Flying with elk, moose or caribou skull?

[Ridgerunner7]

Do most airlines allow you to fly with a European mounted elk skull/anters or something similar sized if it is boiled and clean, wrapped up thoroughly and all of the antler covered in like pool noodles and cling wrap? Or does it actually have to be in a container or box and potentially have it split.

I’ve hear mixed so probably depends on airline.


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[KSAaron]

I know a guy that flew home with 52" moose antlers with the skull split and the antlers nested. Covered all points with pool noodles and shrink wrapped them a bunch. He said Alaska Air Lines is a little more willing to let you fly with antlers than others though.

 

[Beendare]

I've done it with the skull split and wrapped up Elk and Caribou....and I've flown with Whitetail racks that just fit in a big duffle- no problem

 

[elkliver]

what do you mean by splitting the skull?

 

[stonewall]

what do you mean by splitting the skull?

Split the skull plate and pack the antlers stacked on each other

You can’t score for BC after doing so…if that’s important for you

 

[elkliver]

gotcha. thanks

 

[gearguywb]

I flew Alaska with a set of 52" antlers. Did not split them. Carefully covered each point, then the whole thing with cardboard. One of the things they are toughest on is having the skull cleaned as much as possible (no meat)

 

[william schmaltz]

Not sure about elk and caribou. No problem for moose. Don’t need to be cleaned or split as long as it doesn’t stink (maybe an absolute monster needs split. But if it’s that big, consider yourself lucky to fork up a few extra $100 and ship it proper). Wrap the skull with a roll of shop towels, 1-2 scented contractor bags, and then plastic wrap. Add extra padding to places prone to breaking through the plastic and leaking such as the nose, top of eyes, and base of skull. Cover all points at minimum with pipe insulation. Then wrap that sucker 5x more than you think necessary. Make sure that it will not leak and will not damage the plane or other luggage. That will ruin it for all of us!

This 54” took a ride on Delta 2024.

This 60” took a ride on AK 2023.