I am scheduling elk/muley hunt in Montana for 2003. What is the best way to get the meat and hide home to Kentucky? Thanks for the input.

I am leaving day after tomarrow to go to Newfoundland. It appears to try to get it on the plane with ya if possible. That way, you know it won't spoil as easy. It stays cold at high alititudes. And alot cheaper to pay the extra baggage fee than Overnight it thru Fed Ex or something. As for the horns, I guess I will figure that out. They say to wrap them in asorbing material and measure the length between them so they can be cut for easy shipping.

tmartin,
I'm a wayward KY boy myownself. I tell you what we do here. Have yer meat processed an' when its done, ship it FedEx back home. It only takes 3 days fer the processin' plant to get it packaged an' froze. Do a lil' trout fishin' while you wait. If yer drivin' to MT, you can take the froze meat home in coolers (big ones) with some dry ice. Jus' check it regular an' add ice. As fer the trophy. Have the face caped out (yer guide can do this) an' freeze the cape, then ship it too. The airlines will take yer horns ifn you put pieces of hose on the antler tips with duck tape. Check with the airlines to see which is best 'bout trophies afor you buy yer ticket. Have a great time on yer hunt an' say hello to my ol' KY home, even if it is gettin' overrun with buckeyes, yankees an hoosiers.

BJ

Fergot to say, you can salt the cape good an' roll it fer travelin', but remember to split the ears or they will drop hair. Keepin' it froze is probly the best bet. But ifn I was drivin' back there, I'd split the ears an' salt the whole cape afor freezin' in case it thawed on the way.

BJ

Fergot to say, you can salt the cape good an' roll it fer travelin', but remember to split the ears or they will drop hair. Keepin' it froze is probly the best bet. But ifn I was drivin' back there, I'd split the ears an' salt the whole cape afor freezin' in case it thawed on the way. BTW, they make a tool fer splittin' the ears apart. Ask a local taxidermist to show you.

BJ

PS,
Use plain salt, not the iodized kind.

BJ

We've done it both ways for our clients. I think it's best if you can get the meat on the plane. You can either ship the trophy home like explained above, or your outfitter can recomend a good taxidermist right here. Then either ship it back, or pick it up next time you happen to be in Montana. The longest that could be is next deer season, right?

Blackhawk

-----Every day is a great day in Eastern Montana-----

everyone i talked to says watch out and carry alot of cash this year.the air lines are charging a lot more trying to make up for losses their encountering, one guy that i know was charged 95o extra and talked them down to 750.he said the extra was more than the ticket itself and there was three of them so they made another 2,350 dollars on them plus airfare.he wasn't to happy said next year for that kind of money he would just drive.i think i would be calling around and see what your limits are this year to be on the safe side.

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have it cut wrapped and frozen, ship it next day air freight. Marked and shipped as frozen meat. I once sent an entire bison, cut wrapped and frozen to my local Pa airport from Utha. It cost me $254.00. and was frozen rock hard when I picked it up the day after I got home!
As for antlers, unless it is of book size ( if that matters to you) they can be done the same way. OR take a Sharpie pen and draw 3 lines across the skull plate on a 45 angle, next saw thru the lines..this will asure your taxidermist will get then aligned properly. take old garden hose and duct tape it VERY well to all points, nest the antlers together as tight as possible, then duct tape them together as well. Put the whole thing in big trash bag then into a HEAVY CANVAS duffel bag
BUT first you got to shoot a bull/buck good luck! MH