Bringing Birds Back from Mexico—What You Need to Know

by
posted on October 3, 2014
zent2015_fs.jpg (14)

In response to earlier articles here about an NRA Outdoors quail hunt I joined in Mexico, I was asked: Did we eat the birds we shot? Did we bring birds back here to the United States? The answer to the first question is that we did indeed eat some of the quail killed by our party. Thanks to the owner of a restaurant near our hotel, we ate nearly four dozen birds, and just like our U.S. bobs, it was all white meat and wonderfully tasty. The rest went to our guides and workers on the ranch where we hunted. No birds went to waste.

We did not try to bring any back into the United States, but I have declared quail and wild turkey upon returning from other trips to Mexico. The required paper trail makes it a fairly involved process, but not hopelessly complicated if you follow each of the required steps. Here’s a summary of the various steps, but please don’t consider this as a comprehensive guide—you will need to do your homework.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture requires returning hunters to possess a “Permit to Import or Transport Controlled Material or Organisms or Vectors.”

Step 1—One must obtain e-authorization by going to and establishing a Level 2 customer account. VS Form 16-3 is the application for the needed permit.

Step 2—The USFWS requires hunters bringing back game meat or trophies to present a Declaration for importation of Fish and Wildlife (Form 3-177)

Migratory birds must come in with one fully feathered wing attached to the carcass to facilitate species identification. The number of birds one can import may not exceed what a hunter can legally export (varies by species) and only those “belonging” to the importing hunter.

Step 3—Upon re-entering the country, hunters must clear U.S. Customs, and along with the aforementioned documents you will need a copy of the contract with your outfitter, as well as whatever hunting licenses and/or permits were required where you hunted.

My advice is to begin the process well in advance of your trip. The downloading and form filing are pretty routine in today's world, but if you need to follow-up with the involved agency (telephone helplines are listed on their websites) that may required some persistence.  Also, be aware that a similar process governs bringing gamebirds in from Canada.

Latest

NRA ILA Lede
NRA ILA Lede

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging Colorado’s Excise Tax on Firearm and Ammunition Sales

On March 31, the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), together with the Firearms Policy Coalition, Second Amendment Foundation, Colorado State Shooting Association, Magnum Shooting Center and an NRA member, filed a lawsuit challenging Colorado’s 6.5-percent excise tax on the retail sale of firearms, firearm precursor parts and ammunition.

The Magnum Research 10mm Magnum BFR Revolver

This 6-shot, single-action revolver may well be the first factory-made handgun chambered in this caliber in over three decades.

Hunting Heritage Trust Grant Applications Being Accepted

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearm industry, has opened the application period for the 2025 Hunting Heritage Trust Grants. They offer a total of $100,000 in financial support for programs that work to expand participation in hunting and the shooting sports.

Hardware Review: Marlin Model 1895 Dark

If you think lever-action rifles should only have walnut stocks and a blued-metal finish, then the new Marlin Dark series with its polymer buttstock and aluminum AR-esque handguard probably won’t be your thing. That’s a shame, because this recent offering in Marlin’s line of modernized, capable lever-action rifles has a lot going for it in terms of performance, functionality and fun.

ATN Shipping TICO LTV Thermal Clip-On

This thermal clip-on device is a huge night-time gear multiplier for hunters and observers, transforming any daytime scope into a thermal sight.

MidwayUSA Named Official Sponsor of the 2025 NRA Annual Meetings

Glock, Inc. is the Presenting Sponsor of the Freedom Experience on Saturday, April 26th

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.