Will i get into trouble for taking this deer horn/antler home from Japan?

September 2, 2010 4:32 AM

I'm an American WWOOFing in Japan. I found a deer horn (antler? --I'm a city boy) in the forest here. If I try to take this back to America, will I run into trouble?

Just curious because I know in America sometimes possessing stuff like this can be a real problem. I have no idea how it is in Japan. My host thinks it is fine, but I thought I'd check... anyone know?

posted by johnnybeggs to Travel & Transportation (4 answers total)

I think you may be looking at a variant of a "clean and dry bone trophy." Please contact the actual authorities, but you might also want to look at this pdf which I found while reading some forums about people who import/bring in bones and antlers for use in knife handles. That said, I believe you would need to show proof of a hunting license if you go this way which may be more trouble than it's worth.
posted by jessamyn at 8:57 AM on September 2, 2010

This isn't a hunt trophy, it's a shed antler, so you shouldn't need to show proof of a hunting license. Call Fish & Wildlife to double-check, but I'm pretty sure all you need is form 3-177 -- you can download it here or fill it out electronically here. Declare the antler when you get to customs, show it to them along with the form, and you should be fine. The worst thing that'll happen is that they'll frown at you and confiscate it, but I doubt they'll bother for one antler -- they are mainly looking for folks who are bringing in commercial shipments and/or fresh animal parts which might harbor disease.
posted by vorfeed at 11:12 AM on September 2, 2010

anecdata: I, uh, know someone who brought a found buffalo(?) horn back into the US in my her carry-on backpack -- 2 international flights (started in Italy) with no trouble. Carry-on didn't get unpacked or hand-examined. Not recommending this, but it's possible you could slip it in under the radar, so to speak.
posted by lilbizou at 11:16 AM on September 2, 2010

It will be worth your time to spend a few minutes to get an ID.

It's one thing if it's a shed antler from a white-tailed deer (or its Japanese "extremely commonplace ungulate" equivalent). Quite another if it's the single tusk from the exquisitely rare, endangered, and illegal-to-import-under-any-circumstance Tufted Mer-Elephant.
posted by ErikaB at 11:40 AM on September 2, 2010