Flying With Guns
Thursday October 29, 2009
Sometimes, it seems like everybody who doesn't own a gun is dead set against those of us who do - especially when it comes to airports and traveling. But that is not always the case, and guidelines are in place that allow for relatively easy and problem-free transport of your firearms on commercial airline flights.
When I flew to Denver and back earlier this month, it was my first time flying with guns. It turned out not to be that big a deal. I even decided not to regret the high cost of my gun case, considering the value of the guns that were crammed inside of it.
Learn More About Flying With Guns
Comments
Same positive experience I had flying on Delta to Alaska last year with my .44 mag It was so smooth and routine it and almost made me nervous that it was too easy.
If you flew into Denver to elk hunt you probably had colder weather than I did in S. Colorado during second rifle Oct. 17-25 and probably better results. We had nothing below 10K. and it was spooky to not hear a rifle report all day!!!
I hunted the first season, but it wasn’t near Denver – it was south of Craig. A friend met me in Denver and drove me to the hunting area.
Oct 10-14. The main hunting area was around 7500 elevation, and we had some elk there, but not many. Most were still up high, since there wasn’t much snow at the higher elevations. The camp was at 8500 and there were some elk hanging nearby, but again not many.
The other hunter bagged a cow on the camp property, but I came up dry. I could have slung a bullet out there a time or two, but ethics prevented it since I wasn’t 100% sure. So I’m still an elk virgin.
We saw muleys out the ying-yang, but of course they weren’t in season.
I flew from Tampa to Portland OR on Sept. 23 on Southwest. I went to check my bags (I too have a pelican case with 2 bolt action rifles) and the S.W. employee infroms me that the TSA locks must be replaced with standard locks. I reassured her that these were TSA locks and quite adequate. She told me that because they were TSA locks they must go.
I was mad. I asked her if she was completely sure and where she got this info. She directed me to TSA. I quickly went to the TSA office because I was fresh out of padlocks. I was lucky and got the boss, his name was Larry. Larry told me that the girl was mistaken and I was to tell her so. This did not make me feel much better as I was hoping to be shooting coyoyes at dawn 3000 miles away. I returned to the ticket counter and told the lady what Larry said and she wasn’t impressed…..until Larry showed up and told her what to do and she did it.
Turns out the locks were fine, there had been some kind of communication breakdown between Southwest and TSA.
If I hadn’t stood my ground I may have missed my flight and part of my hunting trip.
Flying with guns is always stressful. I’ve done it many times and it is cause for concern with security like it is. That is how it should be, we can’t be too careful these days.
Thanks for your column
Scott