Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

I have a Elk Hunt booked in Octoberand was thinking about flying. Has anyone flown and brought back the meat and horns and is it expensive? Don't know how to go about bring it back. I've calledthe Airlines and they can't tell me a thing. Would appreciate if someone could shed some light on this subject.

Thanks

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

This is what I did 2 years ago when I shot my elk in Montana. We had it butchered & packed in six - 70 lb boxes. The airlines charged us about $70, a box to load on the plane. I read somewhere that you could stuff all your frozen meat in a golf bag and the airlines would not charge you extra for the weight.

The guide built a box & shipped my antlers whole, with out splitting them for $80. and he didn't charge me, because we gave him oneof our harvestedelk for the winter.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

Last year international flights you could have 2 checked bags not to exceed 70lbs each but that has changed to 50lbs.

Most airlines allow 2 checked bags at 50lbs ea, a carry on and a camera purse etc. Anything over 50lbs there is an additional charge.
The airlines allow extra checked bags but it's not cheap. $80-$90 per bag and the same rule applies, if it's over 50lbs you pay more.

Here lies the problem, I fly quite a bit on hunting trips. I have a big Cabela's bag I pack with clothes/gear. That's one checked bag....so whether it's a bow case or a rifle case,that's another checked peice of luggage. So before you even get to where you are going you are maxed out as far as luggage.
I have only brought back capes and antlers and always left the meat with the outfitter. A big rubbermaid tote works well. The 50lb weight restriction is tough, especially when you are carrying heavy/bulky winter clothing.

I would think that there are better ways to get the meat back home such as some type of motor freight over flying it home. I have had 3 deer lost on the airlines not to mention countless baggage.( deer arrived either the next day or day and a half later)


I hope this makes sense and helps.....

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

Wasent there a big thread on exactly how to get your meat and rack back on an airplane? I did a search butcouldnt find it.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

On our way back from Newfoundland last fall we basically were charged $100 for every extra box brought back. 1 box meat, 1 box capes, horns (we tied two together) = $300 extra. We split this between two of us.What airlines are you using? Check their web site. They may have a section on there on bringing game meat and horns.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

Several years ago I had to fly from Oakland back home to CO just to be there in time for opening morning. After I killed my bull, I bought four coolers at Wal-Mart, then processed my meat and put it in the coolers.

I put a couple of packages of dry ice on top, used duct tape to seal the edges, then used fiberglass re-inforced tape to make sure it did not come open. Airlines told me upfront that they could not insure it since the packages were not locked. I called my insurance company who said they would cover it. All worked out ok....can't remember how much extra they charged.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

The airlines I use to travel no longer will accept dry ice. Just mentioned that....you might want to contact your airlines on their regulations. I use United, Northwest, Contenetal, and Southwest alot and they all have pretty good websites that have the do's and dont's if you ae interested. You are doing the right thing in trying to find answers now.....the last thing you want is to have hidden surprises when ya go to the counter[8D]All in all, it's going to cost you some funds to have any meat/capes/antlers shipped to your home.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

Figure out how much extra it's going to cost you to ship the meat/horns back via the airline, then figure out if it's cheaper to just drive out there and back. I don't like the hassle of checking guns/dogs/kids/meat in the airport so I just drive. I can make it from Raliegh, NC to Salida, CO (2100 miles) in about 22hrs driving traveling with a 5yo and a Lab. I make sure the meat's frozen hard, pack it in the coolers and throw some dry ice on top. Only had some thaw on me once (I don't think it was frozen good to start with), but we ate it as soon as I got home so it wasn't wasted.

My fuel bill round-trip is $4-600 depending on fuel prices at the time. And I sleep in the truck at rest areas so I don't have to pay for a hotel.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

On my AK. trip two years ago, I had my moose processed in Anchorage and then shipped to CO. in freezer boxes. Cost me about $.90/lb. to ship. I only had about half the meat shipped, left the other half for my sister and brother-in-law to eat in Anchorage. Also had the taxidermist work done up there, and then shipped down, that cost me more than the meat did. It took about 3 days for the meat to get here, from point A to point B, BUT amazingly it was still mostly frozen!
For the most part, dry ice isn't allowed on airlines, as checked luggage or otherwise!
Another option might be to use coolers as your luggage on the trip out, then simply box your clothing and ship it back home and put your meat in the coolers as check in luggage and take the meat home with ya, as long as it's frozen. That's the hardest part of taking the meat with you, is getting it frozen for the trip, if you don't have a couple of days after the hunt before your flight home! I guess, if the trip was quick enough, the meat wouldn't have to be forzen, BUT it hadn't better leak either!

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

I shiped the antler home in a boxafter spliting the skull via ups. out of dillingham ak. or anywhere then ,I filled the box up with all my cloths,tents sleeping bag and everything I could it cost $160 . The cape goes in trash bags and a wax fish shipping box as luggage,one time I carryed a carabou cape in my carry on { fur coat if asked,raw}the meat I brought home the same way as the moose cape.I payed for 2 extra bags, the meat was cold and it stayed plenty cold for the flight home maybe 10 hours. I drive out west because I want all my camping stuff and a quad ,so you and your buddys can go in two dirctions. Good luck from Pa.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

In Sept 2004 I flew from ID to NH after a successfull bowhunt for elk. Here's how I did it:

- pack as much clothes in your bow case as possible. I have a double SKB bow case and can put almost all my clothes in that. Then used a carry on for the rest, for the carry on I used my hunting backpack. That leaves you 1 checked backage slot for the ride home for free.

- Butcher/freeze in 50 lb boxes. When I did this it ended up being 4 50lb boxes of frozed, well almost, meat. and 1 smaller box with about 25 lbs of meat. I left some with the outfitter which left me with about 10 pounds to put into my carry on, wrapped in a sweat shirt, it made it through fine.

- Now my "50" lb boxes were slightly over, so I did some reorganization at the check in counter (no line so the agent actually helped me). I got it down to having 2 boxes that were overweight and 1 weight ok, plus my two checked for free (bow case and 1 box of meat). It was $80/box for extra and another $50 on top of that for the overweight ones. So the 3 "extra" ran me $310. On the way to the airport I stopped at a FedEx and boxed up the rack (no cape or skull, just the split rack) and alot of clothes/boots and shipped that for same week delivery, I think that was around $90.

- One hunter in camp took his frozed meat, cape and rack and overnighted it from ID to MA, cost him almost $900, but in his mind the peace of mind knowing it was home and in the freezer was worth it.

I am going again in 2007 and will probably not try and stay under the 50 lb limit and go with 2-3 coolers that will run around 90lbs, they give you up to 100 lbs. Hopefully that will be 2 "extra" at $130/box and the left over as "free" check in. So for $260.

You can also ship home the bow and clothes, ups, fed ex, usmail etc. to free up some space on the plane.

You can also look into shipping it as cargo. There was one guy in camp who goes around the US and Canada hunting and got his Cargo shipping license for this exact reason. Not sure on the costs/availability, but might be worth looking at, it would probably go on a different plane and you would have to pick it up in a different part of the airport, but worth a call.

Also, ask the outfitter (if you are using one).

Driving is a good option, but adds about 1 week to the trip, so vacation time might be an issue.

--Bob

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

Our gang always drive with a big trailer with a freezer and generator but last year another friend went to N.M. and tried something totally off the wall. He took a very nice bull while there and to get the meat home, he went to a local hardware store and bought a freezer, asking the store owner if he could ship the freezer back to his home. Owner said he could for a small fee. Had the store owner plug the freezer in and get it cold, then packed all the meat in the freezer, locked the door and shipped the freezer home. I think he paid around $150 shipping, but got his meat home safe and still frozen. He then turned around and sold the freezer for what he paid for it. Great ida if you can get the folks on that end to work with you.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

No matter what, you're gonna spend a few bucks if you bring back your meat via an airline. My theory is, That's how they make the bulk of their money, to make up for cheap airfare at times. I agree with what one guy said about packing his clothes in a bow case and taking the rest in a carry-on backpack. Last year I went to Colorado and I got hammered when I brought back my meat. Probably b/c I had a double rifle case, suitcase, and my cooler with my meat in it. Next time, i'll deffinately pack lighter and probably carry my clothes in a backback with me on board. And in reference to the dry ice, i've heard that the airlines don't allow it for an unknown reason, but most people I know:eek:use it anyway. Good luck buddy.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

Ship your hunting clothes home in a box using regular ground.Check in one bag being your gun bow or whatever.Get yourself one of the big white coolers from walmart, you should be able to fit almost one whole processed elk in the big white cooler. That would make it so you would have to only pay the overage weight on one check on. It may take a week or so to get your gear at your home, but it will be pretty cheap to ship. The cost to get the meat home would be the price of shipping your gear regular ground UPS, the overage weight on one check on, plus the price of the cooler. And you end up with a heck of a nice beer cooler for the porch when the steaks are on the grill!!!!!

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

I think I would just drive and tow a trailer...

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

Putting an elk into a single cooler probably won't work, there is a max for the pounds per checked bag, I think its 100lbs, so you probably need 2.

RE: Shipping Meat Back via airlines
 

I used whole salmon shipping boxes to bring my meat back on Continental airlines. These boxes are made out of styrofoam and weigh practically nothing. I got some large cardboard boxes that I cut to fit tight around the styro for extra protection. You can tape 3 together and UPS them out before you go. They are so light shipping is almost nothing to get them out there. I got these boxes from a local fish supplier that supplies nicer restaurants with tuna,salmon, lobsters and such. They just throw them away. I had all my clothes in my carry-on, and camera case(large fanny pack) clipped around waist. One box had 96 lbs. of meat, another had 89 lbs. and the third had 70 lbs(cape and meat together).
Break down:
Carry on and camera case-Free
Gun case-----------------Free
Box with 96 lbs.-----------Free + $50.00 overweight charge.
Box with 70 lbs.-----------$80.00 for extra+ $25.00 over 50 lbs.under 70
Box wtih 89 lbs.-----------$80.00 for extra bag + $50.00 over 70 lbs.
Antlers 300 inch 6x6 whole was to be $80.00, but she said I was paying enough and didn't charge me for them.
I paid $285.00 for everything.

Raleigh to Salida is more like 1,750 miles... 2100 miles in 22 hours is bookin'! haha