Hello all.

Already planning an out of town bow hunt later this year.
I hope to visit a buddy in Florida who said there's some pretty good deer and hog hunting over by him.
I plan to fly, so I am wondering about getting the meat back.
Anyone do this on a regular basis?
I have a few game processing places down there who I can drop the deer and/or hogs off to, but how about getting it home?
I plan to be down for a few days, so I probably won't be around when it's done being processed.
Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

Alex

Couple of ways to do it.If you have it cut, wrapped and frozen,and pack the frozen meat in your luggage, insulated by your clothes. You can buy a cooler in FLA, put in your frozen meat, tape it up and take it as luggage-came home from TX this way.  Took a lot of fish back from AK via the first method.

The way, you can bring back choice cuts and leave the lesser cuts for your friend or a homeless shelter.

QuoteOriginally posted by lyagooshka:
... but how about getting it home?
I plan to be down for a few days, so I probably won't be around when it's done being processed.

That rules out the "pack it in your luggage" answers.   :D

Process it yourself???

You hoping to fly back before the meat is done with processing puts a wrinkle in the obvious  possibilities. I've known several hunters who gave up their entire cooler of meat in exchange for local assistance in initial processing , packing and shipping their cape, hide, horns, etc.

I like to pack my boots and heavy clothes, extra gear, etc. into a 44 quart cooler with my name and address written on 3 sides with a big marker, with a TSA -approved locking luggage strap around it, through the handles. Its an affordable baggage fee and nearly indestructible. If I get game on my trip, I de-bone the meat then have it minimally processed, wrapped and flash frozen in the deep freeze. Most processors can do this for you in under 24 hours. Then pack it in my cooler, put my boots, clothes and gear in a duffel and pay the additional bag fee. The alternative is to have your meat shipped to you in a styrofoam cooler inside a cardboard carton a la Omaha Steak Co,  via UPS express.

I've mailed meat from FL to PA in tightly taped Styrofoam coolers packed with dry ice, without any issues.  It helps if the meat is also frozen solid.  The downside is shipping costs can get expensive, so you may want to pass on shooting a trophy hog.

Bone out your meat, get it as cold as you can, stick it in a cooler and bring it home.  It truly is that simple.

My neighbor gets frozen fancy meats... large hams, turkeys, etc. in styrofoam boxes shipped UPS.  I used to get the boxes from him, stuff them with sheet plastic from the furniture store and use them as targets.  I imagine the cost is noticeable but it would get the job done if someone who was there fast shipped it to you once it was frozen and packed.

Good seeing you here Dick.