Travelling with firearms and gear - what do you do ?

2

280ackimp

Active Member
Jul 4, 2017
166
28
New Hampshire
All, I hope to be faced with the dilemma of having to travel from the east coast to Jackson Hole this year for a 10 day hunt.
I haven't done this in many years so I have a few basic questions about how you all do it. Knowing that the airlines have gotten so damn difficult to deal with...(gone are the days of 2 checked bags and a carry on) what do you do.

1, Do you bring your firearms on the plane as checked baggage or do you ship them in advance ?
- I will be travelling thru Chicago as worst case and Denver as best case so neither is appealing
2, If you ship them how do you do it
-carrier
-ship location -outfitter, hotel or will fed-x/ups hold them?
3, Same question on gear how ?
- I was thinking that since I will need a night of lodging on either end of the trip that I would send my duffle to the hotel'

4, I will be leaving from Turpin meadows trailhead any suggestions for affordable Jackson area lodging?

Do any of you have a system for success ?

Thanks for any direction & suggestions

Good fortune to all in the draws ...

Dave
 
W

WY ME

Very Active Member
Feb 4, 2014
549
47
Wyoming
Check your gun on the plane, it'll be way cheaper than sending it UPS and then paying $100 to the local gunsmith for the paperwork...if he even does that anymore. Make sure you can lock your gun case. Super 8 is probably the cheapest in town but a lot of hunters stay at the Antler or one of the other hotels owned by the same person (very hunter friendly).
I fly a fair amount and much prefer Delta over United airlines but check their policies regarding shipping antlers on the plane. I don't know if you can even ship antlers with them anymore.
 
4

480/277

Very Active Member
Feb 23, 2013
629
1
I always check my rifle in. Aluminum gun case. TSA locks.
Never had a problem.
Been to Denver many times. They only "lost" my friends rifle. His first big game hunt.
First hunt out of state. It came on the next flight, so we were a couple hours late leaving Denver.
Outside of that I have not had a problem.

On a guided elk hunt all my gear fits in one small duffle. Sans my binocs and spotter which I carry on. So I take my gear with me on plane.
For a guided hunt I would have one duffle, rifle case, back pack as carry on.
 
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JimP

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
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480/277 said:
I always check my rifle in. Aluminum gun case. TSA locks.
Never had a problem.
.
Click to expand...
It is highly recommended not to use TSA locks on your gun case. Once your case and rifle is inspected by TSA with you with the case there is no reason for them to have to get back into the case, and if they do they can page you through the intercom at the airport.
 
4

480/277

Very Active Member
Feb 23, 2013
629
1
They have opened my case after TSA inspection and left their little note.
If I didn't have TSA locks they would have cut them off.
 
JimP

JimP

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Mar 28, 2016
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There is no reason for them to open it. That is why there is a inspection of it by a TSA agent with you present before you hand it over to the baggage check person.

I am on a African Hunting forum and none of the members there will use a TSA lock for anything other than their standard luggage. Also if I remember right even TSA recommends that you use your own lock and not one that TSA can open.

I'll have to see if I can find that recommendation.

It is in this information. It really doesn't say not to use a TSA lock but it does mention that they will ask you for your key to open the case. Which to me infers that they are unable to unlock it.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition
 
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W

WY ME

Very Active Member
Feb 4, 2014
549
47
Wyoming
Because of the gun, give yourself some extra time at check in. I very nearly missed a flight in Denver because of a TSA-hole who didn't approve of the lock on my gun case which I had used at check in on 6 or 8 trips prior to that. I ended up buying a piece of junk case from an airport employee who saw the TSA jerking me around. He saved my trip so I gave him my good case as a tip.

One other time I had some problems checking my gun with a gate agent in Mpls who was obviously an anti-gun/anti-hunter type. Eventually she had to let me through.
 
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RICMIC

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
2,016
1,796
Two Harbors, Minnesota
As far as places to stay in Jackson...much depends on the season, as the hunter rates at the Antler Inn used to kick in earlier. The last couple times I was there, Jackson had several activities in mid-Sept. (art fairs, bike races, etc.), so the tourist rates were still in effect. I suggest that you check well ahead of your trip, but the Antler and the Super 8 may well be the cheapest route.
 
4

480/277

Very Active Member
Feb 23, 2013
629
1
JimP said:
There is no reason for them to open it. That is why there is a inspection of it by a TSA agent with you present before you hand it over to the baggage check person.

I am on a African Hunting forum and none of the members there will use a TSA lock for anything other than their standard luggage. Also if I remember right even TSA recommends that you use your own lock and not one that TSA can open.

I'll have to see if I can find that recommendation.

It is in this information. It really doesn't say not to use a TSA lock but it does mention that they will ask you for your key to open the case. Which to me infers that they are unable to unlock it.

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition
Click to expand...
Never asked for my key, and never informed me outside of the card they left inside the case.
 
4

480/277

Very Active Member
Feb 23, 2013
629
1
WY ME said:
Because of the gun, give yourself some extra time at check in. I very nearly missed a flight in Denver because of a TSA-hole who didn't approve of the lock on my gun case which I had used at check in on 6 or 8 trips prior to that. I ended up buying a piece of junk case from an airport employee who saw the TSA jerking me around. He saved my trip so I gave him my good case as a tip.

One other time I had some problems checking my gun with a gate agent in Mpls who was obviously an anti-gun/anti-hunter type. Eventually she had to let me through.
Click to expand...
I saw them give a guy in Denver on the flight back the same problem about his gun case.
Are you a Disabled vet who was traveling with his wife?
 
wa-hunter

wa-hunter

Active Member
Apr 24, 2014
235
7
i have never had a problem checking a firearm on a plane. i use a hard sided bow case and wrap my gun in cloths then fill the rest of the case with other equipment. it has worked out great and saved me from having to check multiple bags. always use your own locks and put a lock on every locking point. tsa will call you up if they need to open the case.
 
JimP

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
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That is because you had the TSA approved lock on it that they can open so there was no need for them to page you.

My question is why they would need to open it after it had been inspected, locked, and out of your possession.
 
4

480/277

Very Active Member
Feb 23, 2013
629
1
No idea, they just left a note(the red card) not an explanation.
But it's my understanding that if they have/want to, they will cut locks.
So go ahead and not use TSA locks, the worst that happens is they cut them off.
 
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M

maine canoe guide

Member
Jun 29, 2016
111
53
Coastal Maine
Yeah I'm not a guy who cares if they wanna look inside my gun case. BUT Have some advice. I flew Boston to Salt lake without a hitch but the TSA on the way back wanted me to put two locks on my case cause you could pry open the case on one end.. So lock it on both ends. Also when you get the locks you will be better off searching for one that has a longer cable. The standard ones barely fit on my gun case.But overall it was not to bad. Bags fly free on Southwest well the first 2 after that its $75.
 
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