TD Bow in Carry-On?

[Tyler C. Moore]

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.

[Bowwild]

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.

[Steve O]

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.

[Steve O]

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.

[akbowbender]

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

[woodchucker]

Well guys, this is why I ONLY hunt within driving distance!!!   :rolleyes:

[Brock]

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.

[Roadkill]

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.

[Kevin Dill]

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.

[Kip]

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.