Ozbow

Hi folks....
I was looking at a possible bow purchase from US.
It is backed with snakeskin.
Anyone have any experience as to whether this is ok to bring into Australia...
I have been punted through just about every level of buearacracy in customs and still no hard answer.
Thought I would pose the question here for possible heads up advice
Thanks....Pete

I had a rattle snake skin backed osage bow sent from USA about 5- 6 years ago no worries but can't remember if it was declared as such by sender.I know it's illegal to own a skin here in Australia even if from 'road kill'

thanks Bob, I'm looking at something similar......
I will try getting a definitive answer from official channels but just an exercise in frustration.
I dont really see a prob but knowing my luck ...........
regards...Pete

I have previously approached customs/bio security regarding the importation of farmed rattle snake skins from 3 Rivers.

Having explained that the snake skins were commercially farmed the answer was a definite NO!

They stated that any banned products would be destroyed on arrival and the purchaser would not be eligible for any compensation.

From memory the ban on trading in snake skins in Australia was brought in during the reign of King Paul the Humble, aka ‘the albino prune’.

Apparently there was a postage stamp sized nation somewhere that no one had heard of wanted to protect a local snake so King Paul signed a treaty to help save this snake and then applied the ban to cover all snake products.

Daryl.

Thanks Greybeard......

Is there ANYTHING left that we can legally say or do in this country anymore.
I reluctantly 'culled'...pardon the pun....the deal....
Deciding to err on the side of caution.
I spoke with customs and primary industries and ran the species....,Prarie Rattler, past them and they said it didn't appear on any schedule of restricted movements...Having said this they would not gaurantee any of the aforesaid information.
Peter

I got a martin hatfield through with nice rattlesnake skins on the limbs and sold it pretty quick .
I used to buy bows from US and onsell them
http://www.ozbow.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.p ... 540#p44540
My advice is if you want it buy it .

3 Rivers sell a cloth snake skin printed strip in rattler and copperhead. No where near as good a real thing but still looks good if done right.

Thanks for your input guys...
Peter

Oh by the way Jeffro that was a sweet looking bow with the skins on it.