posted
So for those of you that like to fly to your hunting destination, how do you get your meat home? I'm going down to Texas this fall with my son (8 by then) to do some awesome father/son bonding time.
I'm looking at getting a pretty good load of meat, so how have you all gotten it home? Anyone ever sent it home once frozen by UPS?
This being my first out of state hunt, I want to make the most of it, and be as prepared as possible.
Thanks in advance guys,
MIke
-------------------- Michigan Longbow Association, Life Member
U.S. ARMY Military Police '90-'94
Ask me about the PBS, We Stand for Ethics. Posts: 4149 | From: Michigan | Registered: Sep 2005
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If you have time to freeze it you can overnight it or priority ship it to your home. If you're flying you & your son could each check a cooler & carry on your other gear. I've gone that route & it worked well... just be sure to check with your airline about size/weight limits.
Posts: 136 | From: Botetourt Co., VA | Registered: May 2003
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When we used to fly we would travel with one bag, bow and arrows in the bag, and buy a cooler at our hunt place and pack frozen meat in it and it would be fine when we got home. Back then you were allowed 2 check bags so the cooler was my second bag. The only trouble is you end up with a bunch of coolers after awhile. We have quit fooling with airlines and drive now. We are even planning to drive from Virginia to Portland, Or. for the PBS gathering next year. Jack
-------------------- PBS Associate member TGMM Family of the Bow Life is good in the mountains Posts: 1399 | From: Nowhere, Virginia | Registered: Jun 2006
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You can cut up and clean/deboned meat freeze it and put it in your luggage. A friend of mine from Lewiston area flies to California every year for hogs and Does the deep freeze and the meat goes below staying real cold. Just an idea PM me and I'll ask him if its OK to give you his Number to get all the facts.
-------------------- ...Mark Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.-loa tzu Posts: 402 | From: Taylor, Michigan | Registered: Jan 2011
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I too was thinking about the cooler idea, but what do you do to keep the cooler closed? I'm assuming you could duck tape it, but would the airport security cut it open, and reseal it? That might be the best option if both of us get a cooler when we get there.
-------------------- Michigan Longbow Association, Life Member
U.S. ARMY Military Police '90-'94
Ask me about the PBS, We Stand for Ethics. Posts: 4149 | From: Michigan | Registered: Sep 2005
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I fly from Guam to Texas every year to hunt. Just freeze the meat. If I have time I have it processed and frozen otherwise I debone and wrap and freeze. I then put the meat in a cooler in a large trashbag and cover with ice. If you are not flying as far as I do you could just put the meat in the cooler frozen. When I arrive back on Guam the meat is still frozen and hardly any ice is melted. The key is to buy a good cooler, I buy the kind that will hold ice for 5 days. Works for me. Most airlines will have you place the cooler in a large heavy duty plastic bag and they normally supply the plastic bag, at least Continental does.
-------------------- "When shooting instinctivly,it matters not which eye is dominant"
Jay Kidwell and Glenn St. Charles
TGMM Family Of The Bow NRA Life/Patron member NAHC life member Retired CPO US Navy 1972-1993 Posts: 6594 | From: Guam | Registered: Jul 2003
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I always put a ratchet strap on my coolers to keep them closed. TSA can look inside but they can cinch it back easily as well. You have to make it easy on them, they have hundreds of bags to search & aren't gonna spend a lot of time making sure your's is closed back up.
Posts: 136 | From: Botetourt Co., VA | Registered: May 2003
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Yep, must stay below 50# unless you are a frequent flyer, then some airlines allow 70#.
-------------------- "When shooting instinctivly,it matters not which eye is dominant"
Jay Kidwell and Glenn St. Charles
TGMM Family Of The Bow NRA Life/Patron member NAHC life member Retired CPO US Navy 1972-1993 Posts: 6594 | From: Guam | Registered: Jul 2003
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I live in NY & hunt with a friend in Wy every few years. I have done both overnight shipping home & coolers on the plane. Both worked well just comes down to cost. Which ever is cheaper will work. I brought duct tape with me and taped them closed after TSA checked them. Hope you have a good time.
Posts: 1125 | From: Upstate NY | Registered: Jul 2007
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I travel to the lower 48 with frozen meat & fish, and if I have to wait several hours or stay overnight in Seattle, there is a freezer service at SeaTac airport where you can leave a box. I just reclaim my box and put it in the freezer until I am ready to go on with my trip. Good thing to check availability on if you have a long stop in one place, although it does make you go through security and bag check again.
Posts: 362 | From: Alaska | Registered: Apr 2009
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Has anyone tried UPS delivery? I figure if I could get it cut and vacume sealed and froze down there, then when it gets home, all the dirty work is done. Just me thinking outloud again.
-------------------- Michigan Longbow Association, Life Member
U.S. ARMY Military Police '90-'94
Ask me about the PBS, We Stand for Ethics. Posts: 4149 | From: Michigan | Registered: Sep 2005
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Mike, after several elk hunt trips to Colorado, and some of them successful, we always fly the meat home with us as baggage. One trip we came home with 2 bulls and 450# of meat, taken home processed, wrapped and frozen in 50# waxed cardboard boxes, split as baggage for 6 guys. We shipped some of our gear UPS. Next time around was only two of us and we took home 140# of frozen meat in two coolers and two carry on bags. The rest of our gear was shipped home DHL ground. Use a safety harness tree strap to secure around a cooler. All meat came home frozen even with 12 hours travel time.
Posts: 119 | From: Massachusetts | Registered: Feb 2006
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FWIW, I did a moose hunt in BC a few years ago. If i had got a moose, there would have been issues shipping UPS as it was raw meat crossing the border from one country to the next. It would not have been an issue if shipped within US, including from Alaska to lower 48. So I would guess shipping from Texas to Michigan would not be an issue.
Posts: 451 | From: midwest | Registered: Dec 2004
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UPS sodomizes its non-corporate customers. I sent 8 pheasant and Hun breasts to my parents with a single cooler pack. Cost $85--for two day delivery, not next day.
-------------------- Jock TGMM Family of the Bow Hunting should be hard. Posts: 324 | From: Evaro, Montana | Registered: Mar 2004
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