Closed Door Hunts around the World.

[Northern Safari]

The more reading I do, the more restrictions I come across in terms of which hunts are "closed" to international hunters in terms of prohibitions by country, by species, by import etc.

Whether it's a country that has completely closed it's borders to outside hunters (i.e. China) or if it's a country that only limits hunters from specific countries (i.e. USA).

It sounds like places like China and India, among others have completely shut their doors to outside hunters. Others like Afghanistan or Iran seem to fall into more of a grey area.

Places like Azerbaijan have reportedly shut down the Tur hunt since the pandemic and have yet to reopen. I've also read that Kyrgyzstan halted Ibex hunting/export a few years ago? I'm assuming this has since been resolved.

There was also the issue a few years back where Argali species could not be imported into the US. Where does this stand today?

What other exceptions are there abroad that limit hunters from hunting in specific regions or hunting specific game?

When it comes to the complications around importing trophies, is that mostly a US Fish and Wildlife problem or were the same prohibitions on Marco Polo/Ibex etc. also enforced in other Western countries?

 

[Sevens]

I’m just bummed I’ll probably never get a takin due to China’s closure.

 

[Northern Safari]

I’m just bummed I’ll probably never get a takin due to China’s closure.

Had to google that one, such a interesting looking animal.

China does seem to contain a plethora of mountain game. Any idea how long it's been closed?

 

[Tjdeerslayer37]

Had to google that one, such a interesting looking animal.

China does seem to contain a plethora of mountain game. Any idea how long it's been closed?

found a random website that said hunting has been closed since 2006. no idea on accuracy

 

[Cynoscion]

China does/did have a super abundance of mountain game with several unique species and lots of country unexplored by modern westerners. I’ve hunted pretty close to the Chinese border. The mountains are incredible and vast to say the least.
To answer the question posed, USFWS is a big part of what keeps some species from being imported. The US is a CITES participant but USFWS can and does impose regulations above and beyond CITES.

 

[Northern Safari]

China does/did have a super abundance of mountain game with several unique species and lots of country unexplored by modern westerners. I’ve hunted pretty close to the Chinese border. The mountains are incredible and vast to say the least.
To answer the question posed, USFWS is a big part of what keeps some species from being imported. The US is a CITES participant but USFWS can and does impose regulations above and beyond CITES.

I’ve read that China acts as a replenishing resource to all the surrounding countries for mountain game. Lots of Argali and Ibex crossing those borders.

 

[cfounta1]

I’m just bummed I’ll probably never get a takin due to China’s closure.

I had to look that one up too

 

[Northern Safari]

I had to look that one up too

The Hunting Consortium claims hunting was suspended there in 2006 so it's been almost 2 decades.

https://huntingconsortium.com/asia/china/

Here's the list of huntable big game available there.

Species List (when hunting was previously open)​

• Tian Shan Argali
• Sair Argali
• Littledale Argali
• Marco Polo Argali
• Gansu Argali
• Gobi Argali
• Altai Argali
• Chinese Blue Sheep
• Helan mountain Blue Sheep
• Himalayan Blue Sheep
• Dwarf Blue Sheep
• Golden Takin
• Sichuan Takin
• Yarkand Goitered Gazelle
• Hillier Goitered Gazelle
• Tibetan Gazelle
• Mid Asian Ibex
• Gobi Ibex
• Tien Shan Wapiti
• Manchurian Wapiti
• Manchurian Sika Deer
• Gansu Red Deer
• White-Lipped Deer
• Chinese Sambar
• West Chinese Tufted Deer
• Chinese Muntjac
• Chinese Roe Deer
• Wild Boar

Special Permit Species:​

• Wild Yak
• Tibetan Antelope
• Serow
• Goral

 

[buffybr]

...To answer the question posed, USFWS is a big part of what keeps some species from being imported. The US is a CITES participant but USFWS can and does impose regulations above and beyond CITES.

 

[Cynoscion]

Keep in mind that just bc that was their species list does not mean that they were all importable into the USA as hunting trophies. Not only does the source country have to issue the export permit but our USFWS has to be willing to issue the import permit.
The example that most everyone will be familiar with is polar bear. You can buy a polar bear hunt and kill a bear but you will most likely never get it home bc of USFWS regulations.

 

[Sevens]

Keep in mind that just bc that was their species list does not mean that they were all importable into the USA as hunting trophies. Not only does the source country have to issue the export permit but our USFWS has to be willing to issue the import permit.
The example that most everyone will be familiar with is polar bear. You can buy a polar bear hunt and kill a bear but you will most likely never get it home bc of USFWS regulations.

Kanati Taxidermy has you covered. They have realistic polar bear replicas, shoot your polar bear than give the bird to the USFWS.

 

[Northern Safari]

Keep in mind that just bc that was their species list does not mean that they were all importable into the USA as hunting trophies. Not only does the source country have to issue the export permit but our USFWS has to be willing to issue the import permit.
The example that most everyone will be familiar with is polar bear. You can buy a polar bear hunt and kill a bear but you will most likely never get it home bc of USFWS regulations.

I’m Canadian, that must be one of the few advantages we have here. Not that I could afford a polar bear hunt.

 

[Northern Safari]

Aside from the obvious species in banned countries (ie China) do we have a current list of species that can't be exported/imported into North America right now?

I'm in Canada so we may have different exclusions than the States but I'd like to know if any trophies wouldn't be allowed to be brought back before booking one of these exotic hunts.

Any of the European Ibex, Chamois or Mouflon?

Any of the Asian Ibex or Tahr?

Any specific plains game or dangerous game?

 

[Cynoscion]

USFWS is the go to for finding out this info if you live in the states. I would guess that Canada has a similar governing body but I have zero experience with them.
Basically, if a critter is listed as CITES appendix 1, importation is banned (exceptions apply sometimes). CITES appendix 2 would be more lax and dependent on the country of origin, among other things and appendix 3 generally have no importation regulations.
All of this is a huge generalization bc nothing related to government is that simplistic. It’s always best to get with USFWS and/or a broker service such as Coppersmith International to get the details before spending your hard earned money on a hunt for a trophy you can’t get home.

 

[ozyclint]

The experience is the trophy.
Not going on a hunt because you can't bring the trophy home plays into the hands of the anti's.
I'm guessing you can't import a Cecil now?

Personally, I feel a country is closed when a non resident alien can't DIY. Guided hunts just aren't my thing.
Would love to hunt Alaska and lots of other places.


I love you New Zealand!!!

 

[Cynoscion]

Part of the experience is being able to look at, hold and admire your trophy for the rest of your life after your knees have fallen apart and the hard hunts aren’t doable anymore.
For a normal person with normal income, taking a $10-15k hunting trip and not getting your critter home is tough especially when you followed all of the rules and did everything right.
I’ve been blessed to hunt lots of places and kill lots of critters. I’ve only not gotten 1 critter home and believe me, it’s a tough pill to swallow when there’s nothing you can do about it.

 

[Northern Safari]

The experience is the trophy.
Not going on a hunt because you can't bring the trophy home plays into the hands of the anti's.
I'm guessing you can't import a Cecil now?

Personally, I feel a country is closed when a non resident alien can't DIY. Guided hunts just aren't my thing.
Would love to hunt Alaska and lots of other places.


I love you New Zealand!!!

I would like to take something physical home that will act as a far better recollection of the trip than any photo album could.

We are already prohibited from bringing any of the meat home (a shame) so the horns and hide are the next best thing.

 

[TXCO]

I think Switzerland shut down Alpine Ibex to non swiss citizens a couple years ago. I feel like I also heard Argentina has some different rules (maybe just export issues) for native game and birds.

There are some people still hunting Russia, Pakistan and Iran with some animals being shut down from time to time. I thought China and India basically just didnt allow hunting at all, not that it was closed to just outsiders.

If you expand the list to include non-importable animals based on USFW or Cites, the list grows a lot and varies.

John Jackson with Conservation Force is a great resource. https://www.conservationforce.org/hunter-resources

 

[Northern Safari]

If you expand the list to include non-importable animals based on USFW or Cites, the list grows a lot and varies.

Yeah that would be the list of game that I'd be most interested in. Species that may be legal to hunt in countries that are open to international hunters, yet can't be imported back home.

 

[Starbailey]

Pakistan is a wonderful country to hunt mountain game. Been there several (5) times & have never had a problem having trophies shipped home. It has gotten more expensive the last few years especially markhor!
I dont have to worry about them they've always been out of my price range.