Dogman
4th August 2011, 12:27 PM
http://www.biggame.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=200
DALLAS (July 28, 2011)—Whether in the air or on the highways, millions of American hunters are traveling long distances today in pursuit of wild game and adventure. Dallas Safari Club (DSC) is offering tips to help make the journey go more smoothly.
“Probably the biggest single factor is booking your hunt with an outfitter or agent with a proven track record of client satisfaction. Any reputable hunt operator can give travel advice that applies specifically to you,” said Ben Carter, DSC executive director. “Ask questions, listen to advice and do your homework, then go and have fun!”
Carter said the annual DSC convention and expo is an ideal place to find established outfitters. Held each January in Dallas, it’s the first hunting show of the year, providing attendees with first dibs at the best hunts and dates both in the U.S. and worldwide. Hunts with top outfits also can be purchased at DSC auctions. Get details at www.biggame.org (http://www.biggame.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=200).
These general travel tips were adapted from a free DSC series of helpful hints for newcomers to hunting abroad. The series is posted at www.biggame.org (http://www.biggame.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=200).
• Most outfitters and booking agents offer information kits for their traveling clients. Read and follow them to the letter.
• Make two lists. One for items to pick up at your destination and one for items to bring from home. Commonly forgotten: hunter and bowhunter education certification cards, birth certificate or other ID for young hunters, tags, personal medicines and toiletries.
• Study rules of the road. If you’re driving to your hunt, be aware of any restrictions that could affect your trip home. For example, a number of states now regulate transportation of deer and elk carcasses in an effort to control chronic wasting disease. Visit the website of the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, www.cwd-info.org (http://www.cwd-info.org/).
• Check your passport. Foreign travelers must have at least two blank pages in their passport. Also, check the expiration date. You must have at least six months beyond your scheduled return remaining on passport dates.
• If you’re traveling abroad, go online and print out U.S. Customs Form 4457. This is the form needed for registering everything with a serial number that you intend to take with you. When you return, it’s how authorities will know what equipment you took from home versus what you purchased on your trip. See www.cbp.gov (http://www.cbp.gov/).
• Call your credit card company to let them know you’ll be traveling out of the country, and for how long. This helps prevent them from denying charges suddenly appearing from Africa or other far-flung destinations, as well as any layover stops along the way.
• Learn about companies like Global Rescue (www.globalrescue.com (http://www.globalrescue.com/)), Core Vens (www.corevens.com (http://www.corevens.com/)) and Coppersmith Inc. (www.coppersmith.com (http://www.coppersmith.com/), www.huntingtrophy.com (http://www.huntingtrophy.com/)) that provide valuable services for traveling hunters.
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Travelers’ Health site at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ for a wealth of information designed to assist travelers and their health care providers in deciding vaccines, medications and other measures necessary for international travel.
• Some airlines—and some airline employees—lean anti-gun and anti-hunting. Ask your outfitter about his preferred carrier. Then go online and carefully read that airline’s policies concerning transport of firearms, ammunition, antlers and meat. Preempt confused airline employees by taking a printout of these policies with you to the airport.
• Visit the website of the Transportation Security Administration (www.tsa.gov (http://www.tsa.gov/)) for any additional restrictions and allowances affecting hunters.
• If you’re flying with firearms, more time will be necessary at check in. Get to the airport an extra hour early. Generally speaking, archery gear is treated as normal checked baggage.
• Think about shipping instead. It may be easier to ship guns and gear to your destination but some common carriers will not handle firearms. Policies differ. Online research can help but the best source of advice is your outfitter.
• Carry-on any medications you may need, as well as binoculars and camera gear. Also carry all phone numbers for your agent or outfitter, airline, etc., plus your airline tickets, passports and cash. Consider traveling in clothes you could hunt in, in case luggage is lost or delayed.
• Remember, items prohibited in carry-on or checked baggage include blackpowder, percussion caps and pressurized containers such bear spray and fuel bottles.
• Check all your gear upon arrival. No matter how well you pack, transportation causes equipment to shift, GPS units to switch on and drain batteries, crosshairs to move, broadhead blades to loosen, etc.
• Traveler’s checks are still a good idea but most banks keep them only in small denominations such as $20, $50 or $100. Call your bank (at least a month in advance) and ask them to order checks in larger $500 or $1,000 amounts. This will save bulk as well as time needed for signing checks as you pay for your trip.
• Prepare for antlers and meat. Airline policies vary. Some carriers will not
handle antlers without substantial fees. Others will not transport perishables packed on ice. Still others limit the amount of dry ice that may be used. Again, ask your outfitter.
• Before departure, select a taxidermist and visit with him or her about how to skin, care for and deliver that once-in-a-lifetime trophy. A thousand-mile open-air ride in the back of a pickup may not be preferred. Outside the U.S., different countries and even different outfitters within the same country can vary widely on the best way to get heads and horns back home. Returns from Africa often take months, so patience will be a virtue. Avoid surprises—know the deal before you leave home.
Note: Good tips if going hunting or not!
DALLAS (July 28, 2011)—Whether in the air or on the highways, millions of American hunters are traveling long distances today in pursuit of wild game and adventure. Dallas Safari Club (DSC) is offering tips to help make the journey go more smoothly.
“Probably the biggest single factor is booking your hunt with an outfitter or agent with a proven track record of client satisfaction. Any reputable hunt operator can give travel advice that applies specifically to you,” said Ben Carter, DSC executive director. “Ask questions, listen to advice and do your homework, then go and have fun!”
Carter said the annual DSC convention and expo is an ideal place to find established outfitters. Held each January in Dallas, it’s the first hunting show of the year, providing attendees with first dibs at the best hunts and dates both in the U.S. and worldwide. Hunts with top outfits also can be purchased at DSC auctions. Get details at www.biggame.org (http://www.biggame.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=200).
These general travel tips were adapted from a free DSC series of helpful hints for newcomers to hunting abroad. The series is posted at www.biggame.org (http://www.biggame.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=200).
• Most outfitters and booking agents offer information kits for their traveling clients. Read and follow them to the letter.
• Make two lists. One for items to pick up at your destination and one for items to bring from home. Commonly forgotten: hunter and bowhunter education certification cards, birth certificate or other ID for young hunters, tags, personal medicines and toiletries.
• Study rules of the road. If you’re driving to your hunt, be aware of any restrictions that could affect your trip home. For example, a number of states now regulate transportation of deer and elk carcasses in an effort to control chronic wasting disease. Visit the website of the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance, www.cwd-info.org (http://www.cwd-info.org/).
• Check your passport. Foreign travelers must have at least two blank pages in their passport. Also, check the expiration date. You must have at least six months beyond your scheduled return remaining on passport dates.
• If you’re traveling abroad, go online and print out U.S. Customs Form 4457. This is the form needed for registering everything with a serial number that you intend to take with you. When you return, it’s how authorities will know what equipment you took from home versus what you purchased on your trip. See www.cbp.gov (http://www.cbp.gov/).
• Call your credit card company to let them know you’ll be traveling out of the country, and for how long. This helps prevent them from denying charges suddenly appearing from Africa or other far-flung destinations, as well as any layover stops along the way.
• Learn about companies like Global Rescue (www.globalrescue.com (http://www.globalrescue.com/)), Core Vens (www.corevens.com (http://www.corevens.com/)) and Coppersmith Inc. (www.coppersmith.com (http://www.coppersmith.com/), www.huntingtrophy.com (http://www.huntingtrophy.com/)) that provide valuable services for traveling hunters.
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Travelers’ Health site at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ for a wealth of information designed to assist travelers and their health care providers in deciding vaccines, medications and other measures necessary for international travel.
• Some airlines—and some airline employees—lean anti-gun and anti-hunting. Ask your outfitter about his preferred carrier. Then go online and carefully read that airline’s policies concerning transport of firearms, ammunition, antlers and meat. Preempt confused airline employees by taking a printout of these policies with you to the airport.
• Visit the website of the Transportation Security Administration (www.tsa.gov (http://www.tsa.gov/)) for any additional restrictions and allowances affecting hunters.
• If you’re flying with firearms, more time will be necessary at check in. Get to the airport an extra hour early. Generally speaking, archery gear is treated as normal checked baggage.
• Think about shipping instead. It may be easier to ship guns and gear to your destination but some common carriers will not handle firearms. Policies differ. Online research can help but the best source of advice is your outfitter.
• Carry-on any medications you may need, as well as binoculars and camera gear. Also carry all phone numbers for your agent or outfitter, airline, etc., plus your airline tickets, passports and cash. Consider traveling in clothes you could hunt in, in case luggage is lost or delayed.
• Remember, items prohibited in carry-on or checked baggage include blackpowder, percussion caps and pressurized containers such bear spray and fuel bottles.
• Check all your gear upon arrival. No matter how well you pack, transportation causes equipment to shift, GPS units to switch on and drain batteries, crosshairs to move, broadhead blades to loosen, etc.
• Traveler’s checks are still a good idea but most banks keep them only in small denominations such as $20, $50 or $100. Call your bank (at least a month in advance) and ask them to order checks in larger $500 or $1,000 amounts. This will save bulk as well as time needed for signing checks as you pay for your trip.
• Prepare for antlers and meat. Airline policies vary. Some carriers will not
handle antlers without substantial fees. Others will not transport perishables packed on ice. Still others limit the amount of dry ice that may be used. Again, ask your outfitter.
• Before departure, select a taxidermist and visit with him or her about how to skin, care for and deliver that once-in-a-lifetime trophy. A thousand-mile open-air ride in the back of a pickup may not be preferred. Outside the U.S., different countries and even different outfitters within the same country can vary widely on the best way to get heads and horns back home. Returns from Africa often take months, so patience will be a virtue. Avoid surprises—know the deal before you leave home.
Note: Good tips if going hunting or not!