pigs and planes???

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by joe ashton:
Hi all.  I am headed to the Solana ranch, in TX, to bow hunt pigs..  I've been hog hunting a few times before and I've always donated the meat to the local food banks.  But this trip I'd like to bring some home.  How do you fly with meat?  I'm thinking, run over to Wal-mart and buy  a cheap cooler, ice and duck tape??  I just don't know..
Thanks for any suggestions.
Joe
PS. I'll be using:  55# prong horn long bow, G/T with 100gr brass inserts and Grizzlies, woodsman, Magnus 2 blade.. ?

That's exactly how you do it bro... just package the meat in clear bags & freeze it solid if you can, and have extra duct tape to reseal the cooler if they inspect it... Just stay with your cooler until it clears TSA with duct tape in hand...

btw.... try and keep the weight down to 50# or they'll hook you for over weight luggage fees.

[killinstuff]

I guess I've hauled home as much hog meat on a plane as anyone. I bone out as much meat as i can and freeze it in big freezer bags. If I can't freeze it, just get it cold. Since I use a 120Q cooler for my gear and clothes I can just put the  meat in it and stuff dirty clothes around it to keep it cool. Do not duct tape it. I have yet to fly back from Texas and NOT have a TSA flyer in my cooler. I use a heavy strap to keep the cooler closed.  The one time I did duct tape my cooler I got to see the baggage conveyor belt peel the tape off in front of my eyes on an incline and my gear dump onto the floor. Fun.  

I've also carried meat on the plane in a smaller cooler from Florida. No issues

[MnFn]

I tried to buy dry ice locally from a butcher and was told due to regulations it was not worth his while to handle it any longer.
Good luck on your hunt.

[DaveT1963]

Exactly how I did it with fish from Alaska last year.  In fact I spent the extra cash to have a second bag flown.

[Skipmaster1]

I brought home a deer from out west. The local Walmart had blocks of dry ice. I bought a cheap cooler and 1 block of dry ice. I duct taped it all up and wrote my name and address on the cooler. I did drill a pin hole in the top of the cooler to let the co2 escape.
Check your airline. Mine allowed 5# of dry ice in checked bags.

[Mint]

I found this on the TSA website, If traveling with dry ice:


Questions about the transportation of dry ice generally fall into the hazmat realm where FAA has primary oversight. Since we often get dry ice questions, I felt that it would be a great topic for Travel Tips Tuesday.

My first tip is to check with your airline for any guidance they might have on traveling with dry ice. Dry ice is not prohibited by TSA. Secondly, as far as FAA regulations go, dry ice is permissible when traveling with perishables as long as you adhere to the following guidelines.  


Packages of dry ice must allow for the release of carbon dioxide gas.
 The limit for dry ice for both carry-on and checked baggage is five-pounds.  
Packages of dry ice must contain the language "Carbon Dioxide Solid" or "Dry Ice" and must also have the net weight of the dry ice on the package.
See you next Tuesday with more travel tips!

[Trond]

...and pigs might fly...

Sorry, couldnt help it.

[2wfstlhunting]

Went fishing in Cabo a few yrs ago and yup, we went to Walmart and got cheap coolers and duct tape. The fish was frozen solid to start with and happened to also be vacuum packed.  It was tightly packed into the cooler and kept itself frozen.  Shipped it along with my luggage and it got home back to Philadelphia without a hitch.  Enjoyed it thoroughly.  

Enjoying the meat after the fact does a lot to prolong the memory of that hunt.  Go for it

Good point above.  It seems to me that at least one of us had to open the cooler at the airport so have sufficient duct tape to reclose it, or just wait until you get to the airport