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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: StanM on July 06, 2010, 06:10:00 PM
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For those of you who have flown to an out of state hunt, how did you get your meat home? I've heard of guys checking coolers as luggage at the airport, but also heard that the meat can be shipped home via the Post Office. Any experiences with one or the other? How about costs? Thanks.
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StanM,
I have exactly the same question right now. I'm contemplating an elk hunt near Grants Pass, OR this year. Since I have to be in Denver for 4 days I'm thinking about flying to Denver, then to Medford, OR and then back home to KY. This will save me 4,600- 5,000 miles of driving. I'm thinking a Rooselvelt is going to yield 250 pounds of processed and frozen elk vensison. I'm pretty sure I've heard the airlines don't like dry ice in their holds. However, if frozen solid I'm not concerned about thawing on a 10-12 hour day. I am concerned about the cost though.
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I always use a cooler checked in as luggage. As long as the meat is frozen, I put the meat in a large trash bag, then cover with ice and tape the cooler shut with duck tape. I fly from Texas to Guam(16 hours from Houston, Texas) and the ice has not even started to melt. Do it every year, no problem. With the airlines as long as the weight is not over 50lbs(70lbs if elite status) all you have to pay is for the extra bag if they charge for an extra bag. If overweight it can get pricy depending on how much overweight.
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If you want to ship the entire elk home you can have it put on the plane or check into a local meat shop storing it and having a trucking company ship it with their frozen goods. Lots of long haul companies haul from the west coast to various parts of the country. Either way it is going to cost a fair amount.
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I've shipped quite a bit of meat via overnight ups and it's very doable. However, a frozen elk with dry ice in boxes is gonna run you about a grand.
Good luck,
Todd
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I've gone the cooler as a second piece of luggage. A second checked bag is $25-50 on most airlines up to 50#. Extra charge if you go overweight. You do run the risk that the bag can get lost, but in most cases even then you would have it within a day of your return. If the meat is well frozen before hand and it is a good insulated cooler, you still should be fine.
The post office only guaranees overnight delivery from certain zip codes, so check ahead of time to see what is available. Even then, the cost of shipping a heavy package can be pretty extreme. I would rather fly with my meat and ship my clothing and hunting gear home by parcel post.
Oh, and absolutely no dry ice in the cooler if you are flying.
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Watch about taping your cooler shut before you check in...I've had to unwrap it before to prove what was inside. I usually carry a roll of duck tape in my carry on.
The best thing is an F350 dually with a 400 quart cooler in the back.
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Stan I had 2 hogs processed and shipped home from Texas to Virginia this past February. The total on both the processing and shipping cost me almost as much as the hunt. I won't be doing that again. That had to ship next day to prvent the meat from spoiling. I think paying the extra check on bag at the airline is a far better way to go. the shipping alone was right at $300.
I wish I had read this thread before that hunt :banghead:
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I have done both. In 2001 I flew back with an antelope from Denver to NY in a cooler as checked baggage. It was a month after 9/11 so there was no charge. Did carry duct tape and taped the cooler closed after they checked it for contents.
2006 I hunted mule deer in Wy. Took it to a butcher which cost $68. Well worth it. My buddy froze it all at his house then overnighted it to me with meat, hide & horns. Cost me $250. Was worth not having the hassle from the airline. Elk would cost much more d/t the size.
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Thanks all for the replies. Looks like I'll go the airline route and pack duct tape in the carry-on.
BTW, this is making the awfully big assumption that I actually shoot something... :rolleyes: ...guys gotta dream :)
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the one thing I'll say about flying is make sure you do your homework on it....not all airlines are created equal here, some have drastically change and continue to do so.
I typically fly home on a yearly basis, and have friends that come up here and fish only to find out things have changed just in the time airfares are booked to the time they fly home....can be extremely spendy.
I will say fed x is crazy high to ship a fish box home.
Look at all your options, ground in a cold trailer is likely going to be your cheapest if logistically it can happen. There is no ground cold tractor tailer rigs I know of going from AK back to the lower 48.
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Duck tape in your carry on is illegal. My buddy about got strip searched in Seattle when we were going Caribou hunting. Man it was funny. LOL
Mike
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Seems like the best low cost approach is to eat fast after you kill him. :biglaugh:
My buddy brought back one cooler of meat last year after giving away most to his guide and it cost him $150 for the single cooler on the airlines.He had to take the tape off the cooler for inspection and re tape it for security then throw the roll of tape away before boarding.No telling what the cost or changes in things are this year but you certainly need to check with the airlines on your way out.
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Went on an antelope hunt in Montana last year and two of us had to fly meat, cape and horns home. We had the local meat locker process the 'lopes and they froze it over night. We put the frozen meat in coolers that we bought at Wal-Mart. No additional ice or anything. A friend on the trip had done this numerous times and the meat was always still frozen when he got home. Unfortunately, we had a delays and missed flights due to the airlines incompetence, which is getting more and more common nowadays. The meat was fine when we got home 24 hours later than planned, but it was just starting to thaw. Oh and someone stole half the meat out of my friend's cooler. No lie.
The reason we didn't add dry ice is because we were told by one airline worker that dry ice was illegal on flights. But then we had two other airline workers tell us it was legal in very small quantities. So check the regulations of the airline you're using and add some dry ice if you can.
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A trucking company is your best bet. Do some research and find a carrier with a drop off depot closest to your hunt location. Up here it is very affordable. We shipped almost 1000# of meat from Vancouver Island to Ontario for $160.00 delivered to the door in reefer truck. We had option of shipping frozen or refrigerated but not frozen. Used this option a bunch and always works fantastic.
If you have to fly, frozen in coolers is all you need - no dry ice required. Remember the cargo hold is cold at 40,000 ft.
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I just talked to Delta.
Silver Medallion: 1st Bag @ 70# free. 2nd Bag @70# free. 3rd bag @ 70# $25.00. Must be in well-sealable container (cooler but not styrofoam). Antlers must be 120" or less, tips protected, and skull clean and covered. Cost for antlers is $200. Most people fly with checked meat but ship antlers separate due to high cost.
If not silver medallion: 1st bag @ 50# $25, 2nd is $35 and 3rd is $125. Same price on antlers.
A limited liability form must be completed stating Delta not responsible for spoilage or damage.
My buddy in Oregon said to expect 200-250# of processed Roosevelt bull. I'd have to mail my bow and hunting duds. I could check 3 coolers with about 180 #'s of meat (figuring cooler at 10 pounds?)for $25.00. I don't know what the 4th bag would cost for silver medallion. For a bag between 71-100 pounds the over wt charge (silver medallion) would be $175 per bag -- ouch!
My buddy (not silver medallion) would have to pay $195 for 3 50# coolers.
Hope this helps a bit.
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Bowwild, what is silver medallion? is that a class of flight? I think Delta flys into Lewiston Idaho near where I will be bear hunting in Sept.
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The only problem I've found with calling the airlines is; you can call them back tomorrow and get a different answer 8-(
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Razor...
Delta has different flight status levels based upon the miles a person flies. My job (which is archery thank Goodness) requires that I fly quite a lot thus the extra perks.
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By the way Razor, veteran's like you should be classified as Diamond Elite by Delta and never pay for bags and have a seat up front! Thank-you!
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Thank you Bowwild. I'll check with the out fitter also and what has worked for their past clients.
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Biggie..
You are certainly on target with the complaint about the variability of information from airline officials! You can go through security and be told your computer can stay in its soft bag and your projector can stay in your pack. Then in the same airport days later and they jump you for not taking the computer out of the soft case and your projector out of the pack. They act like you're stupid (or a liar)for not knowing this and by the way, don't even consider arguing with them... better to tackle a judge I'd think than one of the TSA-types! Oh, and the way the airlines keep time.... when they say a "couple of minutes" untie your shoes and get comfortable. Sorry...I get really tired of paying a lot for 1/2 a flying bus seat and then experience the worst customer service on the planet.
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Here is what I got from Delta.
Thank you for contacting Delta Air Lines regarding your upcoming travel.
To let you know, Delta allows perishable items (both edible and
non-edible) onboard as part of your carry-on baggage allowance as long as there is no violation of agricultural restrictions for the destination country.
Perishable items include:
- Fresh or frozen foods, fruits, and vegetables
- Meats, fish, poultry, or bakery products
- Flowers of varying sorts including cut flowers, floral displays, and vegetable plants
If the item does not fit within our size or weight restrictions for carry-on baggage, we will accept the item within your checked baggage allowance once a limited liability release form has been completed.
Delta will not accept liability of any perishable item that spoils or goes bad during its journey in cargo.
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I froze a bear cape (skull in) solid and checked it a my third bag coming home. Duck taped shut inside a large Rubbermaid. Cost me another $85.00 to get it home.
The x-ray girl could not believe what she was seeing and called everyone over to look.. Funny!
Fact is bringing meat home is going to COST on an airline...!
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If the meat is important to ya, think about driving. Playing the airline game could just ruin your experience. If not, 50/100 pounds of boned out choice cuts in a solid cooler should be workable. Be aware of the weight and bag limits and go for it. Whatever you do check first with your outfitter and see how other hunters in his camp have handled the situation. He should be able to help in that regard.
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I'd drive. But that's just me.
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Probably 30+ hours for me. I'd rather not waste that time and be exausted getting there and home.
The outfitter said an ice chest basically.
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Delta will accept dry ice packages in amounts of 5.5 lbs. (2.5 kg) or less when used to cool non-hazardous perishables in carry-on or checked baggage. The package must:
-Meet carry-on baggage restrictions
-Allow the release of carbon dioxide
-State on the package "Dry Ice" or "Carbon Dioxide Solid"
-Note the net weight of the dry-ice material on the packaging -Include the contents being cooled in writing on the packaging
If possible, instead of dry ice, we encourage the use of gel packs or similar products to keep frozen perishable items fresh within the cargo hold.
Wet ice shipments are not accepted as carry-on baggage, checked baggage, or cargo on Delta or Delta Connection? flights.
For additional information, please visit delta.com at the link below:
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/dangerous_goods/index.jsp#ice
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Just for conversations sake, my buddy Blake and I drove to British Columbia for a Moose and Goat hunt (about 15 hours) and I took a chest freezer with my generator in the back of the truck...worked great obviously. All the meat and hides from two critters without a glitch.
Getting it out in the bush plane (Cesna 182) was another story in itself.