had 4 hours to kill and could have sat and visited for another 2 hours. This CBP form is essential to get your guns back into the US and is valid for a while so it is worth the effort!
The check in was a little more complicated but easy and yet another fellow hunter I met. Your regular bags are checked in seperately, with a seprate tag, while your firearm and ammunition, go on a tour of duty with you as witness. Firstly, amunition cannot be in your gun case, it has to be packed seprately and preferably in a secure case all by itself, they also weigh the ammo which is restricted to a few pounds per person and you cannot combine this with your travel partner.
Then you go into a back room and the airline security officials open the case, inspect the firearms and make you sign various forms and explain that they will not lose your gun case? You need to have a secure case with TSA locks and don't bother packing the rifles beforehand as you have to show them around, especially if you have fellow hunters looking at them! After much talking about Texas hog hunts and the benefits of having a custom rifle, you are permitted to accompany your firearms to the TSA office where they scan your cases in a huge fancy x-ray, open your ammo case and look at almost every bullet, make you stand behind a line and watch nervously, and then they smile and tell you - 10/4 buddy!
OK then you have to accompany your guns back to the airline - because they want you to witness this procedure and then they tell you they will personally accompany the cases onto the aircraft.
So that does not sound too complicated or troublesome but knowing how Americans are used to fast hassle free service, this seems like hell! BUT at least you can get your rifles over to Afrca or wherever you're going assuming that you have your destination permits sorted out it is not that bad!!!
Hunt a game ranch in Zambia!
Zambia is not a traditional ranch hunting destination but lately more opportunities have opened up allowing hunters to take many of Zambia's unique and sought after species that are more expensive south of the Zambezi! Especially, Sable which Zambia is well known for! Our Sable are bigger than most countries and 42" is not asking much at all ad they are all pitch black.
For 2008 we've combined a portfolio of hunting opportunities at various properties and are hoping to get the best deal for both parties: the hunters and the ranch owner! While the prices below are a good indicator, you can contact me for any combination of hunting, wingshooting and touring - I specialise in this! I recently got a whole load of goose decoys so don't tempt me to try them out on the Kafue Flats - any excuse will do.
The other plus is that while you will take the prime species on a fenced property there are some great opportunities to hunt in a true wilderness concession and experience sleeping beneath the stars in the Africa bush, hearing the drums from a nearby village, a Lion roaring not too distant and hunting on foot. Seriously this is what Africa is about, the open wilderness and at a price you can afford!
We have opportunities for Sitatunga, Black Lechwe, Kafue Lechwe and others - combine these hunts with any of our game ranch opportunities.
Alternatively, start off with a wilderness hunt, like a 7 day Sitatunga "rough hunt" for $9,800 and then add the species you want.
|
