Checked bags for air travel hunts?

[Pokerdaddy]

Hey All.  Planning my first hunting trip where I'll be flying to my destination (Ray's Hog Heaven Jan 31-Feb 3).  Looking at picking up two bags for the trip, both to be checked.

What bags do you recommend that would keep me within Delta's 62" (Length+Width+Height) limit.  Also, I'm trying to keep the cost under $100 total for the two bags, if possible.

Considering I've got a 3-piece LB in a 30" case, 36" arrow case with 12 arrows , lightweight sleeping gear, and light to medium weight clothing for 3 days.

Need not be camo, or made to hit the trail, just my door to Ray's...and back.

I do not know a particular brand but I packed a takedown recurve in my cheapo dept store suit case. I just put the bow in the middle and packed clothes all around it. If you want to take arrows in the same bag you will have to amke sure yuou find one with dimensions to accommodate that.

Bisch

[Kevin Dill]

The most funtional and inexpensive 'luggage' I own is a heavy canvas duffel from Cabela's. It's the brown one, with yellow Cabela's logo on it. Mine is about 36" long and easily accepts my MTM arrow box and 2 pc longbow tube. Very functional and durable. It comes with a removable padded shoulder strap which makes hustling it around airports a lot easier.

Another great piece of 'luggage' is a plastic Rubbermaid tote, often available for under $20. I use these constantly on my travelling hunts. I drill a number of holes around the top rim and use zip-ties to secure the lid. Totes are a great way to carry extra clothes, boots and loose gear. You can pack them tightly so that nothing moves in transit. I have 2 totes that have made 4 round trips to Alaska and 2 round trips to Hawaii. Both are completely undamaged, and that's more than I can say for my $175 Cabela's Rolling Duffel, or my $125 rolling carry-on.

[killinstuff]

The best for me is 120Q cooler with wheels. You can't fit your arrow case in there but you don't really need a case anyway or one for your bow, it just takes up space and adds weight.  For a three day hunt I'd only pack one change of clothes incase I got wet and that would be in my carry on. At Ray's you'll want a bed sheet to cover that old stained bunk and a pillow case also.  I pack a large duffle incase I have a lot of meat to bring home but you would need to kill 4 full size pigs to fill a 120Q cooler so I wouldn't worry about that.  To keep it shut I use a strap that can be easily removed and put back on so security can inspect it. Never use tape, conveyor belts eat it up

[killinstuff]

The best for me is 120Q cooler with wheels. You can't fit your arrow case in there but you don't really need a case anyway or one for your bow. It's just takes up space and adds weight.  For a three day hunt I'd only pack one change of clothes incase I got wet and that would be in my carry on. At Ray's you'll want a bed sheet to cover that old stained bunk and a pillow case also.  I pack a large duffle incase I have a lot of meat to bring home but you would need to kill 4 full size pigs to fill a 120Q cooler so I wouldn't worry about that.  To keep it shut I use a strap that can be easily removed and put back on so security can inspect it. Never use tape, conveyor belts eat it up

[Mike Vines]

Andrew, you do NOT need 2 bags to go on a hog hunt, well unless your my wife.  Get one that either your takedown bow and an arrow box will fit in, or get yourself a golfclub travel case (hard sided) and a Two Tracks Ambush or a take down to fit inside with your case then pack your clothes around it.  Seriously, you DO NOT need that much stuff.  Good camo, camp clothes slip on shoes, hunting boots and your bow/arrows.  If you stick one, quarter it up, buy a cooler and bring it home as your 2nd checked bag.

Any questions, give me a call.

[Preston Lay]

Nice to hear Kevin's response, as he certainly does some bowhunting travel. I have made a few flight trips and it seems I have not setteled on the the perfect travel, luggage plan. I have used two canvas duffles probably 36" long on one and the smallest Kifaru duffel for the other. I pack two takedown recurves in a plastic tube and the mtm arrow box with about 8 arrows. I would like to get all in one but doesn't ever work out! Depending on the airline its under $100 one way.

[Pokerdaddy]

Thanks for the input, guys.  Yeah, I was just reviewing Delta's latest bag fee schedule, and was taken aback that if you exceed the 62" limit it's an additional $175 for that bag.  That's what had me thinking two bags, to keep the size down.  

I'm a detail guy, to a fault.  Often suffering from paralysis by analysis.

[Mint]

I've been going down to florida hog hunting for over ten years now and have seen it go from 3 free 70lb bags on Jet Blue to now $25 to $50 for each 50lb bag. Also the oversize bag frees can be crazy. I looked at the rolling duffles since they seem perfect for putting my take down and arrows in the bottom, and clothes etc in the top. The problem was the rolling duffles, like cabelas were $17 pounds empty and oversize most of them. I went for the LL Bean rolling duffle since it is 31" and only weighs 9 lbs empty.  It is pricey but it is made extemely well and has paid for itself with the saving of the extra fees. Coming back I usually put meat in the duffle wrapped and the rest in a cooler which i tape up with duck tape after they inspect it. Never had a problem with the tape but have had straps removed and the cooler left open.

[lt-m-grow]

Great suggestions...another option is to take one carry-on and one checked bag.

You can put a lot of stuff in the carry-on, but your bow, and sharps (knives, bhs, etc)  need to be checked.

I travelled like this before, for hog hunting, and I went with the rolling cooler option.  The cooler held my hunting clothes, bows, sharps, etc.  and then I screwed a pvc tupe to the side of the cooler to hold my arrows as they would not fit within.  The pvc tube had a cap on one end and a screw-in plug on the other.  The airline excepted it as one bag.

On the return and successful trip, I put my clothes in a carry-on bag and my other stuff in a cooler.  I put the meat on the bottom and the other stuff in garbage bags and iced to the top.  Again, no problem to fly with.

Have fun and maybe take less stuff.  Two bags of stuff seems like a lot IMO.  It may also be cheaper to buy some things there.  For example on one trip I went to walmart and bought a sleeping bag for $12 then left it there.  That is cheaper than airline fees.

[fisherick]

All you need is one duffle and a backpack. For my last elk hunt to Colorado, I used a Cabelas 30"x15"x15" rolling duffle (8#) which included my  Bob Lee TD recurve, an Easton arrow tube with 8 arrows, 1p tent, sleeping bag, pad, Esbit stove & pot, two sets of clothes, boots, rain gear, several underwear and socks, etc at 48# total. I also use my Badlands 2800 pack as a carry on. My buddy and I often packs a whole camp, gear and tent into a 60 qt wheeled 5-day cooler.

[Roadkill]

military duffel bag.  boots in bottom, tube with bow and arrows in center, clothes packed around the tube and your pack and day gear on top.  Lock it up and away you go.  works well for me  Airlines take care of the military guys, or at least here they do