To export game farm animal products to the United States, a game farm operator must meet the provincial and U.S. requirements described here.
Provincial Requirements
Saskatchewan requires that domestic game farm animal products leaving a game farm be labelled with the domestic game farm operator's name or licence number, the species and sex of the animal, the unique identification of the animal and the date of slaughter.
U.S. Requirements for Game Farm Animal Products
The general requirements to import domestic game farm animal products into the U.S. are a completed Form 3-177 (Declaration for the Importation or Exportation of Fish or Wildlife) and an original and copy of a Bill of Sale from a game farm operator for each client. Additional requirements apply in certain circumstances, so follow the directions provided by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
U.S. Requirements for Bison and Non-Indigenous Species
Bison are considered wildlife under U.S. law, and bison products require proper documentation to enter the U.S. The hunter of a Plains Bison would require a Bill of Sale issued by the operator and the importer and has to file a U.S Fish and Wildlife Form 3-177.
The captive raised hybrid Wood/Plains Bison crosses are considered CITES (Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species) Appendix II species and would need a Canadian CITES export permit, in addition to the forms listed above. For information on the CITES export permit, contact Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, at 1-800-668-6767.
Purebred Wood Bison can be imported into the U.S. only by an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Permit for the purposes of scientific research, enhancement of propagation or survival of the species. Sport-hunted purebred Wood Bison cannot be imported into the U.S.
To avoid unnecessary delays, follow all procedures correctly.
NOTE: A USFWS Import/Export Licence must be obtained in advance for the commercial import/export of any wildlife part or product (e.g. importing/re-exporting animal products to attend a tradeshow).
Please contact the Livestock Branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture at 306-787-4606 or consult with the USFWS:
- Dunseith, ND - 701-263-4462
- Pembina, ND - 701-825-6366
- Sweetgrass, MT - 406-335-4350.