Flying with gear

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

So I typically drive but this year I am going to fly and I've never flown with gear before. Will an emr2 with 26" frame work as a carry on, obviously not filled to capacity but more in day pack mode, or will it need checked? If checked are there any precautions I should take? Do you just check it as is or stuff the frame inside or maybe the whole pack in a cooler? Ever has your stuff damaged or lost? Anything else I'm not considering?

 

[idig4au]

I fly with my gear all the time. In the past I have used my EMR2 w/ 26in frame as a carry on several occasions with only like a change of clothes inside, my toiletry kit, and my optics with the rest of my gear checked in a large duffle. The 26" frame is long and doesn't fit in the overhead unless you put it in sideways which has led to people sneering at me. If you are flying cattle class or last to board, you could have issues finding space. When flying Business or First class, i have never had an issue.


My last few trips, I have just placed my EMR2 in a large Kifaru Duffle bag locked with a TSA lock and I just check it in. I bought a Kifaru late season with a 22" frame as my carry on for my optics, sat phone and other expensive gear. This seems to be working the best for me and i don't have to worry about carry on space. I also don't have to worry if I get blood on my EMR2 or it smells like a goat after my hunt. I can pack it up with all my kit and throw it in the duffle and generally be good to go when I arrive at my destination.

In terms of checked luggage, not too many issues. My gun case gets the worst abuse. It looks like its been dragged behind the plane a few times. I've had several locks broken off of it, mainly on my Canadian hunting trips. Don't ask me why. I don't think its because of theft attempts but mainly the locks get caught or hit with other luggage. I fly with a spare master lock now just in case. Also had airlines destroy my Filson X-Large duffle bag. I guess those are not as tough as they used to be!

 

[elkyinzer]

I've only flown once to hunt, last September. It went very smoothly. I've flown a whole lot for work, had some harrowing experiences there. I will share some of my tips and answer your questions:

1) As the other guy said, no, your 26" frame won't fit in most overheads without pissing people off and putting it in horizontally. If you want to do it this one time and piss people off, that mentality is pretty common these days, so when in Rome I guess.

2) I would recommend reversing what you plan on doing - carry on your optics, electronics, anything expensive and irreplaceable like releases, contact lenses, medication etc - carry those on. Put in checked bags what you can afford to go to the store and replace in a pinch - clothes, toiletries, camp gear etc.

2a) Consider shipping essential gear if you can send it to an outfitter or friend. That way you can send it in advance and know it is waiting for you upon arrival.

3) I've lost three bags in my day, and eventually gotten all back except one. One was delivered the next day, the other took about a week. Plan like it could happen and hope it doesn't. Amazingly all three happened on the way home so I was ok. Pay extra to connect through better airports. There are good airports and bad airports to connect through. My issues arose in Philly twice, and Atlanta once, both airports are massive with reputations for being generally shitty. Most of the really bad ones are on the coasts, so you shouldn't have too much to worry about being in MO. Direct flights are much less likely to result in lost luggage.

4) Have a plan for the meat. We ended up driving a few hours to take my elk to a butcher near Boise and he was great. Cut, frozen, shipped and it arrived at the Pgh airport no hassle, no worry, for about $500 bucks including shipping. When I kill something at home I like to cut the meat up myself, but the logistics of keeping meat cool for the duration of our hunt, then getting it on a plane with all our other gear and then having to deal with it when we got home just wasn't appealing. You'll need to find a butcher near an airport to get decent shipping rates.

 

[sniper61]

After arriving in a remote village in Alaska to catch a float plane and finding my north face sleeping bag had been pulled out of that little hole at the top of my duffle bag then waiting a day for my rifle case on another hunt. I now mail everything to my self there. They will keep it at the post office or you could mail it to your transporter or guide. I carry a small pack on the plane with street cloths and check a large cooler with some last minute things in it. It will fly full of meat,cape or fish on the way home. I mail it all back home plus the antlers or horns. You can't mail shells they go in the cooler. This works best for me.

 

[Dos Perros]

If your checked bag ever gets lost and then found, but they screw with you on when they can get it to you, just tell them your medication is in your bag. You'll have it ricky tick.

 

[Dos Perros]

If anyone could recommend a hard sided case that could handle a bow or a rifle (with action/barrel removed from stock to shorten length requirement), but not both at the same time, I'd appreciate it. Would like to have one hard case with two sets of foam if possible.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I was thinking of checking a cooler and if we get something I'll just drive the rental back, so meat won't be an issue. I was hoping to get my pack in a cooler with the bulk of my gear except optics and vital stuff which would go in my carry on. The problem with that plan is the smallest cooler a 26" frame will fit is a 120 quart but that's over sized. The duffle could work but that takes up one of the 2 check bags and my bow takes the other so that would necessitate buying coolers that we may or may not need in Denver as it's over 3 hours to the trailhead and there's not really anywhere in between to pick some up.

 

[littlebrotherC]

Subscribed

 

[Bluemountain]

Can you tell me the name of the butcher near Boise that you used? I am looking to do the same thing.

 

[Desk Jockey]

If your checked bag ever gets lost and then found, but they screw with you on when they can get it to you, just tell them your medication is in your bag. You'll have it ricky tick.

I like this.

A buddy of mine was saying he flies with a yeti hopper as carry on. Gear on the way there. Meat on the way back.

 

[N2TRKYS]

If anyone could recommend a hard sided case that could handle a bow or a rifle (with action/barrel removed from stock to shorten length requirement), but not both at the same time, I'd appreciate it. Would like to have one hard case with two sets of foam if possible.

I use a Pelican 1750 for my shotguns and rifles. My bow will fit in it, but it's tight.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I like this.

A buddy of mine was saying he flies with a yeti hopper as carry on. Gear on the way there. Meat on the way back.

Turkey breasts will ride nicely in checked luggage at no charge, too.

 

[CLICKBANGBANG]

On one trip the first flight was delayed taking off, so I almost missed my connector. My checked bag didn't make on the connector. Including a Glock 26 that I travel with. They inspected my bag, obviously fount the pistol with paperwork, and had it to me on the very next flight.

I'd fly with all of the high dollar items carried on. Only reason I check anything is for firearms.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I fly with my gear all the time. In the past I have used my EMR2 w/ 26in frame as a carry on several occasions with only like a change of clothes inside, my toiletry kit, and my optics with the rest of my gear checked in a large duffle. The 26" frame is long and doesn't fit in the overhead unless you put it in sideways which has led to people sneering at me. If you are flying cattle class or last to board, you could have issues finding space. When flying Business or First class, i have never had an issue.


My last few trips, I have just placed my EMR2 in a large Kifaru Duffle bag locked with a TSA lock and I just check it in. I bought a Kifaru late season with a 22" frame as my carry on for my optics, sat phone and other expensive gear. This seems to be working the best for me and i don't have to worry about carry on space. I also don't have to worry if I get blood on my EMR2 or it smells like a goat after my hunt. I can pack it up with all my kit and throw it in the duffle and generally be good to go when I arrive at my destination.

In terms of checked luggage, not too many issues. My gun case gets the worst abuse. It looks like its been dragged behind the plane a few times. I've had several locks broken off of it, mainly on my Canadian hunting trips. Don't ask me why. I don't think its because of theft attempts but mainly the locks get caught or hit with other luggage. I fly with a spare master lock now just in case. Also had airlines destroy my Filson X-Large duffle bag. I guess those are not as tough as they used to be!

When traveling with guns, archery equipt or fishing gear I use the HAND CARRY ONLY option. No turnstiles, no conveyors, no damage.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

If anyone could recommend a hard sided case that could handle a bow or a rifle (with action/barrel removed from stock to shorten length requirement), but not both at the same time, I'd appreciate it. Would like to have one hard case with two sets of foam if possible.

I use an ATA rated SKB 5014 - QUAD RIFLE CASE and sometimes carry 6 firearms in it or two bows and sidearm.

Usually throw in some camos and stuff too.

 

[sniper61]

Turkey breasts will ride nicely in checked luggage at no charge, too.

Brought a caribou cape home as carry on one time. No one ask but I would have called it a fur blanket.

 

[92xj]

I use an ATA rated SKB 5014 - QUAD RIFLE CASE and sometimes carry 6 firearms in it or two bows and sidearm.

Usually throw in some camos and stuff too.

I travel with this case too. Load it up with whichever weapon and then pack it as full as possible with all other gear. The 10 times I've traveled with it they have never checked for over weight with the case or charged me extra than the normal 25 bucks for checked bags. I also mention to a TSA agent that I have a weapon the second I walk into the airport and they take me straight to the counter skipping the entire line. They want that weapon out of passengers arms as quickly as possible. You do get quite a few looks when you have to open the case and handle the weapon to show it's not loaded, bolts out, etc, from folks in the airport. It's a heck of a lot easier and quicker to fly with a weapon and get through the airport, for me.