DIP AND PACK (also referred to as raw prep, solution-treated, or unfinished)
Dipping & packing is the minimum processing requirement that a hunting trophy must undergo in order to be imported into your country. Bones, hooves, horns, skulls, teeth and tusks should be clean and dry, meaning free of any undried pieces of hide, flesh, sinew or any other organic matter.
The disinfection process includes the following:
- Soaking the inner cores and horns in boiling water for a minimum period.
- Soaking the inner cores in a 0.1% Chlorine Bleach solution for a minimum period.
- Soaking the horns in a 5% Formaldehyde solution for a minimum period.
- Soaking the inner cores in a 5% Hydrogen peroxide for a minimum period.
- Untanned hides must be dried to the extent that they look brittle enough to crack when bent.
- Trophies should be packed immediately after treatment, avoiding contact with other animal products that could potentially contaminate them.
- Trophies that have been professionally cleaned are free of dirt, blood, insects and putrid odors.
When exporting to the US, dipped and packed trophies need to be consigned to a USDA-approved establishment, such as an approved tannery or taxidermist; they cannot be sent directly to a client. - Clients should be cognizant of the fact that insecticides have a limited shelf life and may lose their effectiveness over time, which may lead to infestations and damage to the hides.
