Meat/Antler Transport from AK

[fishngamereaper]

So I over think everything..its a blessing and a curse. 

I don't want to re invent the wheel with how to (hopefully) have to transport meat/antlers from AK back home after our planned caribou hunt this Aug.

But I have some ideas bouncing around in the head. Help me clean them up.

A. Fly up with normal gear, back pack as carry on, checked gear bag and rifle case. Deal with getting wax boxes/ antler packaging in AK as the need arises. Fly everything back as checked baggage.

B. Stuff my gear bag into a rubber made tote. Add some cardboard-bubble wrap, antler wrap material etc ..pay over weight fee for flight up. Have everything with me on site and be able to wrap antlers as soon as getting out of the field. Use rubber made tote for meat transport. Fly everything back as checked baggage.

C. Pre mail rubber made tote or wax boxes with all antler wrap material and non essential hunt items to my transporter a month early. ( The size I would mail I had quoted as a flat $110 fee- delivery time frame of 2-3 weeks)  Have everything on site for when I need it. Fly it back as checked baggage.

D. Instead of tote in options above use a large soft sided cooler. 

Thoughts from those that have done it before.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Alaska Air is great. I flew back out of deadhorse and they had boxes and a freezer. As long as your meat is frozen in a 50 lb box you can just check it.

They had a freezer there, we just took our meat there the day before we flew and it froze solid overnight. They didn't charge extra for the service, just like $10 per box and the check bag fee.

[fishngamereaper]

Alaska Air is great. I flew back out of deadhorse and they had boxes and a freezer. As long as your meat is frozen in a 50 lb box you can just check it.

They had a freezer there, we just took our meat there the day before we flew and it froze solid overnight. They didn't charge extra for the service, just like $10 per box and the check bag fee.

We are landing and leaving from Fairbanks. I heard they have a freezer the airport but haven't verified yet.

[callturner]

Are you hunting solo or with an outfitter? Most times an outfitter can help you arrange your game transportation and will have these answers for you.

Mike.

[actionshooter]

Here is AA baggage policy... go with their overweight/oversize for up to 100#.. https://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/baggage/checked-bags. 

Buy a  100qt cooler for the trip home...  There a 2 Fred Meyers in Fairbanks that stock a TON of these.... Cut and wrapped meat will fill one of these and it's right at 100# or you can get a smaller cooler and just bone the meat out...

I sent a whole cut and wrapped moose home and it was $550 in baggage fees (plus coolers) that's the cheapest route I could find.

[fishngamereaper]

Are you hunting solo or with an outfitter? Most times an outfitter can help you arrange your game transportation and will have these answers for you.

Mike.

DIY with a transporter. Transporter has been great with questions. I'm just trying ascertain what's worked best for others. Obviously getting meat from AK is not something new. Just planning ahead with the best possible option.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Alaska Air is great. I flew back out of deadhorse and they had boxes and a freezer. As long as your meat is frozen in a 50 lb box you can just check it.

They had a freezer there, we just took our meat there the day before we flew and it froze solid overnight. They didn't charge extra for the service, just like $10 per box and the check bag fee.

We are landing and leaving from Fairbanks. I heard they have a freezer the airport but haven't verified yet.

You can also use Alaska Air Cargo from fairbanks which may be cheaper but I think there are new hoops to go through to be a certified shipper. Your caribou will be 3 check bags total.

[boneaddict]

I drove there and back just so I didn’t have to mess with this.   Best road trip I’ve ever taken.  Shooting a 1000 pound critter and putting it into 50 pound boxes 

It also felt pretty good on the road trip having all the honks and thumbs up on the drive back, and even the middle fingers once I hit Seattle.  Lol

[boneaddict]

Oops sorry, just saw this was for caribou not moose. 

[fishngamereaper]

Oops sorry, just saw this was for caribou not moose.

 

Same thing...just smaller.

We thought about driving but don't want to count on Canada letting us through.

[actionshooter]

I drove there and back just so I didn’t have to mess with this.   Best road trip I’ve ever taken.  Shooting a 1000 pound critter and putting it into 50 pound boxes 

It also felt pretty good on the road trip having all the honks and thumbs up on the drive back, and even the middle fingers once I hit Seattle.  Lol

I drove it once Fairbanks to Olympia... had a 7x12 trailer with a freezer and all the raft gear in the back... kept a 2000w generator mounted on the tongue and ran it while I drove and kept everything frozen... Brought 4 caribou back on that trip.

Totally cool drive, but between driving up, hunting and driving back.... you need a LOT of time off.. 

[actionshooter]

Oops sorry, just saw this was for caribou not moose.

 

Same thing...just smaller.

We thought about driving but don't want to count on Canada letting us through.

I know the dirty SOBs didn't let my hunting partner through this year.... he had all the gear and was going to pick me up at the airport... Trip over that fast...

[callturner]

I drove there and back just so I didn’t have to mess with this.   Best road trip I’ve ever taken.  Shooting a 1000 pound critter and putting it into 50 pound boxes 

It also felt pretty good on the road trip having all the honks and thumbs up on the drive back, and even the middle fingers once I hit Seattle.  Lol

How did you keep it frozen, just curious?

Mike

[fishngamereaper]

Oops sorry, just saw this was for caribou not moose.

 

Same thing...just smaller.

We thought about driving but don't want to count on Canada letting us through.

I know the dirty SOBs didn't let my hunting partner through this year.... he had all the gear and was going to pick me up at the airport... Trip over that fast...

I'm just want to get back up to nootka this year... cancelling last year sucked.

[boneaddict]

I drove there and back just so I didn’t have to mess with this.   Best road trip I’ve ever taken.  Shooting a 1000 pound critter and putting it into 50 pound boxes 

It also felt pretty good on the road trip having all the honks and thumbs up on the drive back, and even the middle fingers once I hit Seattle.  Lol

How did you keep it frozen, just curious?

Mike

Put it on poles in the back of the truck for air circulation.   It pretty much froze in the woods and for most of the trip home.   We didn’t dink around On the trip home.

[lewy]

Alaska Air is great. I flew back out of deadhorse and they had boxes and a freezer. As long as your meat is frozen in a 50 lb box you can just check it.

They had a freezer there, we just took our meat there the day before we flew and it froze solid overnight. They didn't charge extra for the service, just like $10 per box and the check bag fee.

   Also take a few rolls of electrical tape to use to tape cardboard over the tips of the antlers the airline will require you to do so, had to do that on my moose and caribou both

[Bareback]

[/quote]

You can also use Alaska Air Cargo from fairbanks which may be cheaper but I think there are new hoops to go through to be a certified shipper. Your caribou will be 3 check bags total.
[/quote]

Last I checked on this it was $.40/lb

With a tax I.D. Becoming certified is rather easy. Otherwise you have to jump through a lot of hoops for the cert.

[Skillet]

You can also use Alaska Air Cargo from fairbanks which may be cheaper but I think there are new hoops to go through to be a certified shipper. Your caribou will be 3 check bags total.


Last I checked on this it was $.40/lb

With a tax I.D. Becoming certified is rather easy. Otherwise you have to jump through a lot of hoops for the cert.

Wow, I just quoted a 150# shipment from Fairbanks to Seattle in August on this, best I could do on my account was $.73/#...  How are you getting that good of a rate??    Teach me, seriously.  This could be a great way to lower my fresh fish prices out of Alaska.

[Skillet]

Re: the Original post

I can't offer any personal experience with shipping out of Fairbanks, but I know a few guys in Sitka that go up for caribou every year.  If I recall correctly, they have the meat cut, wrapped, and flash frozen at a place in Fairbanks, then ship as baggage in waxed boxes with an insulated liner.  If you need more details, I can get them for you. 

[KFhunter]

If you want to drive,  I wouldn't make any commitments until after mid June.



Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[fishngamereaper]

Thanks skillet...we are pretty set on getting the meat home as de boned chunks... already sinking enough into the trip don't need to pay someone to cut and wrap when I can go it at home.

We have flights already booked with Ak air.  So they are no stranger to flying odd things as checked baggage . just trying to get a solid plan for what's going to be our best options.

[Benny]

Tough to beat this if it logistically works for you.

https://www.alaskatrophyexpress.com/

[Bareback]

You can also use Alaska Air Cargo from fairbanks which may be cheaper but I think there are new hoops to go through to be a certified shipper. Your caribou will be 3 check bags total.


Last I checked on this it was $.40/lb

With a tax I.D. Becoming certified is rather easy. Otherwise you have to jump through a lot of hoops for the cert.

Wow, I just quoted a 150# shipment from Fairbanks to Seattle in August on this, best I could do on my account was $.73/#...  How are you getting that good of a rate??    Teach me, seriously.  This could be a great way to lower my fresh fish prices out of Alaska.

Don’t know where in the heck I came up with $.40/lb. apologizes for high hopes. I checked recent quote. Alaska Airlines Cargo Priority, 200 lbs $147.02. With tax/insurance to Bellingham: $165.71

[Patarero]

For caribou->

Probably cheaper to get horn wrapping stuff at staples in Fairbanks than ship it up.  Also there's at least one hotel that has full sized fridges in their ground floor suites....you're asking for a headache if you haven't figured in some buffer time on the back end of your hunt.

I fly with my roller cooler. It holds 99lbs of meat. Put gear in it on the way up.  Adds a bag check on the way back.  If it all doesn't fit I'll put meat in carryon or hand it out at check in. Known shipper is the way to go if you can though.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[spin05]

Honestly 3 years ago when we went i looked at every way possible.  Its cheaper and easier to just take em as checked bags.  If you got a alaska air credit card you get another free check bag. And if you book 1st class on way home your golden.  alaska air  doesnt consider your gun as checked baggage.  I want to say the rack wasnt either. But dont quote me on that

[fishngamereaper]

I'm checking everything. Been thinking and re thinking and over thinking....
Got a 45 gallon tote with wheels at HD. I'm loading up my pack as my carry on. Probably 50-60lbs.
Everything else, camp, food etc... including antler wrap material will go in the tote. 45-50lbs. Gun case will have two rifles in soft cases. 46lbs.
For the return trip the 45 gallon tote will carry the meat back. (Pending success). Antler's will be checked, as will assorted gear bag.
I looked at pre mailing the tote but it costs the same as bringing it as baggage.
I'm at a stupid level of ocd about stuff and want everything at my disposal at our bush pilot's hanger. So meat will get boned out and bagged up, antlers will be wrapped before I even leave the village. Don't want to deal with chasing down supplies in Fairbanks.

[Karl Blanchard]

I'm intrigued by the tote on wheels. Was planning on 2 or 3 wheeled coolers for kodiak this fall that I was gonna order into the Walmart for in store pickup once I get up there but a 45 gal tote would probably let me get away with only needing a cooler for my goat and the tote for the deer🤔

[fishngamereaper]

I'm intrigued by the tote on wheels. Was planning on 2 or 3 wheeled coolers for kodiak this fall that I was gonna order into the Walmart for in store pickup once I get up there but a 45 gal tote would probably let me get away with only needing a cooler for my goat and the tote for the deer🤔

I'll text ya a pic.
I thought about cooler's but dry weight was a deal killer. The tote weighs maybe 5-7lbs empty.
And we have a pretty unique idea for deep chilling our meat in Fairbanks before we fly out.

[birddogdad]

I drove there and back just so I didn’t have to mess with this.   Best road trip I’ve ever taken.  Shooting a 1000 pound critter and putting it into 50 pound boxes 

It also felt pretty good on the road trip having all the honks and thumbs up on the drive back, and even the middle fingers once I hit Seattle.  Lol

I drove it once Fairbanks to Olympia... had a 7x12 trailer with a freezer and all the raft gear in the back... kept a 2000w generator mounted on the tongue and ran it while I drove and kept everything frozen... Brought 4 caribou back on that trip.

Totally cool drive, but between driving up, hunting and driving back.... you need a LOT of time off.. 

for me, this seems very good option. the cost associated with shipped/processed game is high. you hold your own destiny this way. also, taking up and returning with your gear works well this way too. have friends who have done several float trips.. one guy flys with hand guns, the remainder trailer up following CA crossing laws. If you have time and trailer, maybe this should be investigated as the best option.

[fishngamereaper]

I drove there and back just so I didn’t have to mess with this.   Best road trip I’ve ever taken.  Shooting a 1000 pound critter and putting it into 50 pound boxes 

It also felt pretty good on the road trip having all the honks and thumbs up on the drive back, and even the middle fingers once I hit Seattle.  Lol

I drove it once Fairbanks to Olympia... had a 7x12 trailer with a freezer and all the raft gear in the back... kept a 2000w generator mounted on the tongue and ran it while I drove and kept everything frozen... Brought 4 caribou back on that trip.

Totally cool drive, but between driving up, hunting and driving back.... you need a LOT of time off.. 

for me, this seems very good option. the cost associated with shipped/processed game is high. you hold your own destiny this way. also, taking up and returning with your gear works well this way too. have friends who have done several float trips.. one guy flys with hand guns, the remainder trailer up following CA crossing laws. If you have time and trailer, maybe this should be investigated as the best option.

With flights booking up fast we had to make a decision.

Couldn't take the chance that Canada will be open for transit. We have a fishing trip to nootka early August that is still in question.

One of these years I'll drive up. Just not this time.

[Nibenza]

I'm intrigued by the tote on wheels. Was planning on 2 or 3 wheeled coolers for kodiak this fall that I was gonna order into the Walmart for in store pickup once I get up there but a 45 gal tote would probably let me get away with only needing a cooler for my goat and the tote for the deer🤔

I'll text ya a pic.
I thought about cooler's but dry weight was a deal killer. The tote weighs maybe 5-7lbs empty.
And we have a pretty unique idea for deep chilling our meat in Fairbanks before we fly out.

Could you share your unique idea for deep chilling meat in Fairbanks? I'm planning on bringing a moose back out of there this fall and that's the one part I haven't figured out yet.

[fishngamereaper]

I'm intrigued by the tote on wheels. Was planning on 2 or 3 wheeled coolers for kodiak this fall that I was gonna order into the Walmart for in store pickup once I get up there but a 45 gal tote would probably let me get away with only needing a cooler for my goat and the tote for the deer🤔

I'll text ya a pic.
I thought about cooler's but dry weight was a deal killer. The tote weighs maybe 5-7lbs empty.
And we have a pretty unique idea for deep chilling our meat in Fairbanks before we fly out.

Could you share your unique idea for deep chilling meat in Fairbanks? I'm planning on bringing a moose back out of there this fall and that's the one part I haven't figured out yet.

 
Why certainly. Fyi my buddy thinks my mind is a scary place so be warned.

We have to overnight in Fairbanks based on flight logistics. So we are going to get a hotel room. Our meat will be boned out and put in contractor bags before we leave the village. So when we get a hotel room we plan on filling up the bathtub with cold water. Getting a 8-10 bags of ice and some  rock salt. Pretty much creating a slurry. Then insert bags of meat. We figure if it doesn't freeze the meat if will get dang close. We do the same thing tuna fishing and can freeze fish in about 2 hour's.

It may or may not work.  But my gut tells me it will. 

[Nibenza]

[Pathfinder101]

We did Option A.
The air taxi service had a cooler that our caribou hung in until we got flown out.  We loaded the meat on a tarp in the back of the van, covered it with another tarp and covered that with bags of ice.  Drove like hell for Anchorage.  Butchered the meat in a city park, wrapped it and loaded it in wax boxes.  Cut the skull plates on the antlers and loaded them in boxes we got from a bike shop. 
The Anchorage Airport has a freezer so we dropped off everything as soon as it was cut and let it freeze solid.  Caught our flight the next day and paid (I think) about $350 in baggage fees (after our two free bags for being Alaska card members).
This was our antler box.  Two bicycle shipping boxes taped together with Gorilla Tape.