4 in Twin Cities fined for smuggling waterfowl from Agentina

[dirtking]

Why was this illegal? Is it because they didn't declare them or what? The Star Trib didn't say why it was illegal.

[kkahmann]

I wondered the same thing. I know you have to have an import permit and an inspection permit which can be purchased at Fort Snelling USF&W service office. There's a bunch of paperwork hoops you have to jump thru but it's not un-doable. Unless it has something to do with international treaty's on migratory waterfowl.

Also not declaring them was a big-NO-No.

[Musky Buck]

Bizarre to say the least because if you can afford a trip to Argentina why on earth would you smuggle ducks back to here ? I wonder what these 4 guys purpose was ?

[Roosterslayer05]

Bizarre to say the least because if you can afford a trip to Argentina why on earth would you smuggle ducks back to here ? I wonder what these 4 guys purpose was ?

Those were my exact thoughts! I think they just dident want to pay the extra money and jump through the necesary hoops one must jump through to transport game from a foreighn country. They obviously made the wrong choice, im suprised the taxidermist even mounted these birds.

[onlydrakes4me]

Ya if they had the money to hunt in Argentina. you would think they would have the money to declare and transport the birds back legally. Outdoor news said they paid fines totaling $ 10,775.00 i guess they won't have that much extra cash now. What kind of taxidermist would agree to mounting birds that were in violation of the Lacey Act anyway??

[Musky Buck]

I wasn't aware of the full story so they mounted some and oh boy. I guess it's just one of those strange stories, makes me wonder if they have been out of the country in Mexico or somewhere else and wonder if they have done this before and maybe got away with it. 11 grand, pretty spendy ducks. Another wonder is what their wives and family had to say.

[Jackpine Rob]

In the Grand Scheme of Things, I wonder if we are prioritizing our resources properly.

Seems like a lot of time and trouble for a couple of ducks, that it appears may have been taken legally, but snuck into the country in contravention of the law.

Illegal importing? How about the 10's of thousands of illegals flooding across our southern borders? I guess catching ducks on the wall is easier.....

Oh well, I guess we were protecting something here.

[Musky Buck]

I hear ya Jackpine, our priorities are a mess at times.

[MinDak Hunter]

Jack Pine is right, how dare the game wardens do the job we pay them for. The MN wardens should be down on the AZ border fighting crime...

[blackdog1101]

I believe the illegality of the act is principally about not wanting to import disease from other countries that our flocks may be suseptible to.