Well im heading out west for a 7 day DIY elk hunt in Utah. Typically i drive from Michigan, however this year we decided to fly to save more time for the hunt. The question i have is what do i do, just check my backpack or do i stuff the packpack in a big duffle bag and check that? My bow im not worried about, i have a lockable hard case. Any ingormation you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Bill
Packing for a flight out west.
- Thread starter Bill71
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We use our backpacks for our carry-on bag. Load them lightly, so they are under 20# and will compress down into the check station rack, if they ask you to. I want my camera, rangefinder, and binos with me, and under control. Just be really considerate going down the aisle, and don't hit people with all the straps and stuff!
txhunter58
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LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-17 AT 06:03AM (MST)[p]I would ship some stuff to him ahead of time since he lives there. Heavy/bulky stuff is the best to ship. For instance, I always take 2 pairs of boots; one insulated, and one uninsulated. You can wear the uninsulated on the plane and ship him the insulated ones. Ship sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
txhunter58
venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
trophyhunter
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Since you have family there I would ship ups or fedex to him pack with gear inside box same on the home trip have him ship to you once your home....less hassel...
CAelknuts
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>LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-17
>AT 06:03?AM (MST)
>
>I would ship some stuff to
>him ahead of time since
>he lives there. Heavy/bulky
>stuff is the best to
>ship. For instance, I always
>take 2 pairs of boots;
>one insulated, and one uninsulated.
> You can wear the
>uninsulated on the plane and
>ship him the insulated ones.
> Ship sleeping bag, sleeping
>pad, etc
>
>txhunter58
>
>venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore
>I am)
Excellent advice! UPS or FedEx ground are the solution. Send it a couple weeks before your departure and you'll be glad you did. Makes flying so easy without all that gear in baggage.
>AT 06:03?AM (MST)
>
>I would ship some stuff to
>him ahead of time since
>he lives there. Heavy/bulky
>stuff is the best to
>ship. For instance, I always
>take 2 pairs of boots;
>one insulated, and one uninsulated.
> You can wear the
>uninsulated on the plane and
>ship him the insulated ones.
> Ship sleeping bag, sleeping
>pad, etc
>
>txhunter58
>
>venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore
>I am)
Excellent advice! UPS or FedEx ground are the solution. Send it a couple weeks before your departure and you'll be glad you did. Makes flying so easy without all that gear in baggage.
Be sure to check all the add on fees charged by the air lines. Its very expensive to fly or ship meat and horns back. One elk and rack from Great Falls, M.T to RDU was a little over 1400 dollars and that was 12 years ago. UPS and Fed-X was a little higher. We started driving after that. A few years back I had a few guys contact me about bringing their meat and gear back from MT for them on my return trip. We split the fuel bill between all of us , saved them money on shipping and helped me out on the fuel bill. Hope you have a great hunt!
Gator
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Put a AD in craigslist and try and find some hunters from the area around you that might be driving to and from and work out a deal for them to haul your meat back.
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
nripepi
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I have built boxes while out west and shipped horns and gear freight for around $300, but you have to have a freight place to drop it off and pick it up figured out ahead of time. There is some risk here as they don't really care to take care of your pallet/box.
I have used other shipping services as well online like uship.com to bring horns/taxidermy home for less than $200.
As mentioned, check costs with your airlines. Historically southwest was the cheapest way for me to get meat home at $1 per pound, but their costs have gone up to $75 for a 50 lb cooler. It still should be way cheaper than trying to ship the meat overnight or 2 day fedex. I often take frozen capes on airlines as well cheaper than shipping.
On the pack frame, I usually pack mine in my duffel bag or ship it out ahead of time, both work fine. Optics are always in my carryon which is usually my day pack packed with optics and my rain gear and I wear my boots.
I have used other shipping services as well online like uship.com to bring horns/taxidermy home for less than $200.
As mentioned, check costs with your airlines. Historically southwest was the cheapest way for me to get meat home at $1 per pound, but their costs have gone up to $75 for a 50 lb cooler. It still should be way cheaper than trying to ship the meat overnight or 2 day fedex. I often take frozen capes on airlines as well cheaper than shipping.
On the pack frame, I usually pack mine in my duffel bag or ship it out ahead of time, both work fine. Optics are always in my carryon which is usually my day pack packed with optics and my rain gear and I wear my boots.
Well the decision to fly sounds worse and worse. We always drove in the past, but we thought it would save on vacation time. Down fall it hits the pocket book a little harder. Hoping for a feeat time and a good hunt. I will worry getting it home after it on the ground. Great advice and thank you.
Joe2Kool
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I live in TN and taken probably 15 western hunting trips (CO, NEB, WY) in groups from 1-6 people. In all cases, we've had at least one vehicle driven to haul gear, guns, etc... If you compare fuel and motel costs to airfare and rental car, driving will be cheaper. It will take longer, but for me, it is cheaper. Driving also eliminates the issue of minimizing gear in checked baggage.
Oh, I forgot about one trip where we all flew and shipped meat back. That was an expensive lesson! I think it was $600 for about 100 lb of meat and one antelope head, and that was 10+ years ago.
If you do decide to fly, the shipping everything to your friend sounds like a good idea. And keep the critical things on you - binos, spotting scope - stuff that would be difficult or expensive if it didn't make it.
Good luck and post pics!
Oh, I forgot about one trip where we all flew and shipped meat back. That was an expensive lesson! I think it was $600 for about 100 lb of meat and one antelope head, and that was 10+ years ago.
If you do decide to fly, the shipping everything to your friend sounds like a good idea. And keep the critical things on you - binos, spotting scope - stuff that would be difficult or expensive if it didn't make it.
Good luck and post pics!
If you decide to ship items out beforehand, make the $10 investment in vacuum bags. Vacuum pack your sleeping bag and insulated clothing in order to ship it in a smaller box. Just ask your buddy to open the box and release the vacuum seals as soon as the box arrives so your items have time to recover their form.
Good hunting.
Good hunting.
joesikora
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>underwear, socks, t-shirts and etc in
>bow case helps cut down
>what you have to carry
>in your bags.
>
>"I have found if you go
>the extra mile it's Never
>crowded".
>>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>>the MM green signature club.[font/]
Good tip there Gator
Joe
"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
>bow case helps cut down
>what you have to carry
>in your bags.
>
>"I have found if you go
>the extra mile it's Never
>crowded".
>>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>>the MM green signature club.[font/]
Good tip there Gator
Joe
"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
