Tips for flying out on an Elk hunt

[7Bartman]

I've seen this question posed on multiple forums so I thought I'd share my thoughts here. Sorry for the length, I thought I could tell everything in under 10 mins.

 

[Kperricone]

good video when you go out there are you hunting with an outfitter? what are you doing as far as transportation to and from airport to your hunting location

 

[7Bartman]

good video when you go out there are you hunting with an outfitter? what are you doing as far as transportation to and from airport to your hunting location

OTC tags on public land. I rent a car (e.g. Jeep Patriot) and drive to the location. In full disclosure, I have friends on the ground who can hold my antlers and ship them to me, so I don't really consider driving back.

 

[cnelk]

Good video!

As far as the 50lb cooler weight restriction - a person should do the math and see if paying the extra weight charges and having only 1 bigger cooler vs buying another cooler offsets at all.

Also, there are airlines that do allow dry ice in coolers - confirm with your airlines

 

[7Bartman]

Good video!

As far as the 50lb cooler weight restriction - a person should do the math and see if paying the extra weight charges and having only 1 bigger cooler vs buying another cooler offsets at all.

Also, there are airlines that do allow dry ice in coolers - confirm with your airlines

Good point. Two years ago, I went over (68lb cooler) and had to pay $150 for that cooler as extra baggage ($75 and extra weight $75). Another option is to book a business/first ticket with Delta when I think you can get 3 checked bags up to 70lbs, which might offset the cost of extra baggage. Only problem is Delta isn't refunded upon cancellation, but if you know that you're only flying than this is an option too.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Great video, thank you for making it! One thing I think is worth spelling out for anyone going through the drive or fly for an elk hunt in the lower 48 specifically....this video and many other opinions online talk about 50# weight limits on your cooler, and gives some people the impression that they can only bring a couple of 50# coolers home, which is obviously not enough for a whole elk. While cost/potential fees is always a point of interest, the only hard and fast weight limit is no checked bag (on Delta) may exceed 100 pounds. Bottom line is you CAN bring all of your elk meat home with you on the plane. Coolers can weigh 70 or 80 or 90 pounds, and you can check multiple of those.

 

[7Bartman]

pelling out for anyone going through the drive or fly for an elk hunt in the lower 48 specifically....this video and many other opinions online talk about 50# weight limits on your cooler, and gives some people the impression that they can only bring a couple of 50# coolers home, which is obviously not enough for a whole elk. While cost/potential fees is always a point of interest, the only hard and fast weight limit is no checked bag (on Delta) may exceed 100 pounds.

You are correct, but with SW I've found it cheaper to bring more boxes at a limit of 50lbs vs. less boxes going over (paying extra baggage fee and extra weight fee). The biggest problem for me being by myself is the logisitics of getting a bunch of these boxes along with your bowcase through the airport. With two people it'd be much easier. The bags and hunting gear that I had this year were all that I could handle.

 

[Doc Holliday]

You are correct, but with SW I've found it cheaper to bring more boxes at a limit of 50lbs vs. less boxes going over (paying extra baggage fee and extra weight fee). The biggest problem for me being by myself is the logisitics of getting a bunch of these boxes along with your bowcase through the airport. With two people it'd be much easier. The bags and hunting gear that I had this year were all that I could handle.

Great point. My plan is to park my truck, go into baggage claim, get cart, go back to truck and get gear, and check in. Pelican rifle case has wheels so that helps to pull that while pushing the cart. Wear backpack of course. Stack coolers on cart.

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[7Bartman]

Great point. My plan is to park my truck, go into baggage claim, get cart, go back to truck and get gear, and check in. Pelican rifle case has wheels so that helps to pull that while pushing the cart. Wear backpack of course. Stack coolers on cart.

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That's EXACTLY how I did it, except my bow case doesn't have wheels. Let me tell you, I couldn't have fit anything extra on that cart. It was a crazy balancing act.

 

[camolife84]

Great video going through the same debate with they guys I'm going with coming from PA and want to fly vs drive.

Ps awesome sika deer in the background

 

[nettereo16]

Very helpful breakdown, thanks!!
2 questions:
Any advice for getting the meat frozen if you shoot one late in the trip?
Do you need to book 2 one-way tickets on SW to cancel the return leg?

 

[duckkiller1518]

Good video thanks for the tips


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[rambo2345]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Aubs8]

Thanks for the video. This past year we purchased a small hanging scale at Walmart and put frozen meat in 40 liter dry bags...I checked in 3 bags of meat at about 48lbs each and split up about 40 lbs between two carry ons (my pack and another drybag). We also shipped antlers and the majority of clothes back by UPS. The meat was fine from Denver to NY.

Another thing...I had to spend a night at a hotel in Denver prior to departure. When I booked the hotel, I got permission to keep my already frozen meat in the hotel cooler. I gave the lady a couple packages of meat for her kindness.

Take care.
Mike

 

[rambo2345]

Airline change reservation fees can be a problem coming back after an early kill.

 

[7Bartman]

Airline change reservation fees can be a problem coming back after an early kill.

Hopefully you can find a butcher that'll freeze your meat for you until you're ready to leave. When we tagged out this year, we went fishing and scouting the last 2 days in camp.

 

[joe2687]

good info. thanks!