Flying with meat and guns

Hunting
1

Hey Guys
What’s the best way to fly with meat and guns. I remember Jim had mentioned something on one of the pod casts but I can’t remember which one it was. I know this is done all the time but just want to do everything right. Thank you

2

I know traveling with a firearm to a different state is way different than traveling to a foreign country. Where are you traveling to?

3

Next year I’ll be possibly flying out to Utah and then in 2026 flying to South Africa. For the Utah one I’m just wondering how to fly back with meat, because Jim had mentioned something about bags to put the meat in. What are those bags he’s talking about?

4

I used waterproof duffel bags to take the meat on the airplane and I think that’s what I’ll do going forward. Worked great. Like this one. I found the 60l to be a good size. Amazon.com

5

How well did the contents stay cold?

6

When I got home, the meat was still frozen. But that’s assuming you were able to put it in a freezer before leaving to freeze it.

7

the first thing to do is freeze it, then I put all in an insulated game bag then on the way to the airport I stop off and get a small block of dry ice chop it up and stick it in the bag. on south west you get two checked bags under 50 lbs free and the game bag is one of them. you have to label the back with a note that it contain dry ice and leave a little crack in the seal so that it can vent. Flying from Missouri to LA with one stop and it arrives still completely frozen and with some of the dry ice still in the bag. I’ve done that twice now with no issues.

8

@backfire when you’re fling with guns are you using tsa approved locks or what are you using?

9

I just got back from a trip to Utah with my rifle and ammo and here are some notes from my experience. This is domestic US travel.

  • Do NOT use TSA approved locks. TSA only wants you to be able to open it. They will page you if they want you to open it.
  • Declare you are traveling with firearms when you get to the airline counter. They will have you open it and sign a paper stating it’s unloaded. They will put the paper inside the gun case.
  • Make sure to have a lock on every hole that is available on your case.
  • TSA states its ok to have ammo in the same case as your rifle, in specific ammo containers. I’ve heard some airlines want it in separate checked luggage. American airlines didn’t care.
  • I used combination locks on the way out thinking that it would better to not keep up with a key. The thing I discovered with some locks is that the shackle does not seat very deep in the lock. Rough handling by the airlines caused one of my locks to bind up when I got to my destination. Decided I would stop at a Walmart before I flew back and get some keyed locks. Walmart had 2 sizes of shackles, 1 i knew would not be long enough and 1 that was pretty long. I bought the long ones. Got to the airport and the airlines would not accept my firearm case because they could open the latches and get their hand in. Luckily, I kept 2 of shorter combination locks and replaced the inner lock slots with those.
  • Your firearm will not come out on the belt with all the other luggage. You will have to find the luggage office and they will bring it there. Airline didn’t mention this and if it were not for the air tag I placed in my case I would have been really losing my mind.
10

Thank you!!

11

On the subject of TSA locks, whether rifle or bow those goons will toss every stinking lock you put on. Best bet is definitely tag the case with your contact info, install locks on every lock ring and expect a call.