I know I saw and looked for a travel thread but cannot find it and am not sure if this was covered on it anyway.
I am considering a Moose hunt and am trying to determine the possibility of flying instead of driving (Alberta). Of those who have done it and taken a moose how did you handle the meat aspect?
I flew to a moose hunt but unfortunately did not have to worry about it - didn't get a moose.
But I did have a plan. If we had taken a moose we were going to bone out the best cuts and put what we could into two coolers / moose and fly home with them and ship our clothes back. Would have had some excess baggage fees, but seemed like the cheapest route. From what we were told there are plenty of local people who are more than happy to take whatever meat you don't want or can't get home at a reasonable cost.
I was talking to a guide about elk hunting in Alberta and he mentioned that unless you are flying out of a major city that you might run into problems as the horns will not fit into some of the smaller commuter planes. I would check with the airlines ahead of time to see what their restrictions are.
Last time I flew meat home, I put some in my luggage and also flew 150# home freight in a cooler. It was $3/lb to ship the meat home and this was 6-7 years ago. I'd imagine it has gone up. I've not tried to bring any meat home in my luggage the past few years. It seems to me the airlines are making it much more difficult.
I killed a moose in 2007 in Alberta and flew home. The outfitter had a butcher lined up. I brought home 4 coolers maxed out of frozen steak roast ect. most of the hamburger stayed there. Paid about 400.00 to bring the meat home but it was worth. Driving would have cost me an additional weeks worth of vacation.
I love moose meat, and therfore wouldnt consider leaving any of it behind. I have hunted Newfoundland twice and killed one moose. We drove both trips (40 hrs travel time including ferry crossing), and brought home every bit of meat we could.
Flying would have been nice, but we were told it could be really expensive flying all the meat home. I have a feeling that an entire moose would have to go air freight, not as your baggage.
There are usually local people that will accept the meat and the outfitter should be able to help with that.
Do what you feel is best for you though.
UPS and I think fed ex both can ship meat and fish from Alaska south. I'm sure you could call ahead and see if the same is true of Alberta. I transported half a suit case of meat back with me for my recent Michigan visit. Just wrapped the meat in aluminum foil then 3 layers of brown paper. It was till frozen when I got to Detroit. Wouldn't want to try a whole moose that way but this gives you some ideas to work with.
Not moose , but elk.
Last year my buddy took a cow on the first day. We deboned the Elk and took it to a local meat processor to cut, wrap and freeze. To transport home on the airline we packed 57# in a 60 qt cooler (70# total)and paid $100 for oversize fee, 43# in a 50 qt. cooler (50#) for free and 35# in a carryon bag. We ate the rest during the week. We then shipped our two 45# gear bags and a 40# rubbermail container (camp gear) FedEx 4-day ground for less than $65. All meat remained frozen for the trip home. If we got a bull, we would have gotten a rose shipping box from a florist shop to ship home the antlers. Next time we score we will take the meat home in two carryon bags at 35# each and two 50 qt coolers or waxed cardboard boxes at 45# each for no or little fee. Again we will ground ship our gear bags home. Hope this helps.