A couple of interesting laws to keep in mind about JFK although in NO WAY complete or comprehensive:
"The SAFE Act also includes provisions allowing law enforcement to pre-emptively seize a person's firearms without a warrant or court order if they have
probable cause that the person in question may be mentally unstable or intends to use the weapons to commit a crime"
So say that NY State or NY City makes hunting of dangerous game illegal and you're waiting to connect via JFK with a double rifle. You are about to commit a crime in the minds of NYC or NY State that may be perfectly legal in Africa and in your home state. You wore a NRA cap or some such nonsense in the airport so the cops decide to make sure to usurp your rights, etc. etc.
Less far fetched? How about this one.
"New York State is of particular concern to interstate motorists who travel with firearms, because New York separates all of
New England from the bulk of the
United States. This means that under the
Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA), all people traveling through New York City and New York state with firearms are protected by federal law, however they must have their firearms unloaded and locked in a hard case where they are not readily accessible (e.g. in the trunk of a vehicle).
[34]" The "Safe Passage Provision says: "One of the law's provisions was that persons traveling from one place to another cannot be incarcerated for a
firearms offense in a state that has strict gun control laws if the traveler is just passing through (short stops for food and
gas), provided that the firearms and ammunition are not immediately accessible, that the firearms are unloaded and, in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment, the firearms are located in a locked container.
[11]"
Sounds good what's listed above, right? Except that if you overnight in NYC (or the burbs) due to a next-day flight or your flight is delayed and it results in more than 24 hours you're no longer in "safe passage" rules land. Or how about when you've had it waiting for your flight and you leave the sterile secure area of the airport because you want food or lodging? Yes, you've run afoul of the protections of "Safe Passage".
But it gets worse, as has been covered in the NRA's "America's first freedom" although I can't cite which one at present. The "Safe Passage" provision is a affirmative defense during prosecution, not a protection against search, seizure or incarceration. So just because you have an "out clause" doesn't mean you don't get harassed and your rifles seized, it only means you have something pretty solid to tell the NYC judge when you get to chat with him days later. Your hunt has been ruined.
"But they USUALLY don't give you a hard time at JFK airport"
Subject to an entirely different set of problems could be stated about flying through London (or flying on British Airways) or flying Lufthansa (or through Germany) these days. Several experts in travel that advertise on this site have told me as much and that they are in constant contact with officials so they can continue to resolve client problems with these airlines and locations. Good luck if you didn't book with them OR if they get a new official at the airline or airport just before you leave for your hunt!
In conclusion: Fly out of Atlanta and avoid all this nonsense. Or fly Emirates out of Chicago from A-Z and avoid all these problems.
Sorry if I sound so negative or pessimistic but you cannot be too vigilant on traveling to your hunts.
