Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Airline Travel with Bow AND Arrows

I did a search. I found a good question but not the specific answer I was looking for. I also called the airline I'm travelling with and they didn't really know either.

I am flying to Oregon next week with my bow. I have a hard sided, lockable case that holds my bow and my arrows--like most do.

1. Can I leave my arrows in my bow case when travelling?
2. Should I leave the broadheads off the arrows?
3. Do we get hit for an oversize luggage fee for a typical bow case?

Last time I flew, I packed my arrows just like a rifle, broadheads on.

In your bow case with your bow?

Blaine,
with referance to my trips to Alaska from Georgia...

1. Yes
2. Not necessary
3. No

Thanks!

Yes, I packed a recurve bow, a hardshell case with arrows and a bolt action rifle in a two-gun hardshell case. I packed the ammunition in my locked suitcase.

My experience is that most airline personnel don't know the security rules very well. I once ended up in a metropolitan terminal coming off a commuter line, well past security screens, carrying my backpack and an SKB case, and wearing my hunting clothes. I boarded the plane with the rifle, and the stewardess stood it up in the closet with their coats.

I had some friends flying in from Africa on Sept 11, 2001. They were trapped in the JFK terminal all day. Security and police rushed back and forth. No one stopped to look at their 4 long gun cases.

I have never had a problem checking firearms in baggage. The most hassle I ever had was bringing my elk meat home one trip. I had to sign all kinds of liability waivers in case the airlines shipped the emat to the wrong location and it spoiled. That was in 2002.

I travel with my tuffpac bow case and have not been hit with oversize charges yet. But I heard that this is no longer the case.

I just flew to and from Alaska with my bow. I kept the broadheads on. As a precaution to cutting my locks, I chose to have my bow case checked as if it were a rifle.

No on the oversize charge as well.

I fly quite a bit with bows and guns. You are allowed one oversize piece of luggage; rifle case, bow case, golf clubs, skis, ect. No problem with bheads on arrows with the bow, but I take them off just in case things bounce around. I always have TSA check my bags in my presence, then I know they are OK to go and they are all sealed up with TSA tape and tags and there should be no lock cutting.

Blaine,

Just a little food for thought............I was working in an archery shop a few years back and a gentlemen came in for a couple weeks straight (tuning, arrow fletched, tuning again, etc.) to get ready for I believe it was a bear hunt (doesn't matter really).............He gets everything ready and puts his bow and broadhead tippped arrows in his case for the flight. When it reached his destination, he opened his case to find a completely busted bow string. One of his arrows had rattled loose (you know how airlines are with luggage let alone a bow case) and the broadhead cut the string. The next day he spent all day calling and driving three hours away to get a new string put on!! I have since bought a arrow box that I keep my arrows only in!!

Just a thought!

Trey

Just got back from a trip to Alaska. Anouther hunter was coming back from Idaho and I overheard the baggage handler ask him if his bow was loaded. Got to love standardized questions because they keep us from having to think too hard!

Just got back. Travel was piece of cake with my econo grade Flambeau $20 bow case. No extra charges. I did take the broadheads off due to concern for an arrow coming loose and cutting the string.............