doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Importing guns from Mexico

I would like to know if anyone has ever tried to import guns from Mexico, and if it can be done. I have a good friend whom I hunt with in Mexico who has a nice SXS that he has offered to me. Unfortunately, I am not aware of the process for bring a gun into the US from Mexico. I have taken my guns to Mexico many times on hunting trips and returned with them, that is pretty straight forward. The research I have done on the internet has not addressed an import process. Any help is appreciated.

I'm not sure on his end, but here you need to have an ffl or importer fill out a form 6 for you. Not that hard, but it takes up to 3 months or so. If you cannot find someone local to help you out, I may be able to.
Steve

For import/export I would contact Leroy's Big Valley Gun Works of Montana, phone 406-228-4867, email leroygun@nemontel.net. Ask for Denise Tiffany.
While I did not use them yet I've heard many recommendations for them over past few years. Very reasonable charges too (import $75 for up to five guns).
Regards,
Jani

Anyone with a FFL can "occasionally" import a firearm that is a sporting type like a double. I imported a couple of doubles from Great Britian a few years back with no problem whatsoever.
Jim

Thanks for all of the information. I will try to get one of the local gun dealers to help me out first. I leave for a deer hunt on the 25th to Mexico, so it may be to late to import it this trip. When I finally get it done I will post the process and results.

Phil,

When are you finally going to try and make a hunt for those crazy looking plumed quail they have down there? Now that would be a story!

Destry

Destry:
I believe you're referring to our Gambels Quail. There are several coveys of these right in my suburban neighborhood and I've counted up to eighteen in my yard at one time.
Jim

We have lots of Gambels, Scales and Mearns quail around Tucson. Destry is talking about the Douglas Quail, Benson quail, and other names used for this quail. Google up Douglas quail and there are some neat pictures of a quail many quail hunters are not aware of. There are a few along the border and a whole lot of them in Sonora Mexico on one of the ranches we hunt. We hope to squeeze in a morning of quail hunting when we go down there in a few weeks. I would love to get a pair mounted.

That's the ones I was thinking of Phil. If you get into them be sure and take some photos. Didn't you tell me that you thought you and your brother had shot into a covey of them when you were boys up in AZ?

DLH

Yes we grew up in Douglas and at the time we did not really know what they were exactly. It was not until I saw these on the ranch in Mexico that I realized what we had shot 40 years ago.

Phillip:
Did some legal work in Douglas a couple of years ago and stayed in that old downtown hotel where Pancho Villa purportedly rode his horse up the grand staicase. It's quite the town. I've not see this type of quail either so do post some pics. if possible.
Jim

Phil is too modest, he shoots every species of quail in the US during one season I think. He is the quail shootinest gentleman, rivaling even Mista Nash.

I'd never even heard of Mearn's Quail till he sent me pictures of some he'd shot over his dogs. Something I can't get right in my mind though, are Mearns and Montezuma quail the same bird?

Destry

Here you go Destry
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/21096662

Thanks Drew, that clears it up.

You actually took the one of all the quail standing on top of the fence didn't you?

That one of the hen and all the little ones is fun too.

What's that crazy bird they hunt in the west that looks like a cross between a grouse and a roadrunner?

Destry

Chachalaca? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chachalaca

Oh no - now we've gotta debate whether one can cleanly kill chachalaca at 40 yds with 1 oz Brit 7s

That's the one, I couldn't recall the name. The only mentions I've ever heard of anyone actually hunting them was something in Mathewson's book "Best Birds, Upland and Shore" and then a posting one of the boys did on the Parker BBS along with some pictures. I just want to be able to say I've shot drake and hen of all the legal North American ducks and I've not been able to do that yet.

Destry

Rev drew is there nothing that you do not have a picture trail of/for/with/to/from or with?... And they are ALL great! This one that sunset is just killar baby, killar

tim

The State of Georgia (or maybe it was one of the Island owners)once stocked Chachaloca on several of the barrier islands just off the GA coast as a pheasant substitute. They hung on for many years, but I think are about gone now.

GA soil or weather can't support a pheasant population and we've never had any. Due to public demand, the State has tried a number of substitues. Red Jungle Fowl were once stocked around a fish hatchery in the southern part of the State near the town of Fitzgerald.

Unfortunately, who ever sold the birds that were stocked must have pulled a fast one, and the State got bantam chickens instead of wild jungle fowl. The bantams all migrated to the Town of Fitzgerald and are still there, nurtured and fed by the townspeople. They even have a "Wild Chicken Festival" there every year. Whenever I travel through the area I drive through the residential neighborhoods just to see the chickens.

Maybe Destry will have to travel to GA to bag his chachalaca and red jungle fowl. I'm not so sure about the chachalaca, but I would guarantee the chickens...Geo

Italian sxs the hotel is the Gadsden hotel in Douglas. It is definite a historical landmark. If you google the hotel up you will see a picture of the staircase you are referring to. Quit a unique hotel in a such a small out of the way border town. The rooms are comfortable,and the beer is cold with an excellent selection of tequila in the tavern. I hunted south of Tucson this afternoon. ( Convinced my wife the dogs really needed to get out this weekend) The temperature was in the 70's the hunting was great, Jules and Harmony did their part and I was able to take 5 Mearns quail with my new 28 RBL loaded with some #9's. Doc Drew's pictures sure displays the wonder and magnificence of the area we are blessed to hunt and live in.
"Darn I must go to work in the morning".