Trad Gang

I'm going on a hunt in Feb and need a case to take on plane travel for a 64" recurve or it is A takedown as well.  Anyone recommend one.  Anyone have a used one for sale!!!

I always place my takedown in my suitcase. I break it down, put it in a bow sock and place it in the middle of my clothes. Never had any issues. I use a PVC pipe for the arrows and also place them in my suitcase. The suitcase is a large soft side on wheels with a hard bottom.A well known world travelling bowhunter friend does the same thing without any troubles.

If you want to just get by with a case there are many out there.  If you want a real case that is extremely tough get a Pelican case model 1300.  It has solid foam that you cut out the shape of the riser, limbs, etc. It has wheels and a place for locks.  It is awesome but will cost about $170.  I took one to Colorado last month and was very satisfied that my bow was safe even on an airline.

I've used the canvas covered PVC tube from 3Rivers. It's padded on the inside and has four separate divided sections.  When pressed for room, I can get a take-down recurve and about a dozen arrows in it.  I put the tube in a big duffel bag with clothes, sleeping bag, etc.

I second the 3rivers tube. I can easily get my bow and a doz. arrows in it. It's well built and tough

I use one of the soft takedown cases, mine came from Black Widow. It has cloth sleeves for the limbs and its only about 30" long. I pack it in the middle of my large gear bag with clothing etc. around it. It has been all over the world that way multiple times with no problem.

This one is TOO BIG!!!!!!!!
 (http://www.shopatron.com/img/product_images/328/ffb05b625d591cd56bb201510a2e211f.jpg)

use a hardside golf bag and put your bow, arrows and gear in that protected space. Wrap your bow in your hunting clothes.  Easy to wheel around and get your stuff safely to the "spot".

Basic Instinct, I went "el cheapo" flying my son's one piece recurve recently, and got away with it (this time).  I spent $20 at Dicks Sporting Goods for the oversize golf bag cover, which is probably close to 70" long, and wrapped the bow in bubble wrap.  I put the arrows in a fed-ex tube and stuffed in some clothes.

Another vote for the Pelican case.

Telescoping fishing rod case for one piece.  If it is a takedown then do the suit case thing.  If you are worried about it getting there then ship it ahead of time with an overnight company... "What can Brown do for you?"

Bob Urban

A break down shotgun case works great.  You can buy one at Academy Stores or other places online.
Here is one sold by Winchester.

http://beaconwwb.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=WGS-7705

I use a hard sided compound case, that way I can fit 2 takedown recurves and 2 dozen arrows along with my broadheads in a tupperware sandwich container. It locks and I have never had a problem and the price was right.

I looked up the Pelican 1300 and it was a camera case, too small for a bow.  Does anyone know where I can find the one for the bow?  Black Widow sells one that has the cutouts for a PSA or PMA, but costs about 300 bucks.  Thanks.

It is model 1700 not 1300....my fault.

If you are interested in the Pelican cases I believe you want the 1700 series.  Either the 1700, 1720, or 1750.  I think the BW case is the 1700 (maybe the 1720, compare the dimensions).

Mooseman...I got the 1700 OD Green with foam.

Thanks for the info guys.  I looked at that 1300 and thought I'd probably have to saw my limbs and riser in half to get it in...lol a six piece takedown.

I took a peek at the Pelican website.  Looks like they would be a pretty indestructable case, but the one I looked at (I don't remember the nubmer) weighed in at something like 36 pounds empty!  

There has got to be a better way....
To this point I have packed mine like many others suggested - inside a soft duffle surrounded by clothes.  So far, so good, but it would give me a little more comfort to have something a bit more substantial around it.

I use a soft takedown case, putting the limbs and riser in wool socks (the kind you wear on your feet, not bow socks).  I can put the riser and 2 sets of limbs in the case, then pack the case in the middle of the clothes as in the first response above.  I also use a homemade PVC tube for arrows.  

I would not use any kind of an obvious bow case...why advertise?  My stuff has been inspected by TSA several times, no problems at all.  Have been through customs in Canada and Australia as well as coming back into the US and flying all over in the lower 48 and to AK and never had a problem packing a takedown recurve this way.

I take off the broadheads, wrap them in paper towels and put them in a small plastic box labelled "Caution Sharp Edges Inside" as well.  Don't want a TSA guy to get cut and throw my stuff away to get back at me!

R

I travel a lot with my bow...

I use a takedown shotgun hardcase.  This fits in the bottom compartment of my rolling duffle.

You can sut out the foam in the hard case, or use a soft case in there.

Many airlines do NOT charge for golf bags.  The hardsided ones are very good at everyhting except float planes!  just a caution.

I've used the "Field Locker" arrow case instead of putting arrows in the bottom half I store my take down and bowquiver there arrows in the top and alot of odds and ends thrown in the case. My bow is protected from scratches with socks that the wife made out of heavy fleece one for each limb and one for the handle. Cost is $25-$30

Whip...I believe (if I remember correctly) my Pelican 1700 weighs 22 lbs. empty.


Ryan....When flying, if you put your arrows and broadheads in a case in another bag to be checked such as a duffle you can then take your bow (in case) as a carry on.  Then you will not have to worry about advertising.

The less pieces of luggage you have, the better and if you have a separate piece that looks like an expensive piece of sporting equipment, the more likely it is to be stolen. Also some airlines are getting VERY tight on the amount and weight of baggage, some airlines allow two bags total and that is INCLUDING your carry on. I have made lots of international trips with my bow inside my gear bag and the only time I ever had any problem was the one time I put my bow in a separate fishing rod type case.

I have used a 120 quart Polar cooler, $39.99 from wally world for years.  I ship UPS or check this cooler at airports, and it carries all my gear most times...anything else I need I just check another bag with my cloths, or use a smaller carry on bag.

Coolers should be on sale now that fall has set in, that's how I got the low price years ago, and those coolers are really a tuff container at a low cost even at full retail.

In the super rare instance that my bow case were to be stolen I would then get the $2,500 insurance money and buy a brand new bow and plane ticket to Durango to elk hunt again.

Richie,

When was the last time you flew and carried you bow with you ON BOARD the plane?

I am on a layover right now with my bow in the belly of an RJ85   ;)  .  I will take pictures of my beat up, but efficient travel set up tonight at the hotel...

I've heard of guys taking them as carry ons, but I think you're taking a great big risk.  The TSA agent may not recognize what you have in there as a bow, but if they do you can bet they will be sending you back with it to put in with the checked baggage.  Now your other checked bags will be long gone, and you'd have to put your unprotected bow in the hands of the baggage handling system.   :scared:   Kiss it goodbye!  :readit:  
The last thing you want to have to do when you're trying to catch a flight for a big trip is argue with a TSA agent with an attitude  

As I said, I fly a LOT and cannot imagine trying to take my bow on board...

Here are some pics of my travel set up.  My previous case fell apart from so much travel, but it was all decked out; cut out foam to nestle the riser and each limb, arrow storage clips in the top.  This just has my Silvertip thrown in, but you get the idea.

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC06851.jpg)

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC06853.jpg)

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b351/osminski/DSC06856.jpg)

Steve O.....I went elking last month.  I took my bow in my pelican case through security to take as a carry-on.  Inside my case I have my small plastic box with arrow supplies, etc. as well as my grizzly broadheads.  They told me because my broadheads are inside the case I could not take it on board. Otherwise it would have been fine. That was the only reason.  Not because I had a bow.  
At that point my duffle was already checked below so I had no other place to put the broadheads.  So I checked the bow case as well.  I wanted to take it on board like they said I could.  However, I am glad I have a Pelican if I am to trust the airlines with it.