First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

I live in Chicago and am flying for the first time to do a hunting trip out west, in Nevada. Not a greenhorn. Been on about 20 trips out west in 15 years, but always driven. Got my flight & rental 4x4 already reserved. This will be different, and my first concern isbaggage. I am flying Delta which allows two bags @ 50# each, a 40# carry on, and $50 for an extra bag. This is amuzzleloader hunt so I am wondering the best way to incorporate that with one of my bags. Maybe box it with some clothing?

Then of course I will have to plan to get the cape/rack back. Will be donating my meat to a hunting partner. I am checking out Elko for outdoor stores and will get my food there of course. Thanks for any advice.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

All firearms have to be in a seperate case that locks and no ammunition can be in the case with it. You must declare it as soon as you check in your luggage. Also you cant take your powder with you. My friend got his taken away by TSA the last time that we flew!

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

check out the tsa site for info on taking a firearm on a plane.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1188.shtm

when you check it they are going to have you open the case, show its broken down and not loaded.
place an orange card signed by who witnessed it in the case, and have it locked.
( not depending on the airport ) someone from delta will take the gun case ( and you ) to TSA and they will x ray it and inspect it again. lock it and in some cases it goes to baggage from there, in other cases it goes back to the ticket counter ( all in the care of a airline employee and you in tow)
and gets checked with your other bags.

I dont recall what the regs were on muzzle loader as far as precussion caps, and powder, you may end up buying that at your location ( actually would suggest that )

also there is tsa approved locks. you keep the key, but the inspectors have a master that will open the locks and not destroy them. put those on your gun case. we got home from canada and when we opened up our bow and rifle cases, there was cards inside stating we had been spot inspected by TSA. they used their master keys to access our gear. ( in part because it was international ) but they do spot checks. if you lock it with a diffrent lock / they can and will cut them off to check your bags.

good luck on your hunt.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

ok this is off of the TSA site on firearms.

[ul][*]All firearms must be declared to the air carrier during the ticket counter check-in process. [*]The firearm must be unloaded.[*]The firearm must be carried in a hard-sided container.[*]The container must be locked.[*]The passenger must provide the key or combination to the screener if it is necessary to open the container, and then remain present during screening to take back possession of the key after the container is cleared. [*]Any ammunition transported must be securely packed in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition.[*]Firearm magazines/clips do not satisfy the packaging requirement unless they provide a complete and secure enclosure of the ammunition (e.g., by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard).[*]The ammunition may also be located in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as it is properly packed as described above. [*]Black powder and percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms are not permitted in carry-on or checked baggage. [/ul]

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

OK, Here's the big question. I am sure this 8 pound gun & case would count for one of my 2 allowed bags. Can I get a bigger case and fill it with other items such as spotting scope, binoculars, et. to attain my 50 pound allowance? Is there any other way to avoid getting shorted 42 pounds on my allowance?

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

Seems to me like you should have no trouble with weight limits on the trip to your hunting destination, if so, you're taking to much stuff/gear. Then for the trip home, look into shipping some gear UPS and haul meat/trophy portion with you.
When we went to AK. we had no problems meeting thesame weight requirements that you're looking at, without packing stuff inthe double rifle case/two rifles!

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

My carry-on is my hunting pack. I always carry my bino's, spotting scope, camara, two-way radios and gps etc. in this pack. Always in sight. I packed my gps in my bowcase one year and it came up missing??? [:@]

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

I believe you are correct, your rifle case will count as one of your two.

we did exactly what you are asking, we packed alot of gear in our cases.
I had my skb bow case, put hunting/fishing gear in with the bow.

my partner had an alum sided rifle case. all of our fishing rods and gear went in with the rifle.

1 carry on ( just like you did, my hunting backpack, with bino's gps and range finder.) rain grear and one change of cloths * just incase my suite case didn't show up.

1 large duffle bag with cloths and such.

pack once...wait a day unpack and leave 25% of what you packed the first day out.
do this till your down to what you are sure you HAVE to have. all the rest is dead weight.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

Why not buy a stronge plastic box say 2.5 to 3 ft long by 2 ft wide and a foot deep. Pack your sleep bag, tent, foamie and other gear ands ship either UPS or air cargo and pick up on the other end. Or just pay for extra baggage. Either way probably no more than a 100. bucks
good luck

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

Right. See people I have no outfitter. I am going self guided. Big difference. I will need my small dome tent and sleeping bag, and all camp gear. This is not just clothing and weapon related stuff we are talking about here. No way I can afford to count my gun and case as one luggage item and expect to accomplish this as someone said.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

Could you send your rifle to a dealer in Nevada and then pick it up when you get there?

Oh, and what zone are you hunting in? I have access to a ranch in Area 10, hopefully one day I will get drawn, they only give out like 27 tags.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

I don't think it would be easy to get someone to accept my gun, there's a responsibility there. I could try I suppose.

No, my unit is the 061-068 group. There are only 6 NR tags for this hunt.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

Any FFL should be able to accept it, just like selling a rifle. Then you would just pay shipping and whatever the FFL would charge and not have to worry about not having enough luggage.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

What's an FFL?

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

FFL = Federal Firearms License
This would be any gun dealer in the area. Check with anybody you mightbe hunting with. They might have one, or may have a friend who does. I Know several guys who have them.
Oe thing to consider though. Federal Law says guns are suppossed to be shipped over night. By the time you ship it, and pay the insureance, and the fees to the dealer both going there, and coming back, you might as well pay the $50 each way for the extra bag. Thats just my opinion though. And of course, that is if you can't find somebody with an FFL that would do it for free.
Also, check the state laws where you are going. I have lived in states where if you receive a gun by mail through a dealer, they are by law required to run the background check before releasing it. I met a guy in Cali at my friend gun shop that won a gun in Wisconsin. It was his. he had it shipped to Cali, and when it got there, he had to do the background check. In TN, if oyu put a gun in Hock (at a pawn shop) to pick it up, you have to provide all the same paperwork you did when you bought it, or what is required by TN law. ( I know, I am in the Army and have had friends pawn a gun for some quick cash, and when they went ot pick it up, they couldn't because that shop would not accept what they had as prooof of residency.
I don't tell you this to scare you from shipping your guns, just to make you aware. Do your homework before you do this ad get a nasty surprise when you get to your destination.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

Zim,

I hunt all the time with my muzzy. I can tell you for sure that the gun will count as one. It has to be in a case that is secure and can be locked.You can't take any powder or primers/caps. Also as this is my method of hunting I have ran into about everthing a guy can on travel. Once spilt some powder in a case that contained clothes and other items. Guess what. When they check you those items won't go either. If you have quick loads and they have even a trace of powder you might as well leave them at home. They won't make it either. I have found the best way is to check the rifle and then mail everything else. You will have to buy caps and powder when you get there. You can check with some delivery service in the area. Lots of times they will let you mail the items to them and they will keep them for short periods of time. (clothes, camp gearand such not powder).Most charge only a few dollars for the service.

Goatslayer........

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

Long guns don't have to be shipped overnight, only handguns. I was thinking, since it is a muzzleloader you should be able to just send it USPS to your hunting partner thier, no reason to go through an FFL.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

heres how id play it.
fill your carry on with your gear, like ya already said. ya have to have the gun in its case, so there goes one bag. in the other, bullets and clothes.

when your done, buy a cooler out west, have your buddy freeze your cape and mail it to you. it will be fine. or do the opposite and take your frozen stuff in the cooler on the plane and mail your clothes home. easy and cheap.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

The powder & caps are no problem. I already contacted a vendor in Elko that can order what I want and have it there when I arrive. Given the fact my gun & case is only about 8# it seems very logical to ship it ahead of me if I can get someone to take it in Elko. This would allow me to bring a full 100# of gear plus my 40# carry on. So I am going to make some calls and see what all my options are, starting with my powder vendor. He may have an opinion.

RE: First Time Flying to Hunting Trip - Need Advice
 

Hey Zim[&o],seems to me that your really going to have trouble when it involves the weight or what not. I'm a regular hunter and find that when i put all thats needed in front of me and then close my eyes and look at my trip i often see what is not really needed. I've had hunters bring three different type's of footwear just to wear in the boat and two other's for in camp! I see alot of these guests compete on who has more or the best,but never see any further than that! Don't go that way!!Your best answer is 2 sets, 1 for warm,1 for cold, a couple batteries &steel wool for fire,fishing line,hooks,and for your place of sleep? make a lean -to. This is just a bit of whats really needed and i just thought it might put your thoughts in to motion and give you more answer into whats required.I could give you more answers but i'm sure there's going to be more than enough people responding that you'll be able to do the right choices.Have a Great Hunt and May the Spirits guide you!