I am going flying next week with my hunting rifle
12-29-2005, 09:43 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6
I am going flying next week with my hunting rifle
I am flying out of Manchester, NH and going to Montgomery, Alabama for deer hunting. I do not travel much and have not traveled with a weapon before.
I have 3 questions for you guys:
1. How do I set up my rifle and case to make the process as painless as possible for me and the air marshall? I am not bringing ammo, they got walmart in Alabama.
2. How do I pack my hunting knives? Can I put them in the gun case?
3. Any recommendations for packing meat for the return flight?
I have 3 questions for you guys:
1. How do I set up my rifle and case to make the process as painless as possible for me and the air marshall? I am not bringing ammo, they got walmart in Alabama.
2. How do I pack my hunting knives? Can I put them in the gun case?
3. Any recommendations for packing meat for the return flight?
12-29-2005, 09:59 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 4,572
RE: I am going flying next week with my hunting rifle
when I flew last year I did this...
remove bolt and place in luggage with clothing.
lock case but make sure keys are accessable at airport
most likely they will call you back after you have checked it for the keys so they can examine it. I flew with 12 other guys, all 12 guys had to wait around and produce their keys for examination. I put my knives in with my clothing.
*one side note that the lady who checked our luggage told us. She said that she had heard that some of the people internally in the airport that are against hunting have done malicious things to guns i.e. turning scope adjustments etc. I would check your gun over very good when you get there. My gun which has a very expensive scope on it and never has needed much adjustment was 5" low and 5" right when I landed. I think someone messed with it.
remove bolt and place in luggage with clothing.
lock case but make sure keys are accessable at airport
most likely they will call you back after you have checked it for the keys so they can examine it. I flew with 12 other guys, all 12 guys had to wait around and produce their keys for examination. I put my knives in with my clothing.
*one side note that the lady who checked our luggage told us. She said that she had heard that some of the people internally in the airport that are against hunting have done malicious things to guns i.e. turning scope adjustments etc. I would check your gun over very good when you get there. My gun which has a very expensive scope on it and never has needed much adjustment was 5" low and 5" right when I landed. I think someone messed with it.
12-29-2005, 10:41 PM
#3
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,679
RE: I am going flying next week with my hunting rifle
Read this thread.
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1351477
It's no big deal flying with guns. I suggest you bring the ammo that your gun is sighted in with. Put it in a seaperate checked piece of baggage. Knives must be in a bag that you are going to check.
A note adding to the note that the lady gave to mossy. I ALWAYS strap and/ or duct tape my case closed on the ends just to make sure that no one has opened the case. It also will keep the case closed just in case the locks become unlocked somehow.
http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1351477
It's no big deal flying with guns. I suggest you bring the ammo that your gun is sighted in with. Put it in a seaperate checked piece of baggage. Knives must be in a bag that you are going to check.
A note adding to the note that the lady gave to mossy. I ALWAYS strap and/ or duct tape my case closed on the ends just to make sure that no one has opened the case. It also will keep the case closed just in case the locks become unlocked somehow.
12-29-2005, 11:07 PM
#4
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2003
Location:
Posts: 920
RE: I am going flying next week with my hunting rifle
I fly alot with firearms and it's notcomplicated.
When you check your baggage at your airline provider declare to them that you have a firearm. TSA will have to open the case(s) to check for the gunsbeing unloaded and that there is no ammunition in the case.You will be asked to sign a orange card stating that the firearms are unloaded.
I can advise you to listen and do what the TSA agents have to say, dont not attempt to reach or touch the case or firearm when the agents are inspecting. When all is well and the agents are satisfied you can then lock the case. You should be the only person with the keys,andthe case can not be opened up by anyone other than yourself. This should take place all in front of you.
In the above post I can not understand how guns are tampered with after the cases are locked.
I have some of the best flight cases made and still insist on them being duct taped shut on each end. This not only helps with showing that the case has been tampered with but adds security in case of a latch or latches being broken in transit. Yes, it seems when the luggage handlers know there is a firearm in a case they do their darnest to mistreat them. I normally carry a small roll of tape with me or I have asked TSA to do it for me.
Just recently, I saw a gun case in Edmonton come off the conveyor OPENED UP and things were falling out of it. I said to myself, man I hope the owner finds everything. It could have been a bad deal if he packed the bolt along with the rifle and it fell out somewhere between the plane and baggage claim. Again.....it might seem foolish but tape the case shut after inspection!
Knives can go into checked baggage or in the gun case. The same can be said with the bolt if it's a bolt action rifle you are taking.( the bolt must be removed)
As`far as bringing meat back, the best thing to do is to try to freeze the meat good and solid. With that said, it will stay frozen for the trip back home in an ice chest. IT can get exspensive though, additional pieces of luggage are $80.00 a pop plus the cost of the ice chest and then there are weight limits. I say this because most airlines only allow 2 pieces of luggage and a carry on/ laptop bag. The gun case is one piece and your other peice of luggage makes 2, so any other you bring back home will be added cost. If you just want to bring back some meat you can add ice to it and bring it back in a ice chest but it's another 80 bucks. Dry ice is no longer allowed by any airlines.
I hope this help some, like I said it's no big deal.
PS, I dont bother locking the guncase until after the inspection, afterall the guncase is always with you and I know that you are not letting it get out of sight.
declare firearm
TSA inspection
sign UNLOADED tag
lock case
tape case
have a good flight
When you check your baggage at your airline provider declare to them that you have a firearm. TSA will have to open the case(s) to check for the gunsbeing unloaded and that there is no ammunition in the case.You will be asked to sign a orange card stating that the firearms are unloaded.
I can advise you to listen and do what the TSA agents have to say, dont not attempt to reach or touch the case or firearm when the agents are inspecting. When all is well and the agents are satisfied you can then lock the case. You should be the only person with the keys,andthe case can not be opened up by anyone other than yourself. This should take place all in front of you.
In the above post I can not understand how guns are tampered with after the cases are locked.
I have some of the best flight cases made and still insist on them being duct taped shut on each end. This not only helps with showing that the case has been tampered with but adds security in case of a latch or latches being broken in transit. Yes, it seems when the luggage handlers know there is a firearm in a case they do their darnest to mistreat them. I normally carry a small roll of tape with me or I have asked TSA to do it for me.
Just recently, I saw a gun case in Edmonton come off the conveyor OPENED UP and things were falling out of it. I said to myself, man I hope the owner finds everything. It could have been a bad deal if he packed the bolt along with the rifle and it fell out somewhere between the plane and baggage claim. Again.....it might seem foolish but tape the case shut after inspection!
Knives can go into checked baggage or in the gun case. The same can be said with the bolt if it's a bolt action rifle you are taking.( the bolt must be removed)
As`far as bringing meat back, the best thing to do is to try to freeze the meat good and solid. With that said, it will stay frozen for the trip back home in an ice chest. IT can get exspensive though, additional pieces of luggage are $80.00 a pop plus the cost of the ice chest and then there are weight limits. I say this because most airlines only allow 2 pieces of luggage and a carry on/ laptop bag. The gun case is one piece and your other peice of luggage makes 2, so any other you bring back home will be added cost. If you just want to bring back some meat you can add ice to it and bring it back in a ice chest but it's another 80 bucks. Dry ice is no longer allowed by any airlines.
I hope this help some, like I said it's no big deal.
PS, I dont bother locking the guncase until after the inspection, afterall the guncase is always with you and I know that you are not letting it get out of sight.
declare firearm
TSA inspection
sign UNLOADED tag
lock case
tape case
have a good flight
12-30-2005, 07:01 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 4,572
RE: I am going flying next week with my hunting rifle
ORIGINAL: doubleA
In the above post I can not understand how guns are tampered with after the cases are locked.
In the above post I can not understand how guns are tampered with after the cases are locked.
12-30-2005, 02:19 PM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Michigan
Posts: 3,329
RE: I am going flying next week with my hunting rifle
Mossy,
That totally sucks about your rifle being tampered with. I would never have gone for that bs.
As for bringing meat back home. What I do is I pack a flexible/collapsable cooler. They cost about $20 and have a plastic liner to prevent leaking. I freeze the meat solid so that it acts as it's own ice. I pack the cooler and bring it back as a carry on. I once brought a cooler that had over 70 lbs of meat in it. The trick is to muster your strength when you pass the ticket counter so they don't clue into the fact that you have an extremely heavy bag as a carry on. I have done this many times, usually twice a year.
Good Luck
Tom
That totally sucks about your rifle being tampered with. I would never have gone for that bs.
As for bringing meat back home. What I do is I pack a flexible/collapsable cooler. They cost about $20 and have a plastic liner to prevent leaking. I freeze the meat solid so that it acts as it's own ice. I pack the cooler and bring it back as a carry on. I once brought a cooler that had over 70 lbs of meat in it. The trick is to muster your strength when you pass the ticket counter so they don't clue into the fact that you have an extremely heavy bag as a carry on. I have done this many times, usually twice a year.
Good Luck
Tom
12-30-2005, 07:39 PM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6
RE: I am going flying next week with my hunting rifle
Thanks everyone for all the info. I am going to take your advice Double A and Statjunk and freeze the meat solid.
The bag limit in Alabama is 2 does or, 1 buck and 1 doe a day so I am hoping thatwe can bring enough meat to fill a couple of coolers. I am going to try to pack my clothes and gear as carry on.
Iam hunting with my brother so we are going to buy a double gun case and so we can check the guns as his, that way I can save checking an item and hopefully check another cooler of meat.
I will post pics in the Southern forum if we get lucky.
The bag limit in Alabama is 2 does or, 1 buck and 1 doe a day so I am hoping thatwe can bring enough meat to fill a couple of coolers. I am going to try to pack my clothes and gear as carry on.
Iam hunting with my brother so we are going to buy a double gun case and so we can check the guns as his, that way I can save checking an item and hopefully check another cooler of meat.
I will post pics in the Southern forum if we get lucky.
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