ROTTEN MEAT ALASKA AIR CARGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I got a call about 730 am this morning letting me know that my cape horns and meat was in SLC but they said it looked (and smelled) like the meat was BAD I got there at 815 am to pick it up and when they took me out to inspect the meat and horns I about pucked I could smell the meat threw the tubs they where in

Now what do I do I am sick over this I took special care of the meat when I was in the field and packed 2 of the caribou 2 miles and one 3+ miles and one over 4 miles in the tundra I had a large area of ice near my camp and would pack it to my camp to keep the meat from going bad I took every care to make shure the meat was good as that was part of the trophy to me and my wife we paid alaska air cargo to ship and freeze the meat they did not release the meat to Delta tell 8/24 19:00 and it got to me at 8/25 08:00 so Kelta air got it from anchorage to SLC in less then 12 hours why could Alaska air not get it to Delta in a timely fashion?????

Now alaska air has said it was not Guaranteed as it was perishable and I can understand that but even Delta air cargo said someone droped the ball and the meat did not get freezed like it should have and did not get to anchorage in a timely fashion

What I would like to ask you all is what would you all do if this happend to you???????

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Roy Ut

What a nightmare! We will be going through that same thing in a couple weeks. That makes me real worried about bringing meat back. I planned on taking a couple coolers and bringing back a caribou as checked luggage, but if we tag out on Moose there isn't any alternative I know of besides air cargo.

Where did you leave your meat, Anchorage? Did you leave it with Alaska air personally or did someone else drop the ball getting it to them? What was the weight of your meat and what were the shipping charges if you don't mind me asking. Let's hear more. Where were you hunting?

I know of a guy who lost his Bou antlers during shipping. The airline paid for another complete Bou hunt for him. maybe you could check into that if you can prove they were at fault.

No, no, don't say it's so!!! So sorry for your loss! Especially after all the effort you went through!

I leave two weeks from today for Kotzebue caribou/moose. I hate hearing stories like this, but I appreciate you sharing yours. Do you have any suggestions on what precautions I might take to try to avoid a repaeat of this? What part of the sate were you hunting? Did you have any problems with all the fires up there?

Appreciate any insight!

Brett

LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-04 AT 10:14PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-04 AT 10:04 PM (MST)

OK first off I had about 325 pounds of meat that went sour (big time Sour) plus a couple capes (2) the horns will be OK but even they could have gotten bad as we stripped the velvet from the horns and there is some soft areas on them that needed to be kept cool and or treated

I took the meat to alaska air cargo myself with one of the guides from deltana who helped me get it checked in and sent

The cost of shipping was .20 a pound plus some other small fees it came to just under $300 not bad I thought for all the meat 2 capes and 4 sets of antlers ( that we needed to split the skulls on to ship )

My hunt was outside of deadhorse alaska I flew in from anchorage the meat was to be froze on the day and nite of the 19th then alaska air cargo (alaska air lines) was to take it to anchorage on there first flight out to there on the 20th (they make 2 to 4 flights a day from deadhorse to anchorage) then it was to be turned over to Delta airlines on the 20th and sent to salt lake city on the 20th by way of delta air then put in hold for me to come get it on the 20th or 21st as delta also has a deep freeze in SLC (as I think all air cargos do)

But instead it came up missing the nite of the 20th alaska said it was taken to delta delta said it had never seen it so that is when I started to worry we called Delta 3 to 4 times a day as we thought they had it well we got called on the 25th from delta and was told the bad news they showed me all the pappers they had on the shipping and it showed alaska air did not release iteams tell 19:23hours of the 24th and they called me at 07:12 on the 25th so delta got it from anchorage to SLC in about 12 hours and if meat was frozen there is NO way it would have gotten thawed in that time and not only was it not froze but it was coolish at best and rank as hell I went staight to the meat cutters hopeing to save some of it but after opening the coolers there was not one cooler that was good

Now if I was headed to Alaska to hunt or fish and was shipping somthing like this back I would........

1. Mark with big letters MEAT KEEP FROZEN on my coolers

2. Ask if I could see meat being put into there coolers with my own eyes ( I would even say that you have had a problam shipping meat before and would like to make shure it gets in the freezer)Now this might be a problam at the airport with all the screen checking but there not near as bad at the air cargo area but I do not know this as my dumb ass did not do this.......

3. I would get tracking #s ( we did this and it did not help other then knowing there was soimthing wrong in shipping)

4. I would get the name of the person you talk to at the air cargo and write it down ( I think if they see you write it down they will know you are for real and want you stuff taken care of)

5. Get the phone # to the air cargo WHERE YOU DROP IT OFF AT (as just getting some phone number to the air cargo will just get you some dip that cant track it I would get the # straight to where I dropped it maybe that way you can get someone to go look in the cooler as you wait on hold)(or out on the front area as mine was)

6. Maybe just Maybe think about leaving the meat with your outfitter as they will have places to give the meat away to in most casses but I feel that if you hunt and like the meat like we do you should not need to give it away, but at this point for me I would have rather seen the bears or even crows eat it all instead of being sent to a DUMP!!! where it will not do anyone or anything any good

7. PRAY

I got some papper work from alaska air cargo and they called and wanted me to let them know what I want to do about this hole deal and I just dont know what to tell them I feel like turning them in to the federal fish and game but only see that as a waste of tax dollers as they will look into it and do nothing

How do you replace the fact that 4 caribou went to waste for no reason at all (this is no better then a poacher when it comes down to it they where killed for only antlers and some good times that where dampened by a big bunch of Bull)

Sorry to take up so much space I am still pissed over this and I could go on all nite but I wont

I just hope someone sees this and will not let it happen to them

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Roy Ut

Hi

The hunt up there is not cheap. I'm a former full time taxidermist and understand how shipping can go. So I made sure I had a full day in Aniak and in Anchorage to take care of my stuff. I froze all my meat in Aniak in coolers. Then it shipped to Anchorage and the airport in Anchorage has a walk in freezer. It stayed there till I boarded my flight. Frozen solid when I arrived in Houston 12 hours later.

I planned on this because of my luck. I sent all my clothes etc(except for camera and bow) back in boxes via usps because I dont' need it back that quick and it wont spoil.

Next trip I plan on the same thing. I brought back meat, and capes of 2 bou in 2 coolers with only about 100 bucks extra freight due to 100 pound coolers. Antlers came with a friend split in half. In 2006 we'll be going with 5 folks so we'll be taking basically at least 5-10 coolers. In 2003 I packed all my clothes etc. in coolers plus had shipped up about 2/3 of my stuff ahead of time. My plans for a big hunt in 2006 will be to ship a pallet of gear up to Aniak way ahead of time. And when we are done all our gear will be stuck on a pallet and shipped back again, meat going with us.

I'm very negative and don't trust anyone with stuff like meat or hides. So I'd say do it yourself.

Or try another freighter like NAC possibly. Someone that specializes in shipping stuff, not a commercial airline.

Still all in all, stuff happens. I could have easily lost my coolers somewhere but since they were in a cooler and frozen Ihad a better chance of it lasting longer. It was frozen so solid I had to let the coolers open to thaw a bit to unload into our freezers here about 16 hours later.

Jefff

Jeff

That is a GREAT Idea I seen a few guys do just that and outfitters have no problam with it as far as I could see from deltana..

I wish I would have thought of that before

I have had a few of my freinds ask why I would send the meat threw alaska air in the first place and the only thing I could say is I trusted them to do what I payed them for .....

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Roy Ut

Hello Clynt. Sorry about your problems with the Air Cargo. Give Amy our best. Did she draw an Oryx tag? Bob & Jean.

Well Hello Bob

Nice to hear from you

We did not draw Oryx this year but maybe next year

Hay you are the one that got my wife all excited about going to alaska and we had a ball I just wish we could have gotten the meat back safely I have no idea on what to do about it I have a form here from alaska air wanting to know what I want for compinsation but I have no idea what to tell them ???

what would you do????

P.S did you get your Oryx back yet I would love to see the TOAD again!!!

Thanks

UThunting
Clynt L Citte

I think most companies have some disclaimer about perishable goods. But since you have a form..... I'd start with days lost from work,airfare, cost of hunt, cost of failed shipping etc....IE make them understand it was a once in a lifetime FLOP. You deserve compensation in my books. And others have been able to do the hunts over again.

Which brings up a good question-- can we insure our shipments, even on a plane trip, for value of the hunt just in case? Probably for just a bit of cash?

Jeff

I did sign a disclaimer form but I feel it is there responsibility to ship my iteams in a timely fashion and they did not even give it to delta air for 5 days so I feel they droped the ball and did not do what I payed them to do

I know there is a way to insure your hunts but I feel that this was of no falt to me and should be taken care of by alaska air

As I see it if I where to have shot 4 caribou and then let the meat spoil the fish and game would have my ass if I did not have a REALLY REALLY GOOD reason

infact I have thought about contacting the fed fish and game about this matter

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Roy Ut

Clynt,
GO FOR IT, you have nothing to loose. Go for the Jugglar Vein.

Brian

Hi Clynt

I totally agree that we should not have to insure our hunt. But lets think about vehicles. You don't buy a 30,000 dollar vehicle and not insure it. Even if you pay cash. What if whomever hits you has no insurance(I know the law says they have to but blood from a turnip....) and no job. Sure you get a judgement from them but if you can't afford to fix it or buy another one, thats what insurance is for.

Now think back to your total trip expenses. I believe it was you and your wife. That would be appx 3000 in airfare for us 2. Plus bush plane rates another 2000 or so. Then if you paid an outfitter, bought new gear, etc.....

So if you spent 5000 to 8000 or more on the hunt, what would insurance cost? Probably small in comparison. I've never done it but I sure might look into it.

After all if the airline gives you little or nothing in return, how much are your legal fees going to be to pursue it. Even in small claims court you burn your own time.

I'd be interested in what the Alaska Dept of Fish and Game has to say. Though they may have a legal right to discuss with Alaska Air, neither they or the feds will get you any of your investment back.

I hate to be negative but society makes me that way.

Off course, I'll bet that if you push Alaska Air they'd give you free tickets to Alaska, and small carriers to say Aniak or Dillingham are usually affiliated and might get those free(nothign out of their pockets) and then negotiate for no charges for too many bags or anything overweight next trip. That would cover a large part of it. Even if you can't recover any more than that.

BTW Caribou capes do have a value though I've been out of mainstream taxidermy for a few years now so I don't have a clue. But I'd imagine a tanned good cape for sale should be 300-500 bucks of value.

Also for the next ) trip if you hunt when they are in velvet, go to your taxidermist and have him sell or order you a quart of preservative to spray on the antlers and inject them with if needed. Take syringes and a spray bottle. Let your taxidermist explain the use,safety etc..... That will help out a bit. And allow your antlers to be crated and sent later if needed. Used to use Formaldehyde which is a carcinogen and extremely offensive to your eyes, nose etc..... THere is a replacement which I just ordered. I might find out how it works in a month in New Mexico of the muleys are still in velvet and I find one.....

Jeff

I use Alaska Air services on a very regular basis for many things including fish and wild game meats. They offer different services for shipment. Air Cargo Is a service they offer for a moderate price, it's is similar to air mail with the postal service. Alaskan Air Gold Streak service gives you about a 12 hour service from Anchorage to the greater northwest. It's more like express mail as a comparison. When I send parcels "gold streak" I get the flight number and time of it's arrival at the destination. I always have some one waiting to pick them up. You pay dearly for this service but you get you meat every time. Depending on your gross weight it run's close to a buck and a half a pound were air cargo runs about 35 cents. I usually have my meat commercially frozen so it's around 30 below when it hits the airport to get shipped It's best to call ahead so you know when the ?cargo? flight leaves, this can reduce ground time by half a day. The only times I have gotten by with air ?cargo services? have been in the winter months between Anchorage and the northwest lower 48 and then it can be risky. This is normally around a three day service. It just adds that much more expense to hunting and fishing Alaska. With most of the state being road less all the outlaying communities depend on the air cargo services for their basic provisions. I've set on the runway in Anchorage and watched as just loaded cargo would be removed to make way for a four wheeler or snow machine with a gold streak label on it. I just flew 175lbs of sockeye filet from King Salmon Alaska to Miami Florida. It got in about 30 min?s before my flight did and I took it home with me that evening. We are presently smoking some of the salmon here in the Everglades now while ducking hurricanes. So if you find yourself at the Alaskan air lines counter with the decision to make if you want a maybe at 150 bucks or a sure thing for 550.00, Think of this. This summer I flew a 3800 pound roll of high voltage cable from Huston Texas to King Salmon Alaska . Shipping was almost five grand. Prime moose meat at a 1.50 a pound is a bargain.

~Jeff~

Jeff you are 100% RITE I just wish I would have known this sooner as I am still sick over the hole deal but if you send me some salmon I might feel better LOL stay low there in Florida I am shure alaska would love to see you again

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Roy Ut

Just for the record

About air cargo services and Freezers.. Many airports DO NOT have freezers. When making arrangements with Alaskan Air Lines they can tell you what airports do and don't have them. Seattle does have a good freezer, Miami just has refrigeration but they do offer a limo service for pets, I suppose I could have had my fish delivered here to the Glades in a limo... again all for a price.

~Jeff~

RE: Just for the record

I'd assume most folks fly out of Anchorage and they do have a freezer for a fact. I take mine as cargo on the flight I take and declare excess if I have to. Being a direct flight it gets off the plane with me in Houston or San Antonio. Its about foolproof(almost) and a bit cheaper. Whether there are freezers elsewhere is sorta moot if you fly direct?

The other Jeff

RE: Just for the record

Interesting post relating to flying you excess baggage along with you as to travel, http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID5/4770.html