Travel with Killed Game on the Airlines

[sheridany]

I am going to texas next month to do some hog hunting and there is not a butcher available to cut and wrap before I leave (if I am lucky). Has anyone traveled with a quartered, skinned hog on ice in a cooler on the airlines? I am traveling on Southwest so any suggestions is greatly appreciated.

 

[bpnclark]

I did that last year. I can’t remember what airline I used, but it wasn’t a problem. But the lady at the counter said we were lucky. She said they were going to start charging for a second bag and they start charging it by weight. She weighed my gun case and said if I travel with it next month; it would cost me $50.

We flew into <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

</st1:City><ST1San Antonio for a hog/javelina hunt</ST1. We bought a ice chest at a TX Walmart and brought it back home with a small meat hog (we went for Javelina). The only thing that held us up was the dry ice. I can’t remember if it wasn’t allowed or if we had to much. All I remember was throwing it (and all the ice) in a garbage can at the airport (and getting strange looks).

The biggest problem you're going to have is the extra $ for an ice chest.

 

[larrysogla]

About 6 years ago, we flew to Houston on a hog hunting trip on my friend's ranch. After we shot 3 big hogs(200 to 350 lbs.) we had to give away most of the meat since we were flying back. We were going back to L.A. with about 80 lbs. of pork. The ranch owner put it in his big freezer 1 day before we left and the next day it was frozen solid. We packed about 40 lbs. of meat each on 2 cardboard packing boxes. We bought dry ice on the day we were leaving and put it in the cardboard boxes along with the pork. At the Southwest check in counter, we were told that our regular cardboard boxes will not be allowed on board because the condensation of the cold meat will dissolve the cardboard boxes. The dry ice is also a prohibited item in the cargo compartment and will not be allowed on board. We got lucky as the Southwest clerk and also a baggage handler went inside the office and produced 2 wax lined moisture resistant cardboard boxes............free of charge. We transferred the frozen pork to the wax lined cardboard boxes and dumped the dry ice on the bald lawn in the corner of the airport terminal. We had the presence of mind to bring along a roll of packing/sealing tape so re-packing the hog meat at the airport terminal was not a problem. We bought several newspapers and stuffed it at the sides of the pork as insulation so it will not defrost too quickly. Needless to say, the pork stayed very cold until we got home and we made deeeeeelicious pork adobo and Mexican style tamales which our co-workers enthusiastically devoured. Hope this helps.
God Bless, always
larrysogla

 

[DILPRXO]

Another option might be sending the meat home UPS if it's under 150lbs total weight. They accept up to 5.5 pounds of dry ice on air shipments with no haz mat fees or extra charges. Five pounds of dry ice is an alot. Cool/ freeze the meat and pack dry ice in before you go to the airport , drop it off with UPS before your flight. With the extra baggage fees airlines are charging these days, it might be cheaper in the long run and you don't have to lug the meat through the airport.

UPS: Coolants and Refrigerants (Dry Ice)

 

[JSK]

We deer hunt in Texas every december, and fly back to CA with all of the meat as checked baggage, no problem. We usually debone everything so it packs better, double bag it and pack it small coolers. Airlines don't like ice, nor dry ice, so just get the meat as cool as you can prior to the flight back and it will be fine...do bring duct tape to re-tape your cooler as they will want to see what is inside. Don't pack larger coolers...they will make you break it down if it is too heavy (had to do that on the sidewalk at Austin airport one year, sent my buddy in a cab to walmart to get an extra cooler and while I waited on the curb).

 

[ltdann]

Call the airlines and ask them. Used to be limit on dry ice. Last time I did it, the limit was 7 pds, but that was many years ago.

Where you hunting in TX? Usually the guide can recommend someone. I hunted in Uvalde and the local slaughter house did my meat for me for a very reasonable cost. Frankly, they spoiled me. We drove back and with 10 pds of dry ice, it was still frozen when we got back to CA.

 

[Glass eye]

I've brought deer back from Hawaii several times with no problem. However, my last trip was in May '08 and we brought a pig back and it cost extra now, about $80 if I remember correctly. It was a tad overweight and we had to take some frozen pig from the ice chest and put it in with the other gear.

 

[sheridany]

Hunting in Uvalde

We are actually hunting in Uvalde. The guide says the butcher can only process game taken on the first day in order to have it ready. I am okay with having it shipped as an option as well. What is the name of the slaughterhouse you used?

Thanks to everyone who replied. This is great information.

 

[ltdann]

We are actually hunting in Uvalde. The guide says the butcher can only process game taken on the first day in order to have it ready. I am okay with having it shipped as an option as well. What is the name of the slaughterhouse you used?

Thanks to everyone who replied. This is great information.

Uvalde meat processing-pat and gail Jackowski 830-278-6247.

They're on 508 S. Wood st, near the H.E.B grocery store.

They run a full service slaughter house. They caped out my axis deer, butchered my deer, vacuum packed it, labeled it and hard froze it for about $90. It was 250 lb deer and I walked out of there with 144 lbs processed meat. I put the deer in friday noon I beleive they had it ready the next day.

My buddy shot his buck the next morning and they had it ready by sunday when we left. Of course, that was in the spring. During the whitetail season, I imagine they're loaded with orders.

If your not adverse to shipping, you can work with them as far as who you decide the carrier is and maybe have them pack for shipping. It would probably help if you had a account with FEDEX or someone.

They're really nice folks and probably have a solution to your problem, they have plenty of out-of-state hunters use them.

Who's your guide/ranch? Just hogs?

The Uvalde area is loaded with all kinds of game. Whitetail were thick as fleas. Its the only place my wife wants me to go back to. The success rate is high.

By the way, no trip to Uvalde is complete without a trip to the Guns & Liqour store for a photo op and a visit to the Oasis Outback. They have outdoor gear there that you won't seem anywhere else in the country.

Visiting those two places is like a pilgramage in honor of the hunting gods.:lol bashing sign:

 

[sheridany]

Hunting in Uvalde

Great info! Thank you. I am hunting whitetail and hogs with Bob Kight. he has a great setup and only takes 4-5 hunters at a time. I will definitely visit the Guns & Liquor and Outback Oasis. Uvalde sounds like a great place to go.

 

[ltdann]

Welcome to Uvalde Meat Market and Processing

If you ever want to do the exotic thing, consider BORDERBANDIT outfitting. Shane Hearn runs it and is a sponsor here. Runs a quality hunt, good game, good ranches.

 

[inchr48]

I tried to board a flight out of El Paso with a road-kill Armadillo under each arm. The Flight Attendant stopped me and said, "Sorry Sir, only one carrion per person" .

 

[ltdann]

I tried to board a flight out of El Paso with a road-kill Armadillo under each arm. The Flight Attendant stopped me and said, "Sorry Sir, only one carrion per person" .

:lol bashing sign::funny-post-sign:

 

[EvBouret]

freeze it, put it in a cooler with frozen water bottles. If it weighs over the weight limit you'll have to pay extra fees.