RE: First Elk Trip....
If you are shipping you meat home as excess baggage then keep in mind the 50# limit on bags/boxes. If you exceed that limit you might be sent over to air freight to ship the meat.If you don't allow enough time to make a last min run over there because you just found out they won't take it as excess baggage then things can get a bit tight.
I know because that is what happened to me when I took meat as excess baggage and exceeded their limit. Fortunately I waschecking in at the time when air freight was open and the supervisor took pity on me after the check in agent blew me off. Still cost me $150 to ship 150# of boned out meat home in two boxes.
Good luck...