Strategy for bringing an elk back to the east coast

[HuntingAddict]

If flying I usually put my clothing and some gear in a cooler and fly with it going out there. For the return I ship the clothing and some gear back in a duffle bag UPS. Go to Walmart and buy a second cooler while I'm out there. I use my carry on for optics and $$ gear. Bone out all the meat and pack it on ice. Try and keep the weight to 50 LBS per cooler. Donate the rest of the meat. Some families out there will greatly appreciate it. Note. Make sure you change out the ice and put the meat in Ziplocks . I butcher my own, but some shops out there may freeze the meat for you. Driving is still the best options, but this has worked for me.

 

[Pochuck]

Cost me $800 to ship a 50lb cooler from Boise to NYC via UPS. $400 to check the remaining 5 boxes with me on my flight back. If I had the time I would drive but checking it at the airport is the only real option unless you know a trucker going coast to coast

 

[Soj51hopeful]

I’ve got a 30 hour drive but when I can rent a truck for 10 days for $375 it’s a no brainer to me. Me and buddy will drive straight thru alternating shifts. Then I know when I get there I will have everything with me and when successful it is much easier to bring home.

I’m curious where you rent a truck for 10 days and it only costs $375?

 

[GSPHUNTER]

I would bone it out, that way it will all fit in one large, 120 or 150 qt ice chest. One layer of meat one layer of ice, then repeat. Keep bottom layer of meat out of water with wire rack, drain chest once a day. This will require renting a vehicle for a one way trip back home. I have done it several times.

 

[NICKJ]

I’m curious where you rent a truck for 10 days and it only costs $375?

Not the OP but why do you need a truck to drive back home? We rented a minivan one year and filled the back for a drive home. Much cheaper

 

[fatlander]

Not the OP but why do you need a truck to drive back home? We rented a minivan one year and filled the back for a drive home. Much cheaper

You’re right don’t need a truck to drive home. You do need something with high clearance and 4x4 to hunt before you come back home.

I’d also love to know where someone is renting 4x4 pickups for 350 bucks for 10 days.


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[NICKJ]

You’re right don’t need a truck to drive home. You do need something with high clearance and 4x4 to hunt before you come back home.

I’d also love to know where someone is renting 4x4 pickups for 350 bucks for 10 days.


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Turo.com
Probably not $350 but close

 

[fatlander]

Turo.com
Probably not $350 but close

I’ve used turo for years, in multiple states, at different times of the year. I’ve never seen a price anywhere close to that low for 10 days for a pick up truck, and that’s not even considering the extra mileage fee for driving east coast to Rockies and back.


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[NICKJ]

I’ve used turo for years, in multiple states, at different times of the year. I’ve never seen a price anywhere close to that low for 10 days for a pick up truck, and that’s not even considering the extra mileage fee for driving east coast to Rockies and back.


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sorry I was unclear. Rent from Turo for your hunt. Return it and rent a minivan from a chain to drive the meat back home. Not a perfect scenario but works

 

[D_wit22]

I got everyone stirred up…booked the truck the day after I got my Idaho Tag. Kept watching Expedia daily and finally settled on this one. Trucks here in PA are stupid cheap to rent for some reason

 

[fuzzymarindave]

I’m curious where you rent a truck for 10 days and it only costs $375?

Curious also. I did a quick check with Enterprise/Alamo and a pickup is about $350 per day for one-way from Montana to San Diego where my buddy lives.

 

[D_wit22]

Curious also. I did a quick check with Enterprise/Alamo and a pickup is about $350 per day for one-way from Montana to San Diego where my buddy lives.

If I rent one today, it would cost $500 for 10 days. For some reason trucks are cheap here in PA. Its why we always drive, and I never think about driving my own vehicle

 

[meatseeker]

If flying I usually put my clothing and some gear in a cooler and fly with it going out there. For the return I ship the clothing and some gear back in a duffle bag UPS. Go to Walmart and buy a second cooler while I'm out there. I use my carry on for optics and $$ gear. Bone out all the meat and pack it on ice. Try and keep the weight to 50 LBS per cooler. Donate the rest of the meat. Some families out there will greatly appreciate it. Note. Make sure you change out the ice and put the meat in Ziplocks . I butcher my own, but some shops out there may freeze the meat for you. Driving is still the best options, but this has worked for me.

This is exactly what I've done in the past with mule deer, but I was wondering how difficult that would be with a large animal like an elk. I guess I'll stick to this plan and just buy a bunch of coolers if I'm successful.

 

[fuzzymarindave]

If I rent one today, it would cost $500 for 10 days. For some reason trucks are cheap here in PA. Its why we always drive, and I never think about driving my own vehicle

Ok, thanks I see that now. The higher charge seems to be when pickup and dropoff are at a different location. Price goes down to about $42 per day for pickup and dropoff at same location. Was hoping to be able to fly out to the destination and drive rental back one-way.

 

[fatlander]

Ok, thanks I see that now. The higher charge seems to be when pickup and dropoff are at a different location. Price goes down to about $42 per day for pickup and dropoff at same location. Was hoping to be able to fly out to the destination and drive rental back one-way.

Try a pick up and drop off from international airport to international airport. There’s usually not a drop fee when you do it that way.


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[ResearchinStuff]

The airlines lost my luggage, including firearm the first time I hunted out of state. Now I drive, and actually look forward to that time alone, probably the most peaceful days of my year.

 

[HuntingAddict]

Just curious , I've rented trucks for years on elk trips. The one big issue has been crap tires. The rental trucks don't come with off road tires (more like car tires) We have had to buy chains when we got out there. Have you guys run into the same issue?

 

[MallardSX2]

2 - 120 quart coolers (Per Elk) and 2 long days of driving is how I do it now.

We used to drive straight from PA. It was 27 hours and we never turned the truck off either direction. I preferred that method the best. It saved money on hotels and we got there and home faster.

 

[spike camp]

What are your plans with the antlers/cape?

 

[meatseeker]

OP here.... thanks for all the input. I understand the benefits of driving. But just to be clear its 32 hours of driving from my home to where I hunt. I don't have the time to drive. I can grab a direct flight and be at hunting camp in 12 hours.... so thats 24 hours of travel round trip door to door flying, versus 64 hours of drive time. I only interested in options related to checking the meat as baggage or shipping it. Thanks