Flying out of Salt Lake City, 5 Sept, going through Anchorage to Nome. Return 2 weeks later. Grizzly!

Storm 3300 double rifle case, two rifles (primary and backup), 1 SxS 12 bore (Ptarmigan)and my Ruger ss 4-5/8" 45 LC (oh dang!).

Airlines, Delta and Alaska air, state 62" Max dimensions and 50 lbs. The Storm case hits 70" so I figure to pay the $50 extra for that unless someone has 1st hand knowledge that ether airline lets it slide. With the case gutted of it's foam padding, all four guns inside, it hits 45 lbs. Add almost 1 lb for combo locks and I've got a 4+ lb wiggle room for soft cases. I think the guns will fare better being in the soft cases instead of using the foam inserts and having to put the soft cases in with my check luggage. I'm hoping for suggestions. I can get all 4 in easily enough with them in soft cases. Problem is the weight hits 53-54 lbs; another $50.

Anyone actually have any experience flying with large, heavy cases upto Alaska or just anywhere and got hit, or not, with the excess charges?

I flew to Nome last year with a full size Tuffpak with no problems.

Even though your gun case is under weight you have more "guns" than the rules allow.

This falls under the "don't ask don't tell" catagory.

One way around this is to have two "gun cases" that allow you to carry other stuff as well as the firearms, and still make weight.

This is why on our last trip to Zimbabwe my wife and I used 3 Tuffpaks.
We had a total of 6 long guns and a handgun.

No problems.

Under under the new 50 lb rule they will some times charge you the penalty if you are one pound over.

More guns then the Rules allow. The last time I flew to AK WE had 3 rifles and 2 pistols in one case. ??

That was 4 years ago.

Whos rules ??

Alaska air does not specify how many firearms per case, this confirmed on the phone too. Delta says 2 per case. My buddy may be getting us free tickets based upon his credit card points via Delta from Salt Lake to Anchorage and Ak air onto Nome. If he can't swing the free tickets, I'm going Ak air all the way.

I would advise leaving three out of the four guns you want to take!

Odds are good that the back up rifle will go un used. For peace of mind make sure the guide has a spare rifle laying around somewhere just in case.

Odds are excellent that the pistol will go un used. It's extra weight on your hip and if something dangerous lurks use your rifle.

The shotgun is a good idea but could well also go un used. It is possible that you will expend so much time and effort chasing big game that you won't be able to chase ptarmigan. Additionally, ptarmigan aren't as sporting a bird as pheasants or lower 48 grouse. I don't usually hunt them here anymore but I do make a trip south every fall to hunt pheasants.

Don't over load yourself.

I agree with Scott!

I'd take one rifle, maybe the shotgun and leave the rest behind. Honestly, I think you'll be too busy hunting bear that there won't be much ptarmigan hunting involved.

DUDE! If your guide has a rifle, you only need your primary bear gun. I took a nice grizzly out of Nome this past April. I had a .338 Win and the guide had a battered .30-06. If you MUST have a backup, consider an extra scope previously sighted in for your rifle back home.

Carrying all that firepower, which is illegal and unnecessary, will force you to leave all your other hunting gear behind. You'll start to smell pretty gamey because you won't have an extra change of clothes.......

Dawaba,

Who did you hunt with? Which unit? I'll be in 22d with Brian Simpson/Wittrock outfitters.

Please enlighten me and help me understand what you mean by "illegal".

I just found out today that my interior grizzly will make book at 25 9/16 after the 60-day drying period. I'm obviously happy. I hunted Unit 22-B with Tom Gray out of White Mountain. I took the bear in the Darby Mnt range, due north of the community of Elim.

I flew into Nome on American and Alaska Airlines. According to their websites, a hunter may take no more than 3 firearms. I just re-read the sites before responding. It is unclear, but you may be able to travel with more than three guns if you divide them among two gun cases.

My experience in flying with firearms is: why take chances? Often, enforcement of firearms regs is arbitrary, and an agent having a bad day can make life miserable for a hunter.

I still believe you should take only your primary hunting rifle. Perhaps a 12 ga. for ptarmigan would be an option if you are a passionate wingshooter. You definately won't need a backup rifle or a pistol if your guide has his own gun.

Dawaba,

Congrats on the B&C bear. I talked to Tom as I was searching for an outfitter for this fall's hunt. How was he as an outfitter? Any pics of your bear and the terrain up there?

Here is what I think I will do and why.

1. Leave the back up rifle at home. My buddy will have his rifle which if needed will work in a pinch.

2. By leaving the back up, I'll 1) reduce my gross wt by 7.5 lbs for the rifle and about 2 lbs for the soft case. This will 2)free up the free weight necessary to pack all my ammo with the gun case and keep the two together. Would hate to show up in camp with guns and no ammo or vice versa. I might have extra weight for fishing rod/reel and maybe even my Zeiss 65mm Diascope and 10x40 classic binos, and even my K&K tripod.

I'm not expecting to tag out early but ya never know. Would rather lug the extra firearms and have them if I can get to use them.

Thanks to all.

1. put ONE rifle in a Tuffpak along with your ammo (second locked container) and hunting cloths.
2. carry your optics in your carry on
3. take lots of pictures
4. have a good hunt

The above has worked for me for multiple middle east, far east, and Asian hunts. I WOULD NOT take the pistol, back up rifle, or shot gun. You might take an extra scope if your hunting rifle does not have back up irons.

AK Air does not allow ammo & guns in the same case. Northwest wants the ammo in the same case as the firearms. I don't know about Delta.

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GSSP, Here are a few pics. This is my first time using photobucket, so I hope that you can open the files.

Spring hunting is different than what you'll be doing in the fall. We cruised around on snowmobiles covering vast (>100 miles daily) chunks of a mostly open snowscape looking for grizzlies or their tracks. You will be hunting around the spawning streams, I believe.

Tom Gray and his wife, Bee Jay, are full blood Inupiat Eskimos. They are strong born-again Christians and you say the blessing before every meal, including snacks out on the trail. There was no alcohol anywhere on this hunt (this was fine with me but could be undesirable for others, perhaps). Tom is the erstwhile mayor of White Mountain and is admired by the townspeople, as most everyone came by for a chat while I was there.

I've heard good things about your guide, too, as well as Hannon, whose a little further south.

I've written a hunting story on my hunt with Tom, and Game Trails magazine will be publishing the article this fall or winter. PM me with your address, and I'll get you a complimentary copy when the rag is published.

Dave

quote:

AK Air does not allow ammo & guns in the same case. Northwest wants the ammo in the same case as the firearms. I don't know about Delta.

It is all semantics - I have been traveling with firearms on AK Air for at least the last 8 years this way. Inside the Tuffpak the rifle is in its case and the ammo is locked in a SEPARATE LOCKED CONTAINER but locked inside the Tuffpak. I just traveled to Azerbaijan this past Dec without a problem!

DaveC,

Wanted to make sure I didn't read something wrong.

Yep, Alaska airlines "does" allow ammo with the guns.

" Ammunition may be checked with or separately from the firearm."

http://www.alaskaair.com/as/www2/help/faqs/SportRelatedItems.asp


Dawaba,

NICE!!!!! Good job on photobucket too! Glad to hear you heard good things about Brian Simpson. So have I! Hannon too. PM sent in few minutes.

Alan

That is good news. In 2006 flying Anchorage to Deadhorse I had to move my ammo from a tuff pak to my backpack.