Okay, for those that could use the information.
I always believe Murphy goes along on my hunts. With that in mind, I always travel with two bows.
If my daughter is on the trip, then we which each have an SKB double bow case. One has one of her bows along with one of mine. The other case has my other bow and her other bow. If one case gets lost, damaged, or whatever, then we still have a bow each.
I haven't packed my arrows or broadheads in the bow case in the past, but I will in the future as you'll read below why.
Arrows go in arrow tubes, then packed in the luggage bag. Broadheads go in separate padded boxes, then into the luggage bag. We also carry two wrist releases each, which again, one in each luggage bag.
Basically, if traveling together, we make sure we have some of hers and some of mine in each luggage bag. Gear, not clothes or toiletries.
This did bite us in the butt this past year and I have learned from it. Upon arrival in Botswana, we found that we had our two bow cases, but both luggage bags were left on the plane and were now en route back to Ethiopia. It would be a three day wait for them to return. In the meantime, we had four bows, but no arrows, no broadheads, and no releases.
Luckily for us, our PH had his bow equipment, as did the family that owned the property we were hunting on. Their oldest boy is an avid bowhunter, so he had his gear there. Between them, we managed to make do with their arrows, broadheads, and releases until our luggage arrived.
When I leave next month, I'll be traveling only, I will have both of my bows in the one double bow case. Inside, I will pack 4-6 arrows, 4-6 broadheads, and one release. I'll divide the arrows and heads so that I have a couple to shoot from each bow, just in case one of them was somehow damaged in transit, such a string getting nicked or something. I also remove the sights from the bows and wrap them in padding, then pack those inside the bow case. I will use clothes and other soft items to layer between the two bows and to provide another layer on the top bow as I close it.
That was another plus for me in Botswana. I advised my daughter before we left to make sure and pack a set of hunting clothes in the bow case. When we got there and found the issue with the missing luggage, I had a pair of shorts, a pair of long pants, a couple of t-shirts, socks, and underwear. My daughter, she had none, as she did not heed my advice. She hunted in borrowed sweatpants, t-shirts, a men's XL hunting jacket, and white tennis shoes for three days. Her $200 white shoes were red from the dirt by day two. I'm glad she bought them with her own money. It was a hard lesson learned, but at least it all worked out.
Atlanta is the only airport that has made me open the bow case upon my return. In Houston and Chicago, the cases came out at the oversize luggage area, no inspections. In Atlanta, the guy at customs had me open it. He saw the bows. He asked where my arrows, broadheads, and boots were. I told him those were packed separately in my luggage bag. He said "good enough, you're good to go" and that was it. As I was closing my bow case, the next guy behind me opened his bow case and I could see his bow, his arrows, and his boots, all packed into the bow case. The inspector got on his radio and requested someone to come with disinfectant so they could clean his gear. With this in mind, when I return in July and I will have to go through Atlanta again, I will pack the boots, the arrows, and the heads in my luggage bag. They may make me take them out this time, I don't know, but I have a six hour layover, just in case. They can inspect and clean to their hearts desire.
I use feathers and not plastic vanes, so for the arrows that I'm packing in the bow case this trip, I bought a six pack of the plastic vane/fletch protectors for like $10 off of eBay. That way I can pack them in the case and not damage the feathers.
I had custom made decals made, around 6"x 8" that indicate that it's bow only, no gun or ammo. Not that it is a guarantee, but still, each case has one. I will post pictures of it later.
TSA locks, I'll admit, I'm anal about this, but you don't have to be. I removed all of the standard locks that come with the SKB case and replaced them all with the TSA lock latches. Then, I use a TSA cable lock to lock the case though the holes provided. This lock has the indicator to let me know if it was opened. This lock is a three digit combo lock style.
My luggage bag is as big as is allowed in order to meet size requirements for a standard 50 lb piece of luggage. It is NOT large enough to put my bows into. While that would be nice, those bags are often too large and don't meet the size requirements. Neither does to the SKB bow case, but most airlines will allow it as it is considered "sporting equipment." Delta never questions it and has never charged me. United charged me one time, just for the leg from Houston to Chicago. Ethiopia didn't charge me. Qatar didn't say anything the first trip, then tried to charge me the second trip, but I fussed and told them they never charge me for the case, and they said okay, and did not charge me. So this is really up to the person that checks you in as to what they decide at the moment. I have, when the first leg is considered a "domestic flight" checked my bags a curbside with Skycap guys. They don't care, they ask if it's a bow or gun, I tell them bow, they say okay, and take it. I tip them $10-20 and off I go. So in June, I leave San Antonio heading to Atlanta, first leg is a domestic flight. I may try and see if they will take it at the curb and tip them well. They may take it, they may not, but it's worth a try. Better to tip them $20 than having the crabby, by the book, lady at check in charge you $200 for it being oversize. Worst thing could happen is the guys outside realize it's an international flight and send you inside, then you have to deal with them. Try to 'convince' them that you travel with this bow case all the time and they've NEVER charged you before.
Just make sure both pieces are under 50 lbs each. I always carry a small scale to weigh my bags and I take with me so I can weigh them for the return trip. They often overlook the size and won't bother with the measurement, but they will weigh ever piece due to aircraft takeoff weight and fuel loading requirements. One time, since the plane was at 100% capacity, they weighed every carry on bag as well. It was that critical for take off weights.
For my luggage bag, I also use the TSA locks. I pull the locks all to the same location on the bag and to deter the thieves from opening the zipper,
watch the YouTube videos on how this is done, I use different colored zip ties to secure them all together. They can still get into the bag, they just won't be able to zip it back up and conceal their thieving actions. Thus far, I have never had an issue with someone getting into my bags.
My backpack is my carry on and that is where I store my cameras, iPad, cell phone, charge cables, batteries, a color copy of my passport, an extra shirt, pair of socks, underwear, etc. in case I need to change clothes on a long layover or some unforeseen emergency. Jackets take up a lot of room in your luggage, their too big for the carry on, so I usually just 'wear' it through TSA then store it in the overhead. It depends on the time of year of your trip and the time that you arrive in country as to the temperature. In June, at night, it could be in the 30's, so a jacket once you step outside is nice to have handy, or pack it on top of everything else in your checked bag so it's easy to access.
ID holder with neck lanyard.
I wear a holder around my neck that contains my actual passport, my Texas DL, one credit card, one debit card, all of my cash, and a key for the TSA locks for when they ask you to open your luggage. My passport goes inside of one of those protective sleeves to prevent being accessed remotely. Not sure it if works, but I do it anyway. Be sure to keep a few small bills, such as $50 worth of $5's, for tipping if you have someone assist you with your bags, or for the skycap fellas. This should be easy to access and not combined with your big stash of cash. Don't pull out a wad of $100 bills to get to a $5 bill, unless you feel like getting mugged.
I normally pack my ankle height hunting boots in my luggage bag and wear comfortable shoes on the plane. This year, I'll probably pack my new Courteney's in by backpack and carry them with me so I'll have them with me.
Cameras. I usually carry these with me in my backpack so that they are always with me. Range finder and binoculars I usually pack in the luggage. Usually I don't pack the binoculars to save the weight, but I may pack a pair on this next trip.
Recapping:
- Double bow case;
- two bows
- half dozen arrows, four for primary bow, two for backup bow
- half dozen broadheads, to match each bow
- one release
- sights, removed and wrapped for protection
- at least one day of hunting clothes
- Luggage Bag
- one release
- rest of your arrows in tubes
- rest of your broadheads in small padded boxes (I got mine off eBay for around $5)
- rest of your clothes, misc gear, binoculars, range finder, etc.
- copies of passport
- range finder
- binoculars (if I take a pair)
- Carry on (backpack)
- color copy of passport
- cameras
- cell phone
- iPad
- charge cables for iPhone/iPad
- portable battery to recharge cell phone
- 1 shirt, 1 underwear, 1 pair socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
- 1 TSA lock key
- ID holder with neck lanyard
- Passport
- Drivers License
- Cash
- 1 Credit card & 1 Debit card
- 1 TSA lock key
Hope this helps? It is not a perfect list or way to do it, it is just the way that I do it. I know many people have recommended to me to get the check luggage bags that will hold your bow inside of it as it will not be set aside for inspection as a possible firearm case. It just goes along with the rest of the normal luggage. While that is true, I have yet to find one of those bags that will not be dinged for being too big and they are extremely expensive to purchase. They are BIG. So, it is a blessing and a curse. It won't cause you a delay going through Customs, but you are almost guaranteed to be charged for an oversize piece of luggage, which is typically $200. The oversize bow case, that meets the under 50 lb requirement, may or may not be charged for oversize
