Driving vs. Flying?

[Billy Goat]

Ask me today, F driving.

Left at 11am EST(9mst), got home at 10pm EST, 35hr trip.

Few days and I'm probably ready to do it again.

1 longer lunch stop, a quick stop at a NP on way by, and 1:15 hr rest stop in Kansas. Put me down as not a fan of Kansas.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Best of both worlds…

I can turn a 30hr drive into a 12hr flight and don’t have to deal with TSA or any of the crazy people at the airport.
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I ain't never seen no Bucee's with a runway so I will be driving, Thank you.

 

[LFC911]

1 longer lunch stop, a quick stop at a NP on way by, and 1:15 hr rest stop in Kansas. Put me down as not a fan of Kansas.

It gets better past the state line into CO

 

[Billy Goat]

It gets better past the state line into CO

I'm fine with Nebraska, even eastern Wy, really don't like Kansas. It's not rational.

 

[Geewhiz]

I would drive, unless it made more sense to fly.

On the other hand, I might fly, unless it made more sense to drive.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

Its a crap shoot. Last time we flew there and drove home. We were successful so it worked out perfect. IF we hadn't killed flying home would have been nice and quick. 4 hour flight vs 28 hour drive.

 

[Kurts86]

Everyone should fly for a big game hunt because it really narrows down your packing.

I will fly on shorter trips when I’m trying to save PTO, I learned a long time ago that flying or redeye drives often mean an extra hunting trip per fall.

When I lived further east and it was 20 hours to drive out west I flew a lot more than I do now to hunt. I also had 2 weeks of PTO then and not 4 so the math was different as well.

 

[LFC911]

I'm fine with Nebraska, even eastern Wy, really don't like Kansas. It's not rational.

kindof agree and wouldn't be here if I didn't need a wife, job and son. lol

 

[Weldor]

One word . Drive. I don't want anything to do with someone making decisions for me. like Tsa , airline employee's , rental counter . No thanks.

 

[arrow179]

I ain't never seen no Bucee's with a runway so I will be driving, Thank you.

Just about all small airports have fuel and most are self service with restrooms so makes it’s easy to land, fuel up, and off you go again. No traffic jams on the interstate to deal with either

 

[Zapp_Brannigan]

I’ve never gone on a guided hunt, but I always drive, I hate flying. Maybe if I was hunting Alaska, because who wants to spend any time in Canada. That might be the only thing worse than the TSA.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Just about all small airports have fuel and most are self service with restrooms so makes it’s easy to land, fuel up, and off you go again. No traffic jams on the interstate to deal with either

Yea, I'm just messing with you. I hate Bucee's and all the noise and crowds that come with it. Reminds me of Mardi Gras, too many people, no parking, and walking for an hour to get to where you can P. Only been to one and that was enough. I do prefer to drive to my hunt in Chama. Leisure 24 hour drive with a half way stop in Quanah, Tx and I have everything aboard. After a successful hunt, pick up the processed frozen and wrapped meat and pack it in the ice chests with dry ice. A leisurely 24 drive back home with a stop half way in Quanah, Tx. This will be year #37. It runs pretty smooth except for the quagmire of traffic I encounter every year in the Dallas area. Always a fun time there.

 

[Zapp_Brannigan]

For all the people flying, do you ever have any issues with theft? Or do you not fly with guns, or expensive gear?

 

[Andrew12gauge]

Not hunting, but when we go to visit in laws I usually use my 4 day weekend and then return home to work, while the wife and kids like to stay through the week. I used to book 1 way flights but after this last time I won’t do it anymore, between connecting flights and layovers it’s usually about a 6 hr flight for what used to be a 1 hr nonstop flight(they no longer do that) and you can not in any way count on the airlines to get flights off on time. All that to say the last time I did it I ended up renting a car and driving 8 hrs and beat the flight I had scheduled home. I won’t be flying anymore. Airlines suck


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[NRA4LIFE]

I'm in a bad spot as I live near Seattle and hunt every year in MO and/or WI. Both of them 30+ hour drives. No thanks. I usually have to pay excess baggage fees for the meat coolers, but that's peanuts compared to the total amount of the trip. 3.5-4 hours for the plane ride. And like someone mentioned, for going on a plane you pack WAY more efficiently.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

For all the people flying, do you ever have any issues with theft? Or do you not fly with guns, or expensive gear?

I keep one of my hunting rifles, ammo and a few other items at a friend's house in MO, so I don't travel with it. All my expensive stuff (optics, etc) goes with me in my carry ons.

 

[Kurts86]

For all the people flying, do you ever have any issues with theft? Or do you not fly with guns, or expensive gear?

It’s the opposite, flying with a checked firearm is a great way to make sure your luggage gets there or at least gets found quickly. In photography circles it was common at one point to check a firearm with expensive camera equipment so that it would get better tracking. Anymore an AirTag goes in every bag when I’m traveling.

I’ve never had luggage truly lost, usually it just shows up a day late at worst. I usually fly direct to DEN, PHX, SLC and then drive from there on a hunt which lowers the risk of lost gear. Optics, boots and packs go on as a carry on.

I’m honestly just as worried about gear being stolen at hotels, rest stops or gas stations while driving especially when you have an overloaded truck.

 

[Nine Banger]

For all the people flying, do you ever have any issues with theft? Or do you not fly with guns, or expensive gear?

I carry on my work stuff and wear regular clothes to travel.

All my hunting stuff goes in my checked bag and rifle case.

 

[Zapp_Brannigan]

It’s the opposite, flying with a checked firearm is a great way to make sure your luggage gets there or at least gets found quickly. In photography circles it was common at one point to check a firearm with expensive camera equipment so that it would get better tracking. Anymore an AirTag goes in every bag when I’m traveling.

I’ve never had luggage truly lost, usually it just shows up a day late at worst. I usually fly direct to DEN, PHX, SLC and then drive from there on a hunt which lowers the risk of lost gear. Optics, boots and packs go on as a carry on.

I’m honestly just as worried about gear being stolen at hotels, rest stops or gas stations while driving especially when you have an overloaded truck.

I never would have guessed that, but it makes sense. After all, the ATF might actually care about guns getting stolen.

And I agree driving has its own risks as far as theft is concerned. Unfortunately, there are a lot of dishonest people running around.

 

[socaldaniel]

For all the people flying, do you ever have any issues with theft? Or do you not fly with guns, or expensive gear?

Never had anything stolen or damaged and I have flown to Wisconsin (MSP) for the past 6 years for whitetail hunting I will say my Apache 9800 Harbor Fright case has seen better days and I will upgrade to a pelican for the next go around.