hunting luggage?

bbearhntr

Handloader
Apr 10, 2011
553
0
I've got a hunt planned for this fall and was wondering what the best method for traveling on an airplane was with my gear. I will need to travel with a pack frame with pack bag full of supplies, a daypack with more of my daily necessities, another bag of some sort to transport my food (duffle?), tent, sleeping bag/pad, ect....and of course my rifle. How would you travel with the above mentioned items? Do they need to be packaged in something special for transit? This is my first experience flying to a hunt so I would greatly appreciate learning through others mistakes or recomendations. I will be flying commercial and then on a float plane once I reach Alaska. I heard float pilots prefer soft sided gun cases and baggage for loading the plane. I guess I will call my pilot on that one. :oops: I suppose there are certain things not to try and bring to the airport that many of us outdoorsmen and women see as very common and not a threat to other passengers. What might some of those items be that I already have packed?
 
I can't comment on the airline part of it but when I worked for an outfitter here he definitely did not want a hard gun case in his float plane as they take up too much room. Like you said you may want to confirm that with your pilot and ask him what is the max weight of your gear he will let you fly with. Hope you have a great time hunting, what are you going after?
 
One of the best ways to bring gear to AK is to freight your gear up ahead of time to your outfitter, guide or pilot- then you can fly with a regular suitcase and a rifle case. If you fly with all your gear you will have a ton of it and run the risk of lost baggage.

Given the price of excess baggage- freighting gear is more reasonable than ever.

Most bush flights will insist on a soft cases and bags to help with loading. Traveling with firearms is pretty easy if you follow the rules. The most common goof up is stoves- can't fly commercial with compressed gas or liquid fuels and most bush flights won't allow compressed gas fuels per FAA regs... fuel is best bought on arrival. Coming into ANC or FAI you can purchase fuel there.
 
Last fall in Alaska I ran into a fellow who had it pretty well figured out. Shipped his stuff ahead, in "action packer" boxes:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rubbermaid-48 ... r/10569596

He was on some long-term backcountry trip and had a lot of supplies/outdoor gear in several of those.

I've stuffed everything for my fishing & backpacking trips in a fair sized duffel (my old USMC seabag). You don't want pack straps and such hanging out, they can get caught in conveyor belts, etc.

Wonder if you could use a hard case on the airline to protect your rifle on the commercial flight and have a soft case to put it in for the small plane. There's probably somewhere at the outfitter's place/pilot's place to stash the hard gun case while you're afield.

Guy
 
gerry":27ng0ac9 said:
I can't comment on the airline part of it but when I worked for an outfitter here he definitely did not want a hard gun case in his float plane as they take up too much room. Like you said you may want to confirm that with your pilot and ask him what is the max weight of your gear he will let you fly with. Hope you have a great time hunting, what are you going after?

Will be hunting moose in Hodgeman's neck of the woods :grin:
 
hodgeman":3ub3y96d said:
One of the best ways to bring gear to AK is to freight your gear up ahead of time to your outfitter, guide or pilot- then you can fly with a regular suitcase and a rifle case. If you fly with all your gear you will have a ton of it and run the risk of lost baggage.

Given the price of excess baggage- freighting gear is more reasonable than ever.

Most bush flights will insist on a soft cases and bags to help with loading. Traveling with firearms is pretty easy if you follow the rules. The most common goof up is stoves- can't fly commercial with compressed gas or liquid fuels and most bush flights won't allow compressed gas fuels per FAA regs... fuel is best bought on arrival. Coming into ANC or FAI you can purchase fuel there.

Are we talking UPS, Fed Ex, ect...?
 
Very nice, nothing quite like a moose hunt :) Make sure you take some pics for us to see.
 
Depends on where you're coming to. To Delta Junction you can ship UPS or USPS> not FedEx (we don't have it here)

UPS is pretty much your best best without ammo or fuel.
 
hodgeman":1mp77sjo said:
Depends on where you're coming to. To Delta Junction you can ship UPS or USPS> not FedEx (we don't have it here)

UPS is pretty much your best best without ammo or fuel.

Thanks I will have to look into it!
 
We take the padding out of the hard case and put our rifles in the soft cases inside of the hard. I would think the outfitter would have a place for the hard cases until you get back.
Russ
 
Best of Luck on your moose hunt!

I was reading this and thinking, "Why is he taking so much stuff on an airplane?"
I prefer soft sided luggage and what don't fit in my backpack ain't going when I fly. You have the best option though, shipping it ahead of you.

I'm glad I never thought to ship stuff by UPS or USPS as I would've had the kitchen sink with me too. :)
 
Good luck on your Moose hunt! I have never been on a hunt having to use a airline but seems like you are receiving great advice. Look forward to some great photos and stories :wink:

Blessings,
Dan
 
When shipping a rifle to AK last year I found that the USPS was far, far cheaper than UPS.
Just an FYI.
 
Vince":1zqvc809 said:
Best of Luck on your moose hunt!

I was reading this and thinking, "Why is he taking so much stuff on an airplane?"
I prefer soft sided luggage and what don't fit in my backpack ain't going when I fly. You have the best option though, shipping it ahead of you.

I'm glad I never thought to ship stuff by UPS or USPS as I would've had the kitchen sink with me too. :)

Well, I'm not sure I can fit the kitchen sink. I am limited to 375 lbs total weight including myself. I need to go on a diet so I can pack a few more items :oops:
 
bbearhntr":1aapgmv1 said:
Vince":1aapgmv1 said:
Best of Luck on your moose hunt!

I was reading this and thinking, "Why is he taking so much stuff on an airplane?"
I prefer soft sided luggage and what don't fit in my backpack ain't going when I fly. You have the best option though, shipping it ahead of you.

I'm glad I never thought to ship stuff by UPS or USPS as I would've had the kitchen sink with me too. :)

Well, I'm not sure I can fit the kitchen sink. I am limited to 375 lbs total weight including myself. I need to go on a diet so I can pack a few more items :oops:

Here's a lightweight one:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camping/ ... t104248980

I would've packed this one:

http://www.us.kohler.com/us/catalog/bra ... Top%3D1012

:grin:
 
Back
Top