flying with my shotgun and ammo

[WV Flopper]

You will be good to go. Have a great trip and I hope you find success in your adventure.

[RND1983]

I just checked my firearm with Delta. Ammo in the original box in the firearm case. Zero issues and was only asked if it was over 11 pounds of ammo. Also put my knives and pruners in there. I had 2 locks on the case and no tsa locks. My case only has two holes. It is an easy process and if anyone has issues, ask for the supervisor. They didn't even have me wait around for the thumbs up. Now if only the weather will clear up so we can take off...

[Spurs Up]

I just checked my firearm with Delta. Ammo in the original box in the firearm case. Zero issues and was only asked if it was over 11 pounds of ammo. Also put my knives and pruners in there. I had 2 locks on the case and no tsa locks. My case only has two holes. It is an easy process and if anyone has issues, ask for the supervisor. They didn't even have me wait around for the thumbs up. Now if only the weather will clear up so we can take off...

Last I flew Delta with a firearm, they required me to go to the baggage claim office at my destination to retrieve the gun. I welcomed that as added security against theft or loss on an otherwise open conveyor belt.

[bwall3220]

I appreciate everyone's responses. But it is starting to get as clear as mud! lol  I bought a heavy pelican case with good pad locks for every hole, and I am going to have my ammo in the original cardboard box inside the gun case. I feel sure that I will be good to go.. Thanks again

All of these guys are giving you good sound advice bud, better safe than sorry! Every employee and airport will be different guaranteed
I've flown with a gun probably 20 something times and it's a breeze, actually checked in and waiting on the plane as I type (with delta)!
Have a GOOD solid/hard plastic case (not a cheap plano) I always fly with a pelican. Have ammo in original box, i've always had ammo and gun in same case but separated from each other so they can see on x-ray machine. The rule has always been a lock on each corner, one in each hole might be new but it wasn't brought up to me this morning....i'd put all 4 in to be safe cause another airport might be stricter. You'll have to "declare a firearm" to the agent at the ticket counter and sign a card and put inside the case. Once you arrive at your destination your gun won't be at the baggage claim, it will be at your airlines baggage office and you'll have to wait for it there. You'll have to show your drivers license and get it and go! It usually does have zip ties all around it as one guy said.
Carrying your meat and beard/spurs back is easy too. I always carry a soft yeti cooler and you can carry it right on the plane.
Safe travels and good luck!

[bwall3220]

Every airline does it

[hipp2412]

So my best friends told me to call them before I arrive at the Harrisburg airport and just have my shotgun slung on my shoulder when I arrive. They said they wanted to watch the news when I arrived..LOL  good friends huh? 

[hipp2412]

I see the trouble I have started and Im a new guy!!  dang it...  Well you know there's the "letter of the law and then there's the spirit of the law".  I just wanted to get the consensus from guys and gals that fly with their hunting rig. I feel more confident getting through with no issues because of you folks that responded..

[hipp2412]

So I made the trip to Florida. Going down no problem at all. Coming back I forgot to take my ammo out of my turkey vest. My gun was checked in with no problem. We go through the security checkpoint and they pull my wife aside and they patted her down and checked her hands for explosive residue. I couldnt stop laughing, she was so embarrassed. So we get on our way and as soon as we get to the gate we both get paged to go back to the ticket counter. The lady said they found three shotgun shells in my checked bag. She gave them to me and told me that I needed to turn them into a LEO. The LEO took them. Unfortunately they were 3 rounds of Fed TSS.$$$ So we head back up to the security check point and they pulled my wife aside and checked her all over again. LOL.  So it was my dumb mistake for having the rounds in my checked bag. But I did get an Osceola and thats the main thing. If my wife went to jail it still would have been a great trip!! LOL  Oh goodness the look on her face, Priceless.   Thank you Osceola Dreams for getting me a bird. 

[hipp2412]

My bird..

[GobbleNut]

...we both get paged to go back to the ticket counter. The lady said they found three shotgun shells in my checked bag. She gave them to me and told me that I needed to turn them into a LEO. The LEO took them.

I am a bit surprised that they looked that closely at your checked baggage, but I suppose this just reenforces the need for everyone to put all of your ammo in a "factory" carton regardless of whether you put it in checked baggage or in the gun case.  This also makes me wonder if some airlines have regulations prohibiting ammo in checked baggage?...

[hipp2412]

When we went back to the ticket counter the lady had them wrapped in a tissue and her words were "these were loose in your checked bag" well they were actually in my vest pocket that I forgot about. She said they should have been in the locked case. She said that I was not allowed to put them in the case at that time since the gun case was already taken behind closed doors. She said I had to turn them into a LEO or put them in my car. I had a rental so that wasn't an option. Leaving Harrisburg Pa they had me open the case and I signed a card stating that the gun was unloaded. I actually had a chamber flag in the gun as well. I had to walk the case over to a oversized belt. The guy asked me for the key to the locks. I just looked at him and he said they needed the key and that he would bring the key right back. About 10 minutes went by and a TSA worker returned my key. Was not a problem and the issues I had were my own fault. I think my wife is still traumatized though..LOL

[Spurs Up]

When we went back to the ticket counter the lady had them wrapped in a tissue and her words were "these were loose in your checked bag" well they were actually in my vest pocket that I forgot about. She said they should have been in the locked case. She said that I was not allowed to put them in the case at that time since the gun case was already taken behind closed doors. She said I had to turn them into a LEO or put them in my car. I had a rental so that wasn't an option. Leaving Harrisburg Pa they had me open the case and I signed a card stating that the gun was unloaded. I actually had a chamber flag in the gun as well. I had to walk the case over to a oversized belt. The guy asked me for the key to the locks. I just looked at him and he said they needed the key and that he would bring the key right back. About 10 minutes went by and a TSA worker returned my key. Was not a problem and the issues I had were my own fault. I think my wife is still traumatized though..LOL

Did you have to pay an oversized bag fee?  What airline did you fly?

[hipp2412]

I did not have to pay extra. I prepaid for 3 checked bags and my gun case was one of them. I flew with Allegiant. No lay overs from Harrisburg to Orlando.

[Marc]

Great advice given.

One thing I will add, is that all too often, there will be someone at the airport or check-in, that will believe you are NOT allowed to do what you are doing.

Some years back, when we went hunting in Canada, I printed out the requirements/regulations from the airlines we were flying.  We each had a printed copy of the airlines regulations.  When someone said we could not do such&such we just calmly pulled out our typed up sheet and showed them where we could.  It did end up saving us some major hassle with one employee (who because of our typed up sheet called a supervisor, who cleared it up).

Get the requirements and regulations for flying with gun/ammo, follow them to the tee, and have a typed up sheet with you, so that you can easily demonstrate that you did everything correctly.