Air Travel logistics?

[MCNSC]

Been reading and enjoying both the LTR threads. And was hoping some that went or have experience with traveling to hunt would care to share what their experiences were. Were there any issues with getting bows and arrows on the plane, how do you get the meat home ? Just general things about getting there and back. 

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Not specific to that hunt, but I've traveled all over by air to hunt.....it's no more a problem with bows/arrows than without. One thing to simplify, is to use a takedown bow. Fly with a duffel with a takedown case in the middle of your clothes. PVC arrow tube. Easy Peasey.  Meat can be frozen and checked in a cooler. For 20 lb of javelina meat I'd suggest using it in camp or donating to a local.

Don't overthink it.

R

[smokin joe]

I gave my javelina meat to the ranch hands there on the ranch. They were very happy to have it. I have a special case that I use for my bows and arrows. I don't mind paying the extra luggage charge when I fly. As Ryan said, a cooler makes getting meat or hides/skulls home pretty easy. Again, there is an extra luggage charge for that.

[Terry Green]

I'll take pics before I unload in a bit... Coleman polar coolers work great also..... back later...

[Terry Green]

I do what Ryan does....

[Terry Green]

[Terry Green]

One of my tasks is a little longer and goes through the main compartment...

Both outside compartments are used for padding.

[Terry Green]

If you take one piece bows in a tube as I use to, I used a big polar cooler for my clothes and gear and just drag it around.  My Coleman had more frequent flyer miles than most travelers at one time my friends used to joke.

Give my meat to ranch hands if there is no feed the needy program local.

[GCook]

I like to drive if at all possible for trips that take 12 hours or less by road.  I like having my truck and an escape plan.😄
That said I have a lockable bow case that I take out the foam and pack the take down bows in (arrows too) and use clothes for padding.  Went to Canada in 2019 that way and it worked well.

[Wudstix]

On my budget, it's drive or stay home.  So everything packs in my FJ Cruiser.  Bows in the back seat with two medium bags for gear.  This trip the bag of wool didn't even get opened.  The Asbell wool would have been in shreds, if I'd have taken it in the brush.  Lucky to have some TradGang gear that stood up to the abuse better than I did!!!
 

[Terry Green]

I changed the title for you Sir, hoping to get more input with a more general title for air travel.

[MCNSC]

Thank you for the replies. Keep thinking I need to do this. Farther than I’d care to drive and I’ve  Never flown to go on a hunt, doesn’t seem as agrivating as I assumed it would be.

[Terry Green]

Guns are a different, they never even ask what's in my duffel.

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Yeah, for guns you have to declare them and fill out paperwork and have proper case with locks. Bows are not controlled items- just pack em and go. Just cant carry em on nowadays (like I used to in the early 90's).
😉

R

[M60gunner]

Last time I flew to WI to hunt I packed my bow, limbs, arrows and some cloths for padding in my sons compound bow case. I used straps and those TSA locks to secure the case. No issues with it or the flyrod I hand carried onto the plane in metal tube. Did the same for an Elk hunt in Colorado. Only issue I believe there might be some questions asked is if we were on some kind of high alert.

[fisherick]

I have several DIY Colorado elk bow hunts with air travel (SWA). I would pack my take down recurve in a bow sock, limbs taped together in 1/2 of sock and riser in other half of sock. My 8 arrows would travel in an Eastern arrow tube. Both bow and arrow tube would be centered in my (BPS) 32 x 15 x 15" duffle bag and surrounded by clothes and gear as checked baggage. My camo backpack would be my carry-on bag.

We would take a 60qt wheeled Igloo cooler and pack our tent(s), tarp, cook gear, utensils, tools, etc and an insulated bag cooler (California Inovations) for camp use.

When we harvest an elk we would have it butchered, frozen and packed in our cooler and waxed cardboard boxes (with dry ice) for travel home as checked luggage. Also would take 45# meat in our insulated bag cooler as a carry-on.

BE Sure To Keep All Bags and Coolers Below 50#.

We would ship all our gear home with 5-7 day ground shipping.

We found this to be the easiest, cheapest, and most efficient travel.

[KAZ]

I’ve always wondered how best to do the flight travel as well. I’m typically a Drive person so I have all my stuff. That being said, for far away destinations like Africa, flying is the only way. I ended up using Black Widows Travel Vault which is bullet proof and handled everything nicely. One riser, two limbs, a bunch of arrows. Quiver, broadheads, accessories, and literally everything one needs for the equipment Side of things. I took a separate big roller duffle with more clothes and two arrow cases. One arrow case actually had my Black Widow HS60, accessories, etc. the other had my arrows for that bow. I figured if I got only one bag I could hunt…. Two bags were allowed to be checked so these were it. Then a Backpack carry on for the rest. All worked out great…

[KAZ]

Continued. The other arrow case had arrows in it like normal…

[KAZ]

A pic of the stuff after returning home

[Pauljr77]

It’s very simple, just follow the steps outlined above and you will be fine. One thing Ive found i enjoy is the Kuiu 9000 duffle bag, light weight, water proof and extremely tuff material. If you’ve ever looked out of the terminal and seen your bag setting out in the rain, you come to appreciate water proof travel bags.