I flew with friendly United last month to/from deer hunting in Saskatchewan and learned on arrival in SK that United had implemented a new poilcy whereby antlers, capes, hides or meat cannot be handled as baggage. No discussions and no exceptions. They didn't want to hear the other major carriers (Nothwest and Air Canada) have no such restrictions. Hunters who had deer trophies to bring home were left hanging and their only option was to leave the antlers and capes in SK for mounting and air freight delivery months from now. That was my first and will be my last trip with United anywhere. Frank

Ive got two more for you. This month while travelling to the Czech Republic to hunt Row Deer and Boar these happened.

1- TSA in Denver asked me to pack my ammo with my gun in the case and lock it in their presence for my flights over. On my return flight, TSA in Detroit freaked out when they opened my case thru customs and found my ammo in the case with the gun!! Funny thing is I flew through Detroit on the way over also...and the ammo was in the same case with the same gun just like TSA told me to do it.

2- I had to get a permit from the Netherlands to "have a gun in the country", even though all I did was fly thru Amsterdam with a gun in the baggage compartment of the plane. It was never in my posession and I didn't even know where it actually was!

TSA
 

If you plan on traveling by air with firearms check out e-cfr.gpoaccess.gov, Title 49 Transportation, Part 1544.203. You should make a copy of this and carry it with you. The TSA agents must comply with these regulations the same as passengers. If the agents don't comply, you should request a supervisor and don't be surprised if the supervisor doesn't know the rules. You may have to show your copy of the regulations (very politely). If the agents ask for your key to the gun case you should not give it ot them but open the case for them, as the rule requires. You should never surrender the key or combination. Also, there is no TSA regulation prohibiting ammunition in the gun case. The airline may prohibit it, but TSA does not.

Cheers, Tom

Good info Tom. Thanks. Frank: I think UA will not be getting any of my money in the future.

The attitudes towards guns can be even more extreme in eastern and western Canada. When the federal government of the time pushed through the long gun registry, backed mostly by the eastern provinces of Quebec and Ontario, my province of Alberta went to the Supreme Court trying to block it. When they lost they flat out refused to charge or prosecute anyone in provincial court over unregistered long guns. Federal courts might still try you, but they won't get support from the province.

The rules are interpreted differently everywhere you go. I've had my gun case come around on the belt on almost every international shooting trip I ever went on. But both times on my recent Arizona trip I had to go to the baggage office to get it.

The best one was coming back from Northern Ireland a couple years ago. It actually didn't come around on the belt when I got back into the US. I went to the baggage office and they didn't know where it was either. I walked back to check the belt again and happened to notice it laying in the floor in front of the oversize luggage counter with not a soul in sight. My duffle bag was half again as long as my breakdown guncase and three times as thick, but it came on the belt just fine.

My other favorite is the time I'd flown into Baltimore for a trip on the Eastern Shore. In those days I just used a big hard sided suitcase that had a combination lock as a guncase. The guy at the counter said that it wasn't technically a guncase and that I couldn't use it for the flight even though I'd obviously flown out there with it on the same airline. I called for a supervisor and the whole deal but nobody would budge. To solve the situation they forced me to buy a guncase from them for $200. It was a lightweight plastic piece of crap that I've never used since though this was over 10 years ago. I continued to use my big suitcase for several years after that with no problems whatsover. Finally the gorillas in luggage managed to rip off the wheels and handles so I moved on to something else.
Crazy.....

Destry

Rules Interpretation
 

I think the big problem with TSA is their training. I talked to a TSA Captain, shift supervisor, who told me he had never actually read the rule about surrendering the gun case key. As with most government organizations, the employees know only what they are taught by their trainer. If the trainer does not know something, none of the students learn it unless someone points it out to them. I have given TSA emloyees a copy of their regulations and they say they have never read or even seen them. Also, trainers some times put their personal spin or feelings on issues and the employees never know the difference. Cheers, Tom

Has anyone else been able to access the Govt site noted above?

cfr.gpoaccess.gov, Title 49 Transportation, Part 1544.203.

I'm doing something wrong

That is the problem. Especially in today's educational systems, both public and private, a teacher or trainer is allowed to put his or her own spin on anything. All they need is the 'captive audience' before them and their word is 'gospel'. Sad.

I'll step down from my soapbox now...

That personal spin thing is every where and covers every subject, the latest and most heated is the health care bill that the senate is wheeling and dealing on at present. I have never heard so many cock and bull stories from indivduals in my life. I attempt to stay abreast of what is happening but have not actually seen any real written down facts of what is go8ing into the bill. I do not think we will ever know until it is time to call on it for my or wifes need of it. Yuk what a mess. I might add gun control along the same lines.