Hey guys I am looking to book my flights here soon for my Tur hunt. I am going from Canada to Baku and wanted to know if there are any airlines to watch out for that may not be gun friendly or any other advice on flights? I hear it is good going through Frankfurt and to try and stay away from Toronto if possible?

Calgary-Frankfurt-Buku is the simplest. Stay with in the Star Alliance group and no issues with firearms. I'd avoid Toronto just because you'll have to get your trophy shipped back to Alberta after the secondary treatment. May as well clear customs in Alberta and have secondary treatment done here and avoid shipping charges. You'll pay a $100 extra gun fee with Air Canada/Lufthansa but it is the simplest. You can also go through Istanbul but that means going through Toronto. The flights may be cheaper that way but then you have the hassle of getting your trophy back from secondary treatment.

Exactly what sheephunterab said. I did the Air Canada/Lufthansa option when I did my tur hunt. Nothing special about either airline but you will avoid Toronto and some shipping charges. If you are taking your own firearm make damn sure you have all the appropriate paperwork for Frankfurt airport as well. Different rules apply there.

If you aren't worried about the shipping costs then take the Toronto route and use Turkish Airlines. Cheaper flight most likely and a much better airline IMO.

Yes, top marks for Turkish Airlines for sure. We flew them to Kyrgyzstan but that was before the new CFIA regulations. Toronto customs was a breeze. Way easier than Calgary but now with new CFIA regulations it makes it more difficult. I'm still getting mixed reports on the Frankfurt paperwork. I flew through there in May and September without any paperwork and was fine. I keep being told that if your guns are in transit that you are fine. Might be worth the 20 Euros for piece of mind but I haven't talked to one person that needed it when guns remained in transit.

That's how I got to Bishkek as well. I had a customs officer that was a hunter and he made a slight hassle about my paperwork for the ibex in my luggage. He was trying to show me and his trainee he knew what species of ibex I had and that it was a CITES species. 20 minutes later I was good to go.

I've heard mixed things about the Frankfurt paperwork as well. I would spend the few extra dollars and do it. Excellent airport if you are stuck there on a layover.

Just talked a couple people and they say don't got through Frankfurt now. The new paperwork can be a hassle and there have been a lot of confiscated guns including one person I know of personally. This hunting on foreign soil would just be a lot easier if good rifles were made available in foreign countries for hunters to use.

I've heard of one person getting their guns confiscated and it was because they proceeded through German customs on the way to their next flight with the guns but didn't declare they had them. I know a lot of people that have been through there recently with no issues at all. There's nothing to the Frankfurt paperwork that 20 Euros won't fix....I just don't like the principal of it.

If you plan on bringing your heads back with you, Instanbul and Frankfurt are your only two options. Keep everything in transit and enjoy some German beer while waiting for your next flight. Travelling with guns really isn't that stressful...you just need to know the procedures better than those enforcing them.

I borrowed a gun in Azerbaijan but it wasn't very good. A Finnish hunter in camp that tagged out early thankfully lent me his Sako. For some countries (such as AZ) it just isn't something that is easy/possible to do. In Turkey, for example, you aren't even permitted to rent a rifle.

Ya average citizens in Azerbaijan are only permitted to own shotguns so high-powered rifles are pretty scarce. Bryan had a couple decent rifles in Kyrgyzstan but I'm happy I took my own.

Peter, what kind of rifle did they offer you? Benelli or russian rifles?

What about Kyrgyzstan via Moscow from Toronto ?

Emil, I used an old Russian make.

quote:

Originally posted by kestrel:
What about Kyrgyzstan via Moscow from Toronto ?

If you are flying with a rifle, I'd look at going through Istanbul.

OK, Peter, I understood. I could organize you Benelli rifle but I think it is too late.

Yes I will be bringing my rifle was told by travel agent my baggage was checked through to Bishkek. I would think many hunters going Bear hunting would be going through Moscow

It is too late ha. I missed an estimated 36 incher. Still got a good tur though. Not sure if it's your first trip or anything, but make sure to check the destination on the tags that the airport's staff puts on. I've had mine going to other cities or countries until I looked.

This will be my first trip to Asia but have been to Africa twice. I went via Frankfurt which was the recommended route and had firearm problems both times. I just go with the attitude that there will be challenges.

I would use Turkish Airlines deftly. Just came back from Azerbaijan hunt.

I just talked with Mirbala and he has 2 30 06 bennelli rifles I could use for my friend and I. I am thinking this might be the best way to go.

I am going through Frankfurt on the way there and on the way home I stop in Istanbull for 10 days which adds more paperwork and gun storage BS. I imagine a Benneli rifle is a decent gun and was told they shoot well. What kind of distances are you guys killing your Tur at?

depends on moment, hunting area and time you of there. But normally 250-350 m.