Getting Elk on a Plane...

[fap1800]

For any hunts I've done out west, I've always used coolers. I'd ship my gear to my buddy in IL in two coolers. He'd pick me up at the airport and we'd be on the way. And if we killed anything, we'd pick up the processed/frozen meat and pack it into my coolers for transport back on the plane usually with a small block of dry ice. I never had any problems. This year, we're trying to cut down on weight and save space. Coolers monopolize a truck bed and a trailer quite quickly. Two coolers, plus two additional coolers for my friend who is joining us this year, will really eat up space fast. We're already going to have coolers for food/ice anyway. I'm wondering if any of you Eastern/Midwest guys that fly home with elk, or any game for that matter, in dry duffel bags? What's been your experience? I'm looking at something like these Ozark 40L dry bags. I'm thinking two would do the trick. We always share a kill, so if I or my buddy get one, we're not coming home with a full elk.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-40L-Dry-Waterproof-Bag-Duffel-with-Shoulder-Strap/48930986

 

[Mattt]

Although I've never tried, I would assume it's like getting a hard headed horse in a trailer. Sometimes u have to back them in

 

[claybreaker]

I've never flown and hunted. That said for the truck, we pack stuff in the cooler going out. Have a hitch mounted cargo carrier empty or lightly loaded going out, then if we kill meat goes in cooler in the bed and light weight stuff get loaded on the carrier on the back of the truck coming home.

Be Safe,

 

[cnelk]

I’d go hunt and buy coolers if successful.
Then sell the coolers when I got home.

That’s what I did when I went to Alaska

 

[Gatorgrizz27]

I’d go hunt and buy coolers if successful.
Then sell the coolers when I got home.

That’s what I did when I went to Alaska

Yep. Or buy them from Wal-Mart, leave them locked up in the truck empty while you hunt. If you tag out, go get ice. If not, take them back.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if the airline wouldn’t let you on with meat in a bag. They don’t really want a cargo hold and everyone’s luggage covered in elk blood.

On that note, anyone found the right size cheap and common cooler to hold about 50# of meat? Assuming it’s frozen solid so no ice, or just a small dry ice pack.

 

[Stid2677]

When I hunt Kodiak and remote villages or transport meat and hides home. I use cheap plastic totes, the largest size the airline will ship. I drill holes around the top and secure with reusable zip ties. I place my gear in the totes on the way to the hunt area and pack an extra duffle bag for the gear to fly back in. Once meat is made, it is hard frozen and places in the totes and sealed with the zips. No ice is used, news paper is used to line the bottom and fill any voids, this also soaks up any condensation. These can be nested and weigh very little, unlike coolers. Even a light cooler weighs 15 to 20 pounds. These totes can be up to but not over 99 lbs on Alaska airlines, but check as each carrier is different. I have used these to ship from Alaska to Virginia, over 18 hours in transit and the meat was still soft frozen, (think about how long that holiday turkey takes to thaw).

 

[fap1800]

When I hunt Kodiak and remote villages or transport meat and hides home. I use cheap plastic totes, the largest size the airline will ship. I drill holes around the top and secure with reusable zip ties. I place my gear in the totes on the way to the hunt area and pack an extra duffle bag for the gear to fly back in. Once meat is made, it is hard frozen and places in the totes and sealed with the zips. No ice is used, news paper is used to line the bottom and fill any voids, this also soaks up any condensation. These can be nested and weigh very little, unlike coolers. Even a light cooler weighs 15 to 20 pounds. These totes can be up to but not over 99 lbs on Alaska airlines, but check as each carrier is different. I have used these to ship from Alaska to Virginia, over 18 hours in transit and the meat was still soft frozen, (think about how long that holiday turkey takes to thaw).

I appreciate the feedback. I think I may go with this option since the totes can be nested and not eat up a ton of space. I fly SW and their policy is similar to Alaska...up to 99lbs with just an overweight fee.

 

[Beendare]

The Totes idea works great. I've used the big dry bags too.

 

[Superkodiak38]

Although I've never tried, I would assume it's like getting a hard headed horse in a trailer. Sometimes u have to back them in

I was thinking you would need to buy him a couple of drinks first

Seriously though, the totes idea sounds pretty good !

 

[stonewall]

I’d go hunt and buy coolers if successful.
Then sell the coolers when I got home.

That’s what I did when I went to Alaska

Be careful with this one. I did that last year, and all Walmart had was (very) little coolers. We considered trying to buy and ship to our location with amazon prime, but ended up finding a couple at a meat processor (he kept coolers on hand for shipping meat out). I never dreamed walmart wouldn't have large coolers in stock.

 

[Bubblehide]

You could always try 4x8 foam ans duct tape

 

[epicaaron]

+1 on plastic totes. I have used the Sterilite 16 gallon trunks (they have wheels on one end which is nice) to fly meat home, I usually put a couple pounds of dry ice on top (but check your airlines regs). I have also packed my backpack full of up to 60lbs of cut/wrapped/frozen meat and taken it as carry-on: at the end of a cross-country flight the meat was still frozen (you could always line your pack with a foam pad, jacket, sleeping bag, etc).

If this is a problem that you will face consistently then it may be worth getting a TSA known shipper certification since airfreight is surprisingly cheap if you don't have to use a freight forwarder.

 

[Matt W.]

For those using Totes, how hard was it to find a place to flash freeze your meat?

 

[epicaaron]

When I have done it I have always been lucky enough to use a really good butcher who has cut, wrapped, and deep frozen the meat within 24-48 hours, so I just picked the meat up from the deep freeze on my way to the airport and repacked in the butchers parking lot. I have read about people using dry ice to freeze prior to transport but I haven't tried it.

 

[Stid2677]

For those using Totes, how hard was it to find a place to flash freeze your meat?

When I stay in Kodiak, I use the Best Western and they allow free use of the walk in.

 

[HookUp]

I haven't seen a large cooler in a Wal Mart in a long time. Costco carries them at times.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I ordered more of the Marine Extreme 150 qt coolers last month on Walmart's site.

 

[RumLover]

We've used an ice chest with dry ice and shipped the meat home in the past. It usually beats us home on FedEx. More expensive than in the back of the truck, but when we priced the weight of over sized, over weight luggage fees, it was cheaper.

 

[Gehri1tm]

+1 on plastic totes. I have used the Sterilite 16 gallon trunks (they have wheels on one end which is nice) to fly meat home, I usually put a couple pounds of dry ice on top (but check your airlines regs). I have also packed my backpack full of up to 60lbs of cut/wrapped/frozen meat and taken it as carry-on: at the end of a cross-country flight the meat was still frozen (you could always line your pack with a foam pad, jacket, sleeping bag, etc).

If this is a problem that you will face consistently then it may be worth getting a TSA known shipper certification since airfreight is surprisingly cheap if you don't have to use a freight forwarder.

I was looking at these Sterilite footlockers as a possible option. How many do you think would be needed for a processed elk? I wonder if these totes with insulated cooler bags inside holding frozen meat would be cheaper option than high-end coolers. Or, could unprocessed elk (in game bags) be flown in these Sterilite totes with dry ice? Thanks for the advice.

 

[sneaky]

Better check with the airline and see what their policy is on flying with dry ice. That may be a no go.

I was looking at these Sterilite footlockers as a possible option. How many do you think would be needed for a processed elk? I wonder if these totes with insulated cooler bags inside holding frozen meat would be cheaper option than high-end coolers. Or, could unprocessed elk (in game bags) be flown in these Sterilite totes with dry ice? Thanks for the advice.

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