Quote Originally Posted by Canuck of NI View Post
I'm not sure how US Customs officially regard a wildlife product that is in private hands, in private utilitarian use, and will not be left in the USA. I do know from my native friends that they are hypervigilant about ceremonial eagle feathers, but it seems that is mostly because those have a high commercial value that affects an endangered species- seals are not that. I suppose it would be best to just leave the thing at home in Canada, but frankly that would not have previously occurred to me with mine. Dang it, do I now have to pay big bucks for a cheap sporran? (Actually there are no cheap sporrans, just inferior ones at slightly reduced prices.)

I'll probably be going down to the US this Easter and unless they're otherwise giving me a hard time at Customs, I'll ask about it. Of course one border agent's opinion is not binding on another, but perhaps there is a real policy. Where I cross, they're crazy on the topic of Granny Smith apples from AUS and NZ, and not in an approving way- other places they never ask.
Cousin Cannuck, and OP Ken

My recommendation, purely for simplicity and safety's sake, would be to leave the seal skins at home if you are coming to the US for a visit. I would be more than happy to ship as loaners one or more of my dress or semi-dress sporrans to you for your use here in the states (must be to a US address), as long as you promise to return it by shipping it from within the US before you leave the country. I have a couple of dress and semi-dress sporrans in "interesting and familiar" fur that would I am sure be suitable for your needs, and can send photos to an email address if you would like to see and hear more about them.

Customs folks are just humans like us who are doing their jobs (really, Wompet is a decent guy, I have met and drank with him), that job being to enforce the laws as they are set and as they understand them, although this can sometimes allow for a bit too much leeway one way or the other.

jeff