general question re: travel arangements / plans

[ck2128]

I have a dumb question: Assuming you have to fly to your hunting area, what is the best way to get your mule deer home? I've heard of splitting the scull and packing it on the plane. That sounds like it might worry me a little. How much does it cost to ship it, or can you? Or should I just break down and drive the 17 hours? How do you guys do it?

 

[manny15]

used to drive from cali to colorada all the time 15 hours one way, to much to deal with planes and all

 

[AWHOLELOTTABULL]

I have done both. Obviously the easiest way to get everything home is by driving. I am flying to Kansas the end of this month and if/when I get a good buck I will cape the animal out myself and flash freeze it, then cap the skull with the horns still attached. I will carry it on the plane with me in a duffle bag. Yes, you do get some looks when you go through the check station but they will let you on the plane with it. Whatever you do don't check that bag. If by some chance they lose your luggage your cape will be ruined by the time you get it back. Also, with regards to the meat, I pay for it to get butchered and then donate it. It is way too expensive to ship. I have guys that ship their elk meat home every year and it costs at least $500-$600 and that's not for the whole elk. Pretty pricey to ship. Hope this helps.


It's always an adventure!!!

 

[txhunter58]

Certainly shipping an elk home would be really expensive, but he asked about a mule deer. That is a whole nother subject. I always travel with an ice chest that just meets the size requirements (generally a 50 qt.) I check it as one bag and even put stuff in it going up there for more room in my other bags. A big mule deer can be easily quartered, deboned, and brought back in a couple of ice chests (one you take, and one you buy when you get a deer). Or if you have it processed and frozen, you will be able to bring it back in a single ice chest. Then the extra one ice chest will cost you as "additional baggage" (last time I checked that was $80).

The horns, which was really the question asked, is another question entirely. I don't think a good rack will fit "under the seat or in the overhead bin", so I am not sure how to take that as a "carry on". I am also not adept at caping it, so I take it to a taxidermist and have him cape it and package it since they do it all the time. Then you can either take that as "additional" baggage or have them ship it home for you.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[AWHOLELOTTABULL]

I repeat, "DO NOT CHECK THAT BAG"! Whether it's horns, cape or meat. If they lose that bag (and they will sooner or later), you just spent all that time and money for nothing. I have done this many, many years and I can tell you from experience, you should never, I repeat, never check meat. I know too many people that have had meat and capes along with trophy racks disappear. Also, unless you have just shot the world record mule deer it will fit in the overhead compartment. I have seen 200" muleys in the overhead compartment. No offense tx, just my own personal experiences over 15 years of hunting via plane.

It's always an adventure!!!