Hi all. I am headed to the Solana ranch, in TX, to bow hunt pigs.. I've been hog hunting a few times before and I've always donated the meat to the local food banks. But this trip I'd like to bring some home. How do you fly with meat? I'm thinking, run over to Wal-mart and buy a cheap cooler, ice and duck tape?? I just don't know..
Thanks for any suggestions.
Joe
PS. I'll be using: 55# prong horn long bow, G/T with 100gr brass inserts and Grizzlies, woodsman, Magnus 2 blade.. ?
I've never done it, but I'd say pack the meat in HD waterproof bags, and box the meat up with dry ice. Then ship it to yourself. :)
That's how some of the online places do it.
Joe,
When I was working in Alaska I used to bring home a ton of fish at the end of each season. I always went up with whatever I could carry in a frame pack and that's it. When it came time to come home I did just what you said, bought the cheapest coolers I could find and just paid extra to fly with it on ice. USE LOTS OF DUCT TAPE and you should be fine.
Jake
I would check with your airline first, but we have had guys do what you mentioned.
Also had guys put it into a soft-sided cooler and carry it on.
Most airlines don't want any liquids dripping out of your cooler, so either way you do it, I would try to get the meat into ice and keep draining the water/blood till the meat is washed clean, if possible.
Get it chilled or partially frozen if possible, and triple bag it to prevent leaks.
You can add newspaper over the top of the bags to fill the cooler, and help insulate it.
I have brought home Lobster from Belize, Caribou from Northern Quebec, Fish from Canada.
The airlines may want to look, so carry some duct tape with you.
Your TX outfitter may have some ideas too.
When you going to be here , I hunt across the road maybe we could go get lunch. If your going to be around a while we could go check out a few spots I have....
,,,Sam,,,
Joe, That's exactly how I've done it several times....walmart cooler, ice, duct tape....check as extra bag.
I think you should freeze the meat and then pack tightly in a cooler and seal with duct tape. I don't think you want to use ice because if any leaks out, your whole cooler will get trashed!
I live about 30 minutes from Solana. I would love to come out and meet you one evening!
Bisch
I killed a decent size whitetail in Pennsylvania in Nov. I put most of the frozen solid, packaged meat in a cooler and duct taped it shut. The airline had a 50# limit per bag. So I packed my carry on suit case with the remaining meat. I lined it with some sweatshirts. The carry on had to be close to 50#'s. When I got back to AZ and home way later the meat in the carry on was still solid and frosted over. I have done that twice. Have never had any issues with thawing meat or had the airlines give me any grief about the meat in my carry on. I flew Southwest and was allowed 2 checked bags, a carry on and personal size pack.
I used to always fly home with a freezer full of elk meat, frozen and well secured against leakage as was mentioned, when I would hunt with my brother-in-law. That was before the days of the airlines surcharging for everything. Just check the weight limits and item limits before you commit yourself, or that could be some mighty expensive pork!
I hog hunt every year in Florida and we just drive down--pretty far haul from West Virginia but worth it as we can bring home as much meat as we kill (which is a lot--and so delicious) with no issues about airlines and such. Don't know about flying with dry ice as far as regulations go on that as it gives off carbon dioxide as it dissolves and that may be a no-no in cargo compartments now. Doesn't seem too far to drive from Colorado to Texas which is sure what I would do. I hate dealing with airlines any more, but I'm sure you may have your reasons for flying.
I brought bear meat from Canada.Use the blue ice and gallon hd. ziplock to pack meat use two per package.Cube ice chest worked for me.I use two friction straps around ice chest after it was inspected at airport.I duct taped the friction straps in case they got abused with the handlers.
Joe, have a safe and fun trip. We are heading down to Mason, TX on the 18th to Poke a Pig.
Say hi to my buddy Mr. Robert Mitchum, class A dude. Be sure to discuss your meat intentions with the boys on the ranch ahead of time. Some of those fellas don't even want to load hogs in their trucks.
On my annual hog hunt to florida I always have the meat chilled and then placed into a cooler. I don't duck tape until after the airlines inspect and sometimes the TSA will open anyway. I've never used ice since the airlines frown on it and I've never had a problem and the meat is still cold when I land. I don't even freeze the meat anymore since there is no need to.
thanks... I knew you I could get help here..
I have had refrigerated trucking company transport my hogs from Texas to Michagan but that was 15 years ago .
QuoteOriginally posted by Florida lime:
I've never done it, but I'd say pack the meat in HD waterproof bags, and box the meat up with dry ice. Then ship it to yourself. :)
That's how some of the online places do it.
I have always been told No dry ice permitted on aircraft. I just freeze the meat and pack it in a cooler. Never a problem.
QuoteOriginally posted by tracker12:
I have always been told No dry ice permitted on aircraft. I just freeze the meet and pack it in a cooler. Never a problem.
Makes sense, but how do the online places do it ?
A quote from the first place I checked:
"We make sure your order arrives in perfect condition! A custom Styrofoam container is packed inside a sturdy cardboard box. Dry ice keeps your order frozen while FedEx 2nd Day delivery gets your order to you with time to spare."
I would think 2 day delivery across the country must use planes, but maybe FedEx is different. :confused:
Cool Joe....you will have a blast!!!
Tell all the guys I said hi!!!
I've heard dry ice suggested so many times over the years.
So just where do you find dry ice on a Sunday morning when you are packing to leave?
I've only seen it one time in my life and that was in chemistry class 38 years ago.
QuoteOriginally posted by joe ashton:
Hi all. I am headed to the Solana ranch, in TX, to bow hunt pigs.. I've been hog hunting a few times before and I've always donated the meat to the local food banks. But this trip I'd like to bring some home. How do you fly with meat? I'm thinking, run over to Wal-mart and buy a cheap cooler, ice and duck tape?? I just don't know..
Thanks for any suggestions.
Joe
PS. I'll be using: 55# prong horn long bow, G/T with 100gr brass inserts and Grizzlies, woodsman, Magnus 2 blade.. ?
That's exactly how you do it bro... just package the meat in clear bags & freeze it solid if you can, and have extra duct tape to reseal the cooler if they inspect it... Just stay with your cooler until it clears TSA with duct tape in hand...
btw.... try and keep the weight down to 50# or they'll hook you for over weight luggage fees.
I guess I've hauled home as much hog meat on a plane as anyone. I bone out as much meat as i can and freeze it in big freezer bags. If I can't freeze it, just get it cold. Since I use a 120Q cooler for my gear and clothes I can just put the meat in it and stuff dirty clothes around it to keep it cool. Do not duct tape it. I have yet to fly back from Texas and NOT have a TSA flyer in my cooler. I use a heavy strap to keep the cooler closed. The one time I did duct tape my cooler I got to see the baggage conveyor belt peel the tape off in front of my eyes on an incline and my gear dump onto the floor. Fun.
I've also carried meat on the plane in a smaller cooler from Florida. No issues
I tried to buy dry ice locally from a butcher and was told due to regulations it was not worth his while to handle it any longer.
Good luck on your hunt.
Exactly how I did it with fish from Alaska last year. In fact I spent the extra cash to have a second bag flown.
I brought home a deer from out west. The local Walmart had blocks of dry ice. I bought a cheap cooler and 1 block of dry ice. I duct taped it all up and wrote my name and address on the cooler. I did drill a pin hole in the top of the cooler to let the co2 escape.
Check your airline. Mine allowed 5# of dry ice in checked bags.
I found this on the TSA website, If traveling with dry ice:
Questions about the transportation of dry ice generally fall into the hazmat realm where FAA has primary oversight. Since we often get dry ice questions, I felt that it would be a great topic for Travel Tips Tuesday.
My first tip is to check with your airline for any guidance they might have on traveling with dry ice. Dry ice is not prohibited by TSA. Secondly, as far as FAA regulations go, dry ice is permissible when traveling with perishables as long as you adhere to the following guidelines.
Packages of dry ice must allow for the release of carbon dioxide gas.
The limit for dry ice for both carry-on and checked baggage is five-pounds.
Packages of dry ice must contain the language "Carbon Dioxide Solid" or "Dry Ice" and must also have the net weight of the dry ice on the package.
See you next Tuesday with more travel tips!
...and pigs might fly...
Sorry, couldnt help it.
Went fishing in Cabo a few yrs ago and yup, we went to Walmart and got cheap coolers and duct tape. The fish was frozen solid to start with and happened to also be vacuum packed. It was tightly packed into the cooler and kept itself frozen. Shipped it along with my luggage and it got home back to Philadelphia without a hitch. Enjoyed it thoroughly.
Enjoying the meat after the fact does a lot to prolong the memory of that hunt. Go for it
Good point above. It seems to me that at least one of us had to open the cooler at the airport so have sufficient duct tape to reclose it, or just wait until you get to the airport