LAST EDITED ON Feb-07-04 AT 08:07AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Feb-07-04 AT 08:03?AM (MST)
Dave,
I knew this would be the next part of this discussion!!!!!
I don't know where you heard your information, nor does it matter, but it doesn't suprise me a bit that my name would be associated with this, as I send more hunters back and forth across the border than most. I can assure you that not (one) single client of Pusch Ridge Outfitters was or has ever been cited or had any trophy confiscated. No Pusch Ridge Outfitter clients crossed the border with any paperwork that was not in order. Our clients are paperworked to death on their reenty into the US and their paperwork is correct. This is one thing that I have demanded for years. I don't leave this up to anyone but myself. I see what happens down there every year with paperwork and tags, and I am not suprised in the least that this has happened. It was only a matter of time. It shouldn't suprise you, but maybe you aren't aware of the size of our Mexico operation, and that I might know something about what is required and what isn't required.
You say people have been coming back from there for 15 years with no problems, which may be true, and yes things are completely different now than then, but what I see with both SEMARNAP and USFWS is that they are abiding by the rules and regulations this year as never before. Our importation laws have changed very little in the last few years, but Mexico's laws change every year. That's why it is so critically important that who ever you hunt down there with is on top of the law, and for that matter it wouldn't hurt any hunter to do his or her research to know something about it themselves. It's your ass, not the Outfitters if something goes awry.
Cal,
I would expect that your line of thinking could be correct. It would be an awfully stupid mistake by the Outfitter to withhold the contract from his clients who where leaving the country with their trophys, but I've seen other things down there that would be just as odd. If your thinking is correct, I don't understand why those contracts could not be sent to the States to clear up the mess.
Kirk Kelso