Air travel advice for hunting and meat/trophy in Canada

[MartyT]

Been hunting for over 25 years around where I live but I've never gone afar for a hunt.

I thinking of goin to Quebec (not as far as many on the forum here haha) and I wonder if someone who has done similar can offer advice regarding flying with the meat, Cape and head/antlers?

What packing has worked best for you?

Any issues with ammo in your checkin?

I'm open to any and all advice. I've read that air Canada can be pretty costly, has anyone used Westjet with better luck? Thank you in advance.

[DougH11]

Flying with guns/ammo is actually super easy, just a quick form to fill out at check in and they double check to make sure things are locked up properly.

[marky_mark]

Make sure you book the right airline
Not just the cheapest
Some are hunter friendly done are not

[Chet]

Spend some time on the CATSA website and the airline that you intend to fly and print off both of their rules regarding flying with firearms and ammunition. That way you will know the rules and you will have a copy handy for the person at the check-in counter that often won't know them. Make sure you have your firearms licence of course.

If you reload your own ammo I would not really highlight that fact at check-in and would make sure you pack it in factory boxes as well as a separate, hard, lockable container.

[MartyT]

thanks guys....some helpful tips there for sure.

Mark, does westjet or aircanada fall into the "not friendly" category?

[35 whelen]

Been a while since I've done some Caribou hunts but I'm hearing some Airlines don't fly meat and horns out anymore

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[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by MartyT

thanks guys....some helpful tips there for sure.

Mark, does westjet or aircanada fall into the "not friendly" category?

Some airlines won’t allow you to transport the heads hides or horns
They all do rifles and ammo.
That’s not even worth worrying about
I believe air canada will ship the meat and heads
But they have to be contained properly so the don’t leak smell etc
You’ll want to know how much it costs to ship it also
And you want to make sure you pay for it in advance so they can’t say the plane is full and you have to leave it behind
They might have restrictions on size as well so if you say, get a big moose, you don’t want them to split the skull

[MartyT]

Hey Mark, thanks very much...

What's other options guys have used or heard of for shipping meat,head and antlers within Canada? FedEx?

[marky_mark]

Originally Posted by MartyT

Hey Mark, thanks very much...

What's other options guys have used or heard of for shipping meat,head and antlers within Canada? FedEx?

shipping by mail is asking for something to go wrong
Plus it’s probably cheaper to put it on the plane with you
It’s not like it can take a week for the package to arrive
It has to be next day so it doesn’t thaw or spoil

[MartyT]

Thanks again Mark! Really appreciate it

[marky_mark]

If your going to Quebec
I’d buy some cheap styrofoam coolers from Canadian tire online before you leave
Use what you need
Return the extra
But if you buy them online and they hold them in store than you know they are there ready for you to pick up
If you freeze the meat before the flight you will be laughing

What are you going to be going hunting for?

[MartyT]

I really like that idea of buying them online to pick up over there. I was initially planning on using a cooler to pack my clothing and equipment with a duffle bag stuffed in there as well for the return. A roll of tape and tape the heck out of the cooler if I get lucky enough to fill it with meat. Airport loading staff would probably treat the Styrofoam coolers more gingerly than a taped up coleman, maybe anyway.

Im looking to go for red stag and from what ive read the meat is exceptionally good so I'd hate to leave it behind.

[Dean2]

If you really want the trophy, have the outfitter arrange to have it tanned and the head preserved at point of hunt, then have it shipped to you when it can't go bad. Hides and horns must be properly packaged. Can be shipped at Cargo rates but must be properly preserved or you risk unrecoverable damage as temp control is non-existent.

Do NOT try to ship anything in a Styrofoam container. You will not like the outcome. We tried it a couple of times with fish, worked once, second time total failure. Use a Yeti or a big Coleman and tape it shut. De-bone all the meat, shipping back 500 pounds of moose is REALLY expensive. Air Canada Economy, your first two 50 LB bags will cost you $100. Each 50 Lb bag after that $120 per. If it goes over 50 LB but under 70 add $120 to the bag cost. You may want to consider only shipping the prime cuts and leaving the rest with the outfitter.

Both Air Canada and Westjet will ship guns no problem if you follow the simply guidelines, meat in coolers, same.

[MartyT]

Thank you Dean! Great info....

Another question, some of the airline regs regarding the firearm and the ammo are not very clear....my question is, can the ammo in it's own container be in the locked rifle hard case or do you have to put it in a different checkin bag

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by MartyT

Thank you Dean! Great info....

Another question, some of the airline regs regarding the firearm and the ammo are not very clear....my question is, can the ammo in it's own container be in the locked rifle hard case or do you have to put it in a different checkin bag

Depends on the airline but far and away the easiest is to put the ammo in your checked bag and the gun separate in a STRONG gun case, as that works on all airlines I have used here and abroad.

[MartyT]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Depends on the airline but far and away the easiest is to put the ammo in your checked bag and the gun separate in a STRONG gun case, as that works on all airlines I have used here and abroad.

Thanks Dean that certainly makes the most sense. I'd like the travelling to be as hassle free as possible so not to take away from the enjoyment of the trip.