I need some advice

[Iowabowhunter]

I have a hunt in Ohio planned for this fall. I can only take 5 days off of work at a time, and with 30hours of drive time looking me in the face I am going to be forced to fly to be able to hunt more than 3 days.

My bow is a take down, so I can pack that in my carry on, along with the rest of my gear. Might ship arrows out beforehand.

My main problem is what to do with the meat and horns should I get something. I have an any sex tag, a doe tag and a fall turkey tag. I'm not sure what I would do with all the meat/antlers?

Any ideas guys

[Roadkill]

Get a military seabag or two.  I put my boots at the bottom.  My take down longbow and arrows in a PVC tube in the midlle, with clothes packed around the PVC. Pack on top, lock!
Take you boned out meat, frozen in the other.  Mayybe bubble wrap around the meat.  The aircraft belly is not heated and it is cold up there
It has worked for me going to- from Missouri

[meatCKR]

Talk to the locals. They usually know of butchers that can pack and ship meat.

[old_goat2]

Do you really want the meat or would you be willing to donate it, some places utilize it for the needy.

[Jon Stewart]

As mentioned, put your arrows in PVC or in a carpet tube which are free and works good. Put the tube of arrows in the bag that goes in the belly of the jet. I have shipped many arrows in carpet tubes without a problem. Also as mentioned, donate the meat and enjoy your hunt.

[Kip]

You might not be able to put your bow in carry on check first don't want to have them say no the day of flying.I brought a cube ice chest packed some gear in it and used it for frozen meat for return trip from Canada.Kip

[kadbow]

Can you take a bow in your carry on? You wouldn't want it confiscated at security.

[shreffler]

I'm sure someone local in the area (either an outdoors shop our outfitter) could tell you of a meat/antler shipping service.

Might be pricey, but heck if you're spending the $$$ to do the hunt might as well spend the extra $200 to ship your meat back home if you get anything and get to enjoy it for the next few months.

You could even google something along the lines up Ohio game shipping services or something like that and locate one near where you're going ahead of time.

Maybe someone from Ohio can chime in here. Might be helpful to know where about in the state you're going for others to help out.

Alex

[ChuckC]

yes, hopefully by carry on you meant checked in.  I personally would not even try to carry on a bow.  All it takes is one person questioning it and your trip is done and your bow is gone and you might be questioned for hours.  I know, it is probably not one of those assault bows, but, I personally would just pack it in checked baggage.  

Boned out, a doe and a buck and a turkey are not altogether that much meat.  It will be overweight, but you can ship it, or ship it via Greyhound bus line or some other means so weight is less an issue.

CHuckC

[Krex1010]

I would NOT try to carry on anything that could be classified as a weapon. Also, one of my contracts for work requires me to spend time on the airstrip at a major airport....I've seen enough bags laying on the airstrip for several hours that I would be nervous about my hunting gear arriving at the same time I would. If you are going to check your bow Id call the airport and make sure you follow any procedures for shipping a bow, trust me, they do not care about your schedule or convenience so make sure you are following all the rules. Honestly I'd investigate shipping my important gear with ups or something like that, they will take better care of your property without a doubt.

[bretto]

I had to check my bow and arrows a couple of years ago going to N.Y. for the Bunny Hunt at Shawn's.

I put it in a large duffel bag in a T/D soft case. Arrows were put in a piece of 3" PVC with end caps.

Put the arrows on the bottom piled on some clothes put the bow in the middle another layer of clothes. Told the baggage checker I had it she said OK. Had no problems.

I called the Airline ahead of my flight and was told I could not carry it on with me.

bretto

[lt-m-grow]

You cannot carry-on a bow, arrows, knife, or broadheads.  They must be in check-in luggage.

Lot of other good advice here.

When I fly and meat is involved, I mostly use two of these for my check-in luggage     http://www.igloocoolers.com/Coolers/All-Coolers/60-Quart-Ice-Cube-Roller    

They can store all my equipment on the way there in them (take down bow) and they work well as rolling luggage when negotiating the airport terminal.  I DO put a packing strap or two around them to keep the lids shut.

 I also include "garbage" bags and an expandable gym type bag in there too.  

On the way back I mix the frozen or iced-meat (yes iced, not frozen as it wasn't an option).  I mix the meat and my bigger gear (i.e. bow etc) in the coolers protected with garbage bags.  The remaining stuff (mostly clothes) goes in the gym bag as a carry on.  You should be able to keep two deer and all your hunting stuff in the coolers and keep them under 50s# each.   Seriously boned out deer are not that heavy.

Another idea is to take home the "good" cuts of meat and find a butcher to take your scraps to have sausage made and shipped to you later.

Another trick I have done is when I needed a sleeping bag to stay in a bunk-house is to go to a walmart at your destination and buy one for $10-$15 and leave it there.  It feels a bit wasteful (to me), but it is really cheap and saves lots of space.

BTW...the ideas I suggest are not for fly-in hunts and such.  This just works for hunts like you are taking that requires commercial flights.  Good luck.

[Bowwild]

Back around 2005 or so I wanted to bring a TD recurve from WI to KY.  The airlines made me put the riser in checked bags but they allowed the limbs in carry-on.

These days I just pack the entire rig in checked luggage.

I can't contribute to the meat/antlers question. I have to get an answer for the same thing about bears this spring.

[Bowwild]

I like that idea about the rolling cooler!  I already have one and I'd bet a person could get 3-4 bear hides/skulls in it?

[lt-m-grow]

Bowwild...I would say yes.   They are big, but not too big to work like "normal" luggage.

I have taken many flights with them and never had a problem.

[Firstlight]

I would just put the meat in a cooler, assuming that there are no silly rules against flying with said meat.

About 15 years ago I packed a cooler full of frozen meat along with dry ice & I had no problems with a 5 hour flight.

Clearly you'll be checking in that bow / arrows.  Either that or send ahead of you to your destination.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by kadbow:
Can you take a bow in your carry on? You wouldn't want it confiscated at security.

No.... they will not allow any weapons or parts of weapons in your carry on.  They won't even let you bring bare arrow shafts in your carry on luggage. I tried telling them they were just knitting needles, but it wouldn't fly...

Just get a duffle bag and use a hard arrow case. They are cheep.

Best way to bring meat home is to freeze it solid in clear plastic bags, and pack it into a cooler and duct tape it closed & check it in as luggage. btw... put all the meat in a large clear plastic bag.... If its paper wrapped they could choose to unwrap every piece in your cooler. TSA is a fickle bunch....But if its clear plastic bags you won't have any problems.... just watch your weight... it can be expensive.

[hvyhitter]

You may want to check ahead of time into meat packers/processers and taxidermy shops near where you will be hunting. If you get your deer the last day you may be pressed for time in getting it frozen and packed in time for your flight. Call and check for the ability to freeze and ship the meat and antlers or donation of meat to local food bank. Better to have a plan in place if you score than jumping through hoops the last minute........... Bow, arrows and hunting gear in a duffle bag works really well when flying. I was hassled 20yrs ago trying to fly with a take-down in a carry on. Its even worse now............

[Cyclic-Rivers]

My plan has been in the past to buy a cooler if successful, then fly home with the cooler as an additional checked bag with frozen and packaged meat.

The money you save on one less bag on the way out could off set the expenses of the cooler and the extra bag on the way home.

If you really have time and resources you could check the local Craigslist and buy a used cooler while there.

You can get a whole boned out deer in a mid sized cooler. as far as the antlers, You may have to ship if you are lucky and take a big one.

[Mint]

For the past 14 years I've been flying down to florida to hog hunt. I bought a rolling duffle that hasa separate compartment in the bottom for my take down recurve that I wrap with my hunting clothes.
 This duffle empty only weighs 7lbs. Don't get the one that is really heavy since weight is an issue.

I use a cooler that it-me-grow posted and that weighs 13lbs empty. I debone all the hogs and they go in the cooler with any leftover going into my duffle bag wrapped with a insulated freezer bag. Never had a problem with meat spoiling and I never pack with ice or even frozen.

My carryon on the way back contains my clothes that I took out of the duffle to make room for the meat. I packaged the meat in big ziplock bags.

I have never had a problem with jetblue or southwest.

I remember the good old days when jetblue let you checked three bags at 70lbs, now I fly southwest since they let you check two 50lb bags for free.

Antlers I would see if I could bring on the plane or ship home by FedEx Ground.