Airline Travel for Hunt Gear, Meat

[FLXHunter]

For those who have used airline travel to get to your hunt destination do you have any pointers for someone using this option? This is my first time flying to the hunt destination which is in AZ for a mule deer hunt.
Also if anyone has knows of a good game meet processor in the Prescott area Id like to know about it.
Thanks

 

[mdhunter61]

If you are bringing firearms, make sure to print out your airlines instructions for how to check a firearm as checked baaggage, the counter person may be unfamiliar with the process. Pack ammo in a hard case or in original manufacturer packaging.

 

[Straight Arrow]

'Don't mean to sound arrogant, but feel blessed to be a Montana hunter. I would rather take a beating than get on a commercial airliner for any reason!

 

[FLXHunter]

'Don't mean to sound arrogant, but feel blessed to be a Montana hunter. I would rather take a beating than get on a commercial airliner for any reason!

Yea I'm not excited about it either but I'm already pushing my luck with time away so a 34 hr one way drive isn't really in the cards

 

[Addicting]

Are you former military? What airline?

 

[WVmike]

Flew with a firearm for the first time last year to Colorado for second rifle. Pack the rifle in a hard case that has padlocks. If there are 2 padlocks you have to have 2 locks, if there are 4 you have to have 4 locks, etc. Also show up early just to make sure it goes smooth. Don't put the locks on until you get to the counter because they will have you open the case and they will have you fill out a paper and put it in the case. Also for ammo, you can store it in the same case as the rifle as long as it is in a ammo box and not loaded in a magazine. After that they will have you lock it then they run it off to the side by itself and they take it to the plane. Make sure when you are checking in bags that you declare you have a firearm so they can do the things that I just mentioned. Generally most people know when you have a rifle case lol. Also flying to the location last year was convenient but also annoying at the same time. We got there in 4 hours but we had to drive from Denver to the location which took longer than expected and also had we shot something, we would have paid well over $1,000 in shipping/prep cost for butchering and also the hours of the local butchers was spotty which made logistics an issue if we shot something on this day vs the other along with a return flight back. I personally will drive next year for elk hunting and probably will when I do go hunting out west unless it is to somewhere like Alaska obviously.

 

[FLXHunter]

Are you former military? What airline?

No not former military. Flying with Delta

 

[Addicting]

No not former military. Flying with Delta

Sorry, I’m no help then.

Anyone else reading this flying to AZ. Make sure you look at allegiance honor program.

 

[jwatts]

If there's a spot on your case for alock, put a lock on it
Do not use TSA locks. Use a lock only you have a key for.
Ammo goes in factory packaging, or a case made to hold ammo.
Print out the TSA and airline rules for checking a firearm and have that in your case
Get there early in case they want to inspect your firearm. We had the TSA folks in Denver completely disassemble our gun cases and inspect everything inside. We were scared we were going to be late for the flight.

 

[JAG]

Here's some personal details for color/description, mixed in with what I do for air travel.

I remove the foam cushions from my gun case and replace them with my sleeping bag and other soft stuff. I also max out the weight limit for the case with all of my heavy stuff like binos, s-scope, etc., until it reaches 49#.

I have an AA Card, so I get a free checked bag. Other cards do similar stuff. My younger 2 sons fly with me, so that is two additional free checked bags up to 50# each. I have a 120 qt cooler with wheels, and I put other lightweight stuff in it up to 50# max.
I bring a metal tub to boil the skull for the euro mount. I pack the tub as a checked bag with straps to hold my stuff in it.

My oldest is in the military and travels separately. He gets one free checked bag. We all share the same 2 guns, so one gun case for our party of four.

My carry-on bags are now as light as they can be, creating more space since they no longer contain clothes or a sleeping bag.

For carry-ons, you are allowed one bag and a personal item. Hard side bags are size restricted, but soft-sided bags are NOT.

If you bring a soft-sided bag (like a 6-7500 cu. in. hunting backpack), you won't be size restricted if you carry it on. Returning home, make it as heavy as you can with elk meat.

Returning home with meat:
Up to 5 pounds of dry ice per container.
Put a $9 cooler bag with a zipper from Walmart inside your hunting pack with 5#'s of dry ice.
Get another cooler bag as your personal item, 5# of dry ice.
One of these cooler bags carries 40-50 pounds of meat.
For our party, 4 people will carry 80 pounds of meat each. This gives us a meat allowance of 320 pounds- at no charge.

 

[JAG]

Our airline tickets and hotel stay on the front and back end of the trip are free with points.

I rent from Turo, rent llamas for $50/day or less per llama. Some packers give you multiple-day discounts.

 

[npaden]

I've never had any issues with my hard case and only 2 locks on it even though there are 4 holes for locks. Standard Pelican case. 3 trips to Alaska and 1 trip to Nevada with a checked firearm.

I like to take the soft sided coolers (I have some RTIC ones) and use those for meat, although when I shot my bison in Alaska I bought some cheap hard sided coolers and used those but I ended up paying for something like 4 extra checked bags and it cost several hundred dollars extra but still way cheaper than if I had shipped it home FedEx. On that trip I put all my clothes and other gear in a box and sent it back home UPS instead of as an extra checked bag but really only saved $50 or $60 doing that but I think the limit was 4 checked bags. Coming home from New Zealand did the same thing buying a hard sided cooler there.

I've always had luck finding a place with a freezer to get the meat frozen before coming home. No need to mess with dry ice if the meat is frozen already. If you can't get it frozen then the dry ice is probably your best bet for sure.

 

[jwatts]

That's a good point on finding a freezer. A lot of hotels in Anchorage offer freezer space. The hotel where we stayed in Casper did as well. It may be a good idea to call ahead and see if that's an option where you'll be.

 

[7Bartman]

I made this video a while back so hopefully you'll find it helpful. Some of the aspects have changed (like the SW baggage fees).

 

[Addicting]

Here's some personal details for color/description, mixed in with what I do for air travel.

I remove the foam cushions from my gun case and replace them with my sleeping bag and other soft stuff. I also max out the weight limit for the case with all of my heavy stuff like binos, s-scope, etc., until it reaches 49#.

I have an AA Card, so I get a free checked bag. Other cards do similar stuff. My younger 2 sons fly with me, so that is two additional free checked bags up to 50# each. I have a 120 qt cooler with wheels, and I put other lightweight stuff in it up to 50# max.
I bring a metal tub to boil the skull for the euro mount. I pack the tub as a checked bag with straps to hold my stuff in it.

My oldest is in the military and travels separately. He gets one free checked bag. We all share the same 2 guns, so one gun case for our party of four.

My carry-on bags are now as light as they can be, creating more space since they no longer contain clothes or a sleeping bag.

For carry-ons, you are allowed one bag and a personal item. Hard side bags are size restricted, but soft-sided bags are NOT.

If you bring a soft-sided bag (like a 6-7500 cu. in. hunting backpack), you won't be size restricted if you carry it on. Returning home, make it as heavy as you can with elk meat.

Returning home with meat:
Up to 5 pounds of dry ice per container.
Put a $9 cooler bag with a zipper from Walmart inside your hunting pack with 5#'s of dry ice.
Get another cooler bag as your personal item, 5# of dry ice.
One of these cooler bags carries 40-50 pounds of meat.
For our party, 4 people will carry 80 pounds of meat each. This gives us a meat allowance of 320 pounds- at no charge.

Way easier if you fly allegent with your boy in the military. 1 free carry on and 2 checked bags up to 99lbs each and waived over size. This was completely free.

 

[FLXHunter]

Thanks you for all the helpful tips. Today is go time! AZ bound!

 

[Deez Nutz]

Pic for good vibes.

 

[Catskill.Joe]

Do they put the skull and antlers under the plane?? I was wondering how you get those back via flight

 

[BuckhunterBen]

Returning home with meat:
Up to 5 pounds of dry ice per container.

Do you use actual dry ice or the dry ice packs?

 

[BuckhunterBen]

Do they put the skull and antlers under the plane?? I was wondering how you get those back via flight

According to tsa's website you can carry on and/or check antlers, my friend flew back home from Colorado last year with his buck under the seat.