I normally toss my TD bows into a duffel and they go into the baggage hold when I fly. No problems, but I still wish I could do better. I see guys bringing fishing rods and other such stuff into the cabin as carry-ons. Has anyone here EVER flown with their TD bow as a carry-on?
I don't believe you can, due to the fact that it will be considered a weapon. I bought an old Bear recurve back in the late 90's (pre-911) while on a business trip and could not bring it on the flight. It didn't have a string either.
With the rules from TSA now, I would believe you could get into some big trouble in your carry-on. Just my thought.
I called and asked, they said no! But that was in 2009. I'd bet my bottom dollar nothing has changed.
Bisch
Whatever one airline or airport says can vary. Call the airlines involved and get it in writing. Have seen airlines contradict themselves. Got clear to gate and only then, even with a written pass AND security passing me at the scan point, did the security people appear at the gate announcing in loud voices that I had a,weapon. Big scene. I had to check it in ski box. Best get there early and be prepared.
It won't happen ....... :(
Trouble with calling and asking from what I've seen, is that people on the phone make up answers they THINK might be right, and regardless, you have no recourse when you get there if the counter person is of another belief... saying "So and So told me on such and such date" doesn't cut it... That happened to several people I know...
December 2011, I carried on a 3 piece T/D bow in a bow sock for 3 piece in my carry on... arrows were in a large PVC home-made tube in checked baggage...since then, no go! EVERY thing goes Checked baggage only!
Last trip I took, I shipped EVERYTHING via FedX to my destination...boots, bow, clothes, arrows, you name it...Better insurance and not much more expensive for the total weight then the danged baggage charges you do NOT know will be there when you arrive. Especially a concern if you're doing one of those 3-day or short hunts in the boonies where your gear might show up after you left!
I tried it once a couple years ago, but not again. Even though the arrows were stored in checked baggage, these Einstein's said, "Yeah, but you could use a pencil."
It's not worth the chance or the hassle, so just pack it well and keep your fingers crossed...or ship ahead to destination.
Just stick it down your pant leg, they'll never find it! Lol
QuoteOriginally posted by Kevin Dill:
I normally toss my TD bows into a duffel and they go into the baggage hold when I fly. No problems, but I still wish I could do better. I see guys bringing fishing rods and other such stuff into the cabin as carry-ons. Has anyone here EVER flown with their TD bow as a carry-on?
Fred Bear did...
Check it chief. If say the odds of that happening are a billion to one. Not worth the hassle, headaches, and ultimately lawyer fees to get your confiscated "weapon" back.
Yup, it needs to be in a checked bag, but doesn't have to be in a locked bag like a firearm. I would say it's treated somewhat like a knife.
I wouldn't mess with it. TSA can change their minds at any time and all of a sudden you're stuck without a bag to properly check it in.
I personally believe I would be more dangerous with a 3 piece carbon Sage in a 9 wt.
I'll be checking my bow as usual. I need to find a better way to protect it in a duffel without adding 5 extra pounds.
I don't think this one weighs a pound:
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Post%20Pics/386B1288-6390-42C2-981B-3D02D39F3BC5_zpszowjcaez.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Post%20Pics/386B1288-6390-42C2-981B-3D02D39F3BC5_zpszowjcaez.jpg.html)
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve O:
[QB] I don't think this one weighs a pound:
Details man....details.
I work at an airport and deal with TSA often-daily. Every one here is reasonable, but would tell you the bow goes below. Now--if you were to get your bow out of X airport, the TSA at your arriving airport,Y, may not let you take it back home. Best pack it in your kit.
I have an old military seabag I added a few inches to. Boots in bottom, tube with bow nad arrows in center, clothes packed around the tube and pack on top-lock and done. One piece bow might take a plastic ski carrier-$ and another checked bag. I get teh financial end of traveling with a bow--security really has made this too difficult.
Just teh other day I sawa guy carrying a staff like Gandolf enrout to board-go figure.
Kevin, I have a bow case from Far North Archery which is a little less neat and tidy than the rifle style case (like Steve O's), but is absolutely bullet proof. I have absolute confidence that all my gear will be ok. If you fly a lot, check it out...
http://www.farnortharchery.com/product/3-piece-takedown-travel-case-recurve-or-longbow-plus-arrows/
Not only won't they let you take bows as carry-on, but golf clubs either. I used to play a lot of golf, and also traveled a lot on business. I wanted to take a putter to put around with in my hotel room. It wouldn't fit in my checked bags, but would barely fit in my hanging suit bag, but they wouldn't let it on the airplane. This was pre-9/11, when they still had a little sense of humor, so I asked them if they couldn't just hide it from me somewhere where I couldn't find it and use it as a weapon, but no go. It rode in the baggage section all by itself and fortunately showed up on the conveyor belt where I was going.
The Far North cases are killer-nice, but too heavy for what I want. If the airlines didn't make us suffer over weight and/or extra baggage, this is what I'd use absolutely.
Kevin,
I think everybody is right it needs to go below deck.
That said, whenever I take Pigger (my one piece selfbow) on a hunt it travels as a carry on in a lightweight, 62", fly rod tube with sage, Winston, T&T, Lamson, and Hardy stickers on it. I've never had a problem other than having a lot of other fishermen come up and start talking about spey rods and what not. when I tell them I have never used one they get a real confused look on their faces. Used the used tube on my AK moose hunt when I met you and Bryan in Fairbanks a few years back. Now that I think of it, going home the lady running it through the scanner kind of raised her eyebrows and held it for a few seconds, then smiled and handed it over to me.
Kevin,
This is not a gun case it is a FieldLocker arrow case. I've removed one set of the arrow foam and added two pieces of foam, one thin along the entire bottom and one thick with cutouts for riser, limbs, etc. I can't find a model number but it is about 10"x36". You can see from the photos I add some bubble wrap or plastic bags I can use on my hunt to protect my bow in case any arrows fall out. None have yet but why chance it. Anyway, I usually put a couple thin nylon straps around it as well as a precaution to keep everything together and this has at least 100,000 miles on it and provides plenty of protection in the duffle.
It weighs 3# empty.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Post%20Pics/0CB81E35-05D1-47BF-A70C-34C9BF08CCAA_zpsg27yhwxm.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Post%20Pics/0CB81E35-05D1-47BF-A70C-34C9BF08CCAA_zpsg27yhwxm.jpg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Post%20Pics/644121FC-45C4-4BE4-9FA1-3CCBB2D976F7_zpsg6pehbpu.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Post%20Pics/644121FC-45C4-4BE4-9FA1-3CCBB2D976F7_zpsg6pehbpu.jpg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Post%20Pics/873E5413-A045-4146-9872-9F204B7FD1EF_zps3yozgf1v.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Post%20Pics/873E5413-A045-4146-9872-9F204B7FD1EF_zps3yozgf1v.jpg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Post%20Pics/83ECA8B8-9255-4600-BE24-5B9899B3352A_zpsgmut1hwt.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Post%20Pics/83ECA8B8-9255-4600-BE24-5B9899B3352A_zpsgmut1hwt.jpg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Post%20Pics/ABBE8513-C494-4512-BBD6-ACAA4A9B94D6_zpsdt0glwzu.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Post%20Pics/ABBE8513-C494-4512-BBD6-ACAA4A9B94D6_zpsdt0glwzu.jpg.html)
A good friend of mine just flew from DIA in Denver to Logan in Boston and back with two origional schafer TD's in a Kathy Kelly soft case as a carry on. In Denver he showed security and they had no problem.. In Logan he just sent it through the scanner.
Now I am not saying I would do this, just that this was last week and he had no problems.
I just returned from Idaho. I thought about trying to carry the limbs in my carry on for two recurves. But, I decided to put both risers and 4 limbs in a Kathy Kelly soft carry in my roller bag. I had it surrounded by hunting clothes. No problems.
Like others have said. I wouldn't trust the airlines to back up anything another airline official told you.
In the past I have used an Americase aluminum take down shotgun case made to fit in the bottom of a Boyt Roller bag. The airlines are much stingier now so I've retired this system. That had probably 300,000 worry free miles on it.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC06856.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/DSC06856.jpg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC06853.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/DSC06853.jpg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC06851.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/DSC06851.jpg.html)
And when I really don't want any hassle or I am bringing along a Double Bull, I break out the golf bag. They never give golfers problems at the check in counter. All you have to declare when you have a bow is "sporting equipment"...
SKB Freedom Case. It rolls like a dream.
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Post%20Pics/C8A8DCF2-4CCC-46CB-B06C-180BDF06C03C_zpsfvdyeakr.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Post%20Pics/C8A8DCF2-4CCC-46CB-B06C-180BDF06C03C_zpsfvdyeakr.jpg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Post%20Pics/E7CCE10C-1F69-4A61-B45B-88BA0844C300_zps0zbstiuh.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Post%20Pics/E7CCE10C-1F69-4A61-B45B-88BA0844C300_zps0zbstiuh.jpg.html)
(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/2015%20Post%20Pics/423BC4A5-58C1-4D6D-92EE-0C9ABBA13ECC_zpscpcuj2kz.jpg) (http://s23.photobucket.com/user/osminski/media/2015%20Post%20Pics/423BC4A5-58C1-4D6D-92EE-0C9ABBA13ECC_zpscpcuj2kz.jpg.html)
I bought a Badlands Terraglide roller duffle bag. It is long enough to hold an arrow tube and my 70" TD NM Classic. Works great!
I pack my takedown bow into a soft case, then put the soft case in my SKB double compound bow case. I fit 2 bows, all my arrows, and a bunch of other gear in there, and stay under 50#. The SKB case is pretty much bulletproof.
Bisch
Well guys, this is why I ONLY hunt within driving distance!!! :rolleyes:
I just went through this...all bows even selfbows or takedowns are on the banned weapons list for TSA. I had my wolfer broke down in fleece case in my backpack...two sticks and a string. Denied access through gates...had to go back and find a box as my bags were checked in already and pay extra $150 for a 3rd checked bag. Normally I put longbows in PVC pipe with another shorter one for arrows taped to the side so it lays flat and wont roll. For takedown recurves usually put in bow case and tape for backup in case locks fail...on return trip with wolfer I had it in the provided fleece case and then packed it in the middle of all my dirty clothes for extra padding in my duffle.
You can carry a walking staff or fly rods no issues...cannot carry hockey sticks or wooden bows. I wondered if I put a rubber cane tip on my selfbow....wrapped it in black tape....and put something ornamental on top limb if I could call it a walking staff and make it through. :)
In the end it is not worth potentially missing a flight or having bow confiscated whether you agree with TSA listing wooden bows as weapons or not.
TSA is changing rules as we speak after failing 95%. I asked what to expect and got the silent treatment. Be safe, wrap it well and hope.
Great pictorial SteveO...much appreciated. From what I can tell the Field Locker Arrow Case by Plano has been discontinued, so hang on to the one you have. A few are out there for sale but not many. Most of the similar molded cases I've looked at have empty weights of 3.5-6.0 pounds. Weight isn't much issue if you're on a short trip with minimal gear, but heading to AK, HI, Canada etc with gear is a different deal. I've been flying my bows forever with nothing but a soft case or sock, except for my favorite 2 pc longbow which conveniently fits in one of the Easton adjustable arrow tubes. In reality I'm not that concerned about a multi-piece td bow getting broken in transit. It's more about nicks and dings from rough handling.
Ron H you are actually lucky there was enough time to get your bow boxed and on the plane. I've seen situations where time was too short and people were forced to leave things behind, or miss a flight. That happened to me with a knife back in 2002. TSA found it in my carry-on. There wasn't time to get in my baggage and I had to discard it. Amazingly, I left my address with the knife (a priceless gift from my wife early in our marriage) and it showed up in the mail 3 weeks later. Bless the unsung good people out there.
Walt...I remember that trip and that you would be bringing Pigger. I thought "What the heck is Pigger? A stuffed toy....a dog?" Heck of a hunt!
I was gonna see if a golf case would piggyback on a Super Cub, but pilots are weird about things like that.
The last few years I have used a drop bottom canvas luggage.The bottom has a stiff bottom with rails also for strenth and my clothes on the top the bow and arrows are really safe.The arrows go in a tube also for safety.