One of my hobbies is Fly tying (making artificial fishing flies for Trout fishing).

I have several professionally prepared Cock capes (neck feathers).

There are mostly American and exactly the same products are sold in Australia.

Will I be allowed to bring them into Australia? What would I need to do to make them acceptable?

Bear in mind that these capes cost upwards of £50 each and I am very reluctant to part with them

Does anyone have any advice please?

G

Go here

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4369

I can't see feathers on the list of prohibited and restricted imports http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4369

Maybe e-mail them and ask?

my husband brought all his fly fishing gear with no problems at all.

I am pretty sure an animal "products" are banned...ebay them and enjoy making some more once there?!

Thanks....I will check on that site.

G

It is more the feathers I am concerned about.

I have already taken my fishing tackle into and out of Australia a couple of times.

The Capes are so valuable I would probably take them in my suitcase and I don't want to risk them being confiscated.

G

Trouble is....the capes are the 'raw materials' and I need them to make more flies.

If I can't take them I will sell them.

G

What can't I take into Australia?
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Text Only | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us | Feedback Hope this helps..................... mm

Thanks mm.

Does not look too promising.

Maybe I would be better selling them and avoiding all the hassle.

G

Do you know/can you find out how exactly they were "professionally prepared"?

Then I'd email AQIS, tell them you have these cock feathers and that they've been treated ..... [whatever method], and whether this makes them acceptable.

If they say it's o.k., print off the email and have that with you when you go through customs with the feathers in your suitcase.

Gina

If the feather have been professionally prepared and not from endangered species, you may be ok. I don't know, but from our experience, we would have left so much behind if we had listened to the agents. I contacted AQIS about our professionally prepared taxidermy fox head and brush and they were helpful, pointing me to the specific criteria. It was inspected on arrival with regards to the above criteria and was passed no problem. So was all out old wooden and wicker stuff, African carved wooden mask etc. Obviously I can't say everyone won't have problems, but I would say don't give up the idea at this stage until you have contacted AQIS.

I am a big collector of earings, and had quite a few pairs which contained feathers, some worth a few quid and some just for sentimental reasons I didnt really want to get rid of them.
Anyway I was advised by our shippers to take them in my hand luggage and declare them.
Thats what I did and it worked for me.
They accepted them no problems as they could see that they were clean and free from any nasties.
Not quite the same as you maybe but an idea

I thought this part of Mr Mover's post looked ok for you:

Animal Products


feathers, bones, horns, tusks, wool and animal hair (must be clean and free of any tissue)

skins, hides and furs

stuffed animals and birds (taxidermy certificate required - some may be prohibited under endangered species laws)

So provided your feathers are free from tissue, then I think you may just about get by with it.

Incidentally, where do you go for fly fishing? I used to fly a lot, but havn't for many years and wouldn't mind getting back into it. It all seems to be sea fishing around Sydney though.

S

Thanks for that all.

I fly fish in Derbyshire and surrounds but it is becoming quite popular in Australia especially for freshwater fish and many sea fish such as mullet, Tailor, Flathead etc. and most pelagics.

The feathers are actually attatched to the skin as they are a whole cock neck skin.

I will check with the relevant authorities and perhaps remove them from the skin if necessary......although there are thousands of them.

G