Did you fly a skull/antlers home on Alaska last fall?

[benconfused]

Question to the group - what's every use when hiking around Alaska to protect their barrel end? I remember Steve Rinella talking about using electrical tape and then he just shoots it off.

Mine will have a muzzle break (Roughtech Tikka barrel) so not sure if tape is practical.

 

[jofes]

Has anyone wrapped multiple skulls together and taken them on?

 

[280rem]

I flew home with 2 sets nestled together and wrapped. I had an odd experience. It honestly is going to come down to the individual checking your baggage most likely. I was later in check in, they said there was already a set checked for the flight. Wasn’t sure about what to do, seemed more important to them to show that they were in power over the situation and that my outcome was totally up to them. Then she said is that 2 sets of antlers. I said yes, holly cow……they really didn’t know what to do. I said well, the “package” is just under your maximum dimensions and I’m not sure what harm is being done by how I have them arranged. Then another person assisting pointed out to her that I was going to miss my flight. The antlers were then grabbed and thrown on the baggage take away and I was instructed to get on my way, to not miss my flight. They arrived at my destination with me, I was charged nothing. One of the more odd airport experiences I’ve had. This was last year. A few weeks later I used air cargo to get moose and caribou meat and moose antlers home. Moral of the story I guess……..I found air cargo to be so simple and easy to use, I’ll air cargo all meat and antlers in the future.

 

[280rem]

Ultimately if you want the cheapest router to get your meat and antlers home it’s air cargo. It’s very simple to do on your own. If you have a business, getting a known shipper number is a short phone call setup, if not, check with your transporter or your taxidermist or such about using theirs. Otherwise it’s probably worth the fee to get a known shipper number. You can just back into the dock and unload vs packing stuff through the airport as well.

 

[280rem]

I just got a response for the site visit. $579 feet bc of where I live. SW New Mexico. Hard pass on that one haha!


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I guess it depends on if you would plan to use it more than once and how far to the airport they would fly it to. Mostly likely you would save enough to pay for it the first time and absolutely a no brainer to pay it if you would use again in the future. I’m not sure how far you are from an airport that you could pick up from, but I would think it would be an incredible long ways to meet Alaska trophy express somewhere.

 

[gonhunting247]

I've brought a lot of meat, hide, skulls and horns/antlers home from AK as checked bags. I boxed up my caribou last year and was right at max size. I think I'd just wrap the skull and points as others have shown in hindsight. With my moose I just cut it off at the skull plate and split the skull so I could stack the palms and then boxed. The meat, I am able to cut up package and freeze. I usually make acooler thats 99 lbs. and a couple small coolers or fish boxes that are 49 lbs.
I back my clothes and duffel in the coolers on top of the meat to help use up space and insulate.
I have relatives from AK that hunt with me in OR, so we just use the coolers back and forth as needed. I packed my wolf hide and skull in with the meat.

 

[gonhunting247]

I usually leave some of the meat for my AK family to share or they bring what's left with them when they come up to see us!
I think the air cargo/known shipper would be a great way to go in situations like my NM oryx. I struggled to get every thing home in 5 bags and it probably cost as much or more than air cargo.

 

[Jmillgreen]

I guess it depends on if you would plan to use it more than once and how far to the airport they would fly it to. Mostly likely you would save enough to pay for it the first time and absolutely a no brainer to pay it if you would use again in the future. I’m not sure how far you are from an airport that you could pick up from, but I would think it would be an incredible long ways to meet Alaska trophy express somewhere.

That fee is every year. I live 2.5 hours from El Paso and 3 hours from Tucson. 579 for a site visit, then shipping cost, then driving cost…


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[280rem]

That fee is every year. I live 2.5 hours from El Paso and 3 hours from Tucson. 579 for a site visit, then shipping cost, then driving cost…


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That could be, I was under the impression that once you had the number you could keep it active into the future. Do you have a taxidermist or friend that has a business that would allow you to use their number? That would be the simplest. The worst part would be to pay that and then not need to use it. If you knew for sure you are bringing meat home, it would probably pay for its self. Your second cheapest option would be to check meat and antlers to come home.

 

[280rem]

I usually leave some of the meat for my AK family to share or they bring what's left with them when they come up to see us!
I think the air cargo/known shipper would be a great way to go in situations like my NM oryx. I struggled to get every thing home in 5 bags and it probably cost as much or more than air cargo.

I would think with the more recent changes in baggage policy it would be considerably cheaper to use air cargo. Unless you have some elite status or Alaska air program that is cheaper than standard rates. It use to be $100 for a bag that could be at 99lbs, they wouldn’t charge double for anything. But know a person might get a friendly helpful person at check in or you might get some who will charge the full price of their current terms. It has to be cheaper now using air cargo, plus the convenience of backing into a dock and unloading right on to a pallet in a rather unrushed manner, no dragging stuff through the airport.

 

[Jmillgreen]

That could be, I was under the impression that once you had the number you could keep it active into the future. Do you have a taxidermist or friend that has a business that would allow you to use their number? That would be the simplest. The worst part would be to pay that and then not need to use it. If you knew for sure you are bringing meat home, it would probably pay for its self. Your second cheapest option would be to check meat and antlers to come home.

That was as an individual. Site visit is required every year. I applied as a business too and was initially not recognized as a business by TSA. It was appealed on my behalf but it wasn’t looking likely. Today I got an email saying my business is now recognized and I have a known shipper number!


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[jofes]

I understand when checking antlers you need them wrapped and dry, tips covered. Do you need them encased in a hard container or on a pallet for air cargo?

 

[chizelhead]

I understand when checking antlers you need them wrapped and dry, tips covered. Do you need them encased in a hard container or on a pallet for air cargo?

That hasn’t been my experience, but my sample size is 1.

 

[Renegade14]

I didn't have a skull to bring home last year, but I did bring home a bunch of sheds nestled together. Instead of covering each point, we wrapped the whole bundle in bubble wrap from Home Depot. Alaska counted them as another set on the flight, but they made it on the plane and home fine.

 

[Rwolf]

Here's how I brought my moose home last year. There is a maximum overall dimension that mine squeaked under.