split antlers and checked baggage

[westtrout]

Hi all, I have a question that I was hoping someone could help me out with -- what size duffel would it take to accommodate a set of split antlers?

I'll be flying in/out of Deadhorse this fall and instead of using Antler Express, I'd rather just include split antlers (free of blood, tips padded, plastic-wrapped) in my checked baggage. I have a duffel that measures 50"x30" when laying flat...would that be large enough? I'm not so much concerned about length as width. Obviously, it depends on the size of the bull, but let's just say a descent bull. Not necessarily a monster, but a respectable bull. Thanks, it might seem elementary but I have no experience to go off of and don't want to find myself at the airport trying to figure it out.

Corey

 

[KHNC]

I brought a dink back from Idaho a few years ago this exact way. A 5x4 grossing 252" or so. It worked out pretty good.

 

[KHNC]

Crap, I thought u meant elk. Sorry

 

[Alaskan89]

I shipped a set of moose antlers to Idaho one time via Alaska Airlines and I didn't put it in any kind of bag or container, I simply cleaned it up and covered up the points and all was good.

 

[outdoorsman_3]

Alaskan89. How big we're the moose antlers? How long ago was this? And we're they split?

 

[westtrout]

Thanks for the replies. If split antlers wouldn't fit in a xxlarge duffle, according to AK Airlines website it looks like they could just go alone as another piece of luggage similar to Alaskan89's suggestion, so long as the are properly packaged and don't exceed 120" L+W+H.

 

[realunlucky]

They told me they must be boxed and met the size limitation to be checked as luggage. I'm flying out of deadhorse and wonder where I will find any boxing material

 

[rayporter]

a couple years ago i had to split mine and i went to a delivery place of some kind not far away and got cardboard to tape up into a box shape. duct tape is needed either way. i dont remember paying for the cardboard but i might have. wallyworld throws away tons everyday. it was a scramble to get meat boxed and horns boxed and bags to the plane.

 

[Ray]

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/cargo/ship-wild-game.aspx

If you can get the materials into a suitable container then checked baggage is the way to go. As discussed in several threads use rubbermaid totes for your meat. The above link provides AK Airlines policy for freight shipment of meat and trophies. If I recall correctly as of last summer AK Air no longer accepts raw racks as checked baggage at the counter. They were getting too many "bags" declined from other carriers when the hunter got to the states and changed planes. That is why they developed a freight side business and worked out a deal with FedEx just for antlers.

 

[westtrout]

Ray, thanks for the link. Way at the bottom of the page it says that "Antlers may be accepted as baggage if they meet the requirements for checked baggage." But that may very well be outdated. I'll give AK Airlines a call and see what the current policy is and report back.

The totes are a good idea and should work well. Thanks again for the info -- it is helpful.