I am looking for some opinions on what to do. The military has put me between a rock and a hard place concerning my taxidermy mounts.

Last month they packed up all of my wife's and I's belongings to get ready to ship to our next duty station in Japan. I asked several times if my taxidermy would be an issue, and they assured me it was fine. They came out and built nice wooden crates for each mount and loaded them on a truck to be shipped to Japan by boat along with everything else we own.

Fast forward to today. The wife and I are in Japan and all our belongings are at the stateside port waiting to be loaded on a boat. They send me an email saying now they are afraid that the taxidermy will not make it through Japanese customs. They are suggesting I put all the taxidermy into a military provided storage facility that is not climate controlled.

My question to you is, would you rather take your chances with Japanese Customs or with a Non-Climate controlled storage provided by the military for 3-4 years?

You got any family that can take it ? Long way from home to take a chance with a lifetime of memories
Find a climate control storage system. Yeah you might have to pay but around here a unit to hold that is about 35-40 per month

This site may help.

https://www.nittsu.co.jp/relocation/en/service/moving/abroad/import.html

Keith

I wouldn’t trust it in customs, anywhere. You may never get it back

What you need to do is get a few fresh but frozen bear paws. And carry them with you. When you get to customs with your crates of taxidermy goods, show the officers the bear paws and give them to them. Continue on with your crates to your destination.
Oh wait, you said Japan. This only works in China. You’re SOL.

That would be my fear. It COULD get some damage in storing but I would rather take my chances with that rather than having it gone forever. Hopefully the storage facility is mouse and bug proof.

Thank you Keith that website is very helpful.

Send to a family member to unpack and keep until your return.

Just like you and TurkeyTime have said, I used to have some of it stored with family but they just don't have the room for it anymore. I think your idea of just paying for my own climate controlled storage is about my favorite idea I've heard so far. I'll contact the military movers and see if they would allow that.

Pay to have it done right. And where are you in Japan? 50 years ago I was all over that country, based in Okinawa but we traveled all over, no passport then, well no one ever asked for one.....jk.

X2

Do I see a bear hide? That may be a problem. Is the stuff going on a ship? If on a plane is it US airbase to airbase? Bypass customs?

what is the problem at the customs.
Maybe you only need to get cites permits to bring them across an international border.

You're welcome Dylan.

Keith

Dylan, I assume that it's military provided storage rather than US Customs who would be the custodians. Where (what State) would they be kept in? Do you know anything about the storage facility? I would be more concerned with bugs than climate; as long as it wasn't too hot or humid.

The stuff would go on a ship. It needs a cites certificate from US Fish and wildlife if I was to go through customs but the shipping company is still concerned that it may still be confiscated. I did talk to the folks at Matuska Taxidermy where I get my duck forms from, on their experience with customs. They said even with proper certificates and using a customs broker, sometimes items are still confiscated with no notification.

Mark, you are correct in assuming it's a military provided storage. I have reached out asking more details about the storage such as which state but I have not heard back yet.

No way I'd ship my trophies to Japan and then back to the US at some point? But not sure what options you have?

Let’s us know how you come out. Tough call sending it to Japan. I use to have cities permit. Even with that it could be stolen once it hits Japan. Marty

I believe we have finally reached a conclusion. All the items except for one are going into military storage in Long Beach, CA. I am having them send my smallest duck mount to me though. Its a standing wigeon. I checked with customs twice and they said that would be fine and there are no restrictions on that item. If it gets stolen or lost on the way, I won't lose sleep over it. If it does survive the trip, It'll be nice to at least have one mount to remind me of home while I am here.