Shooting sticks in gun case?

Tracey Colson

Tracey Colson

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I am in the midst of planning my first trip to South Africa. I have a set of shooting sticks I would like to take with me as they are what I have been practicing off of. They break down and will fit nicely inside my double rifle case with my rifles, but I am wondering if it will be an issue having something else besides the firearms in the gun case. They really don't break down short enough to go in a suitcase so my gun case is really the only option I have to take them. Any help or advice you can give a rookie is much appreciated.
 
I have packed all sorts of stuff in gun cases in domestic flights. Read several instances on here about folks packing clothes in with guns, I would expect no issues but I haven't been international yet.

Following to see what others with that experience say, as I'm considering taking two double bow cases on my first safari, with a bow and rifle in each
 
I regularly put a soft gun case and a jacket in my hard gun case for Africa, obviously keeping the weight under airline regulations. NEVER had any issues until flying back out of Bulawayo a couple years ago, when the gate attendant was so adamant about nothing being in the gun case she even wanted me to take out the foam padding to get the weight under 20 lbs. We had a short tense exchange, I asked her if she made enough money to replace my gun, I was allowed to put the gun and foam back in, then when we went to the side room to relock the case the baggage handlers had me put it all back in. ??? Everything turned out fine, I have even shipped knives in the case (visible) with no issues.
 
Packed a Primos tripod in a SKB two gun case last time around, no issues.
 
I use a Tuffpak and have taken two rifles in soft cases with a jacket in the nose of the case for padding. This has been my setup on both safaris and never had an issue.
 
I have always put a cleaning rod and a couple of small tools in the case with the rifle. These are secured separately from the rifle and are not laying around loose. Never an issue nor question. And probably wouldn't be any problem with shooting sticks if packed sensibly. However, it probably wouldn't be wise to cause the inspector (s) undue messing around with loose gadgetry during the inspection process or having a re-packing chore when finished. I have never had the issue but on several occasions I've watched the US inspectors hassling with sloppily packed gun cases where rifles are mixed with other stuff and having to take a lot of time dealing with the nonsense. It is truly aggravating and potentially expensive for others, especially if the flight was delayed, arrives late and those waiting in line are short on time getting to a connecting flight. Just something to be aware of. :)
 
I used a tuffpak and got all sorts of grief about clothes. But, I had no problem with the soft case i stuffed with cleaning stuff, ear protection etc. It seems the concern is clothes, but firearm accessories were ok.
 
Do it. You'll be fine.
 
I once put some live ammo in the case with the rifle in case our luggage got lost, (it did), and no one even blinked.:eek:
 
sestoppelman said:
I once put some live ammo in the case with the rifle in case our luggage got lost, (it did), and no one even blinked.:eek:
Click to expand...
That's allowed on domestic flights, I wonder if it's acceptable on direct flights such as delta from Atlanta to Joburg ?
 
I packed my shooting sticks and a cleaning kit in my rifle case without running into any issues. We flew to Atlanta, then straight to Johannesburg. As others have mentioned, I saw people coming in and out of customs on both sides of the trip with all kinds of stuff packed in with their rifles. I wouldn't travel with ammo in the case, but just about anything else should be fair game. I never did get to use my shooting sticks in Africa. The PH's always had their sticks handy, and I don't think they cared to mess around with mine.
 
I have included boots, coat, shooting sticks, cleaning rod with no issues at all flying to Joberg or Windhoek .
 
It really depends on the individual agent at check-in. My 2nd trip to Africa the Delta guy in Pensacola read the regs for firearms to me from the computer screen...unloaded, no clothing etc etc. I had 2 fishing reels, a fishing rod, 2 knives and some small assorted tools and he was ok with it. Most likely because everything was packed neatly in its own cut-out or tucked along the edges of the foam but my firearms were easily seen with the bolts out in their own cut-outs. This is also the same guy that I believe cancelled my JNB to Bulawayo leg as he originally checked everything through to Bulawayo and I told him you can’t do that as the flight is the following day.

Another recent example, flying home to Florida from Fargo, ND last November, the gate lady pitched a fit as I had clothes stuffed in my bow case. A lot of clothes as you couldn’t see my bow until I pulled them out. I told her I didn’t know that was an issue as I’ve flown for years with clothes in my bow case. She told me to shut the case she didn’t want to see it...WTF!?! Maybe she looked at her screen and noticed my airline status, anyways she let it go.
 
Edge said:
Another recent example, flying home to Florida from Fargo, ND last November, the gate lady pitched a fit as I had clothes stuffed in my bow case. A lot of clothes as you couldn’t see my bow until I pulled them out. I told her I didn’t know that was an issue as I’ve flown for years with clothes in my bow case. She told me to shut the case she didn’t want to see it...WTF!?! Maybe she looked at her screen and noticed my airline status, anyways she let it go.
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That's crazy. Does the check in agent even have the authority to ask to open a bow case? Thought it was only firearms that had to be declared and shown

Just flew with bows a couple weeks ago. Case locked with TSA locks. Told her that's archery, guns are in the other case, tagged it and sent it off. Was one of the nicer check in attendants I've ever had in general but was no issue.
 
mikecatt13 said:
That's crazy. Does the check in agent even have the authority to ask to open a bow case? Thought it was only firearms that had to be declared and shown

Just flew with bows a couple weeks ago. Case locked with TSA locks. Told her that's archery, guns are in the other case, tagged it and sent it off. Was one of the nicer check in attendants I've ever had in general but was no issue.
Click to expand...

First time I’ve been questioned about clothes in a bow case and may have been the first time I’ve had to open it over the past 10 years. I wasn’t going to argue the point unless she told me I couldn’t check the case with my clothes in it.

I think packing a pair of shooting sticks will be fine.
 
I had a cleaning rod, knife, extra scope, oil bottle, range finder all in my rifle case on the way to Tanzania and on the way back I stuffed a Masai lion spear in with the rest of the stuff, no issues. I would think shooting sticks would be fine.
 
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