Flyer Beware! Gun Case Sabotage (?) on ATL to CPT flight

[Turkeycreekarchery]

It was noted by a few of us arriving in ATL that hunters were the only ones that were on shoe quarantine. Bigotry, I tell you!

I generally have no issues following rules or being checked but I wasn’t going to make my dad backtrack through the airport if the shoes thing was a legitimate issue they would swab all shoes especially the folks who had gone to Kruguer

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

It was noted by a few of us arriving in ATL that hunters were the only ones that were on shoe quarantine. Bigotry, I tell you!

Only if you have guns! Use camp guns and not clearing guns on way back they don’t ask about boots. I had buddy who used camp gun one year. He just picked up bags and rechecked on to Houston.

 

[Parkerpusher]

What did delta say about that?

I answered you above . For some reason it didn’t show up as a reply, sorry.

 

[thinchliff]

This is why I use cases that have big stainless rods thru the latches, you can’t manipulate a latch unless you remove the lock.

 

[farmer_john]

This is why I use cases that have big stainless rods thru the latches, you can’t manipulate a latch unless you remove the lock.

What brand do you suggest?

 

[Fixfire]

I had one master lock completely gone returning from JoBurg.

That has happened to me twice going to JoBurg - from Atl

 

[Safari Dave]

TSA in ATL made me miss a flight two years ago.

I was just going from ATL to SLC.

I was archery elk hunting and had two handguns in my checked baggage.


There was only one old guy working the x-ray machine and he was operating in ultra slow motion.

Every time a set of golf clubs, showed up, he would send them through the x-ray machine ahead of my luggage.

So I guess, they were trying to confirm that I had two handguns in my checked baggage, even though everyone knew that there were two handguns in that piece of checked baggage???

Even though I arrived 3 hours before my flight, I had to wait in the airport for 9 hours to catch the next flight to SLC.

It took me 30 hours to get to my friend's cabin in Wyoming by flying.

I could have driven there and saved 3 hours.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

They have been pretty responsive, but you have to prove it. It’s easy to show a receipt to show that you purchased the item, but how do you prove you didn’t already lose or sell them? Or prove that they were even with you on the trip? That’s impossible. We aren’t done yet, so I’m not saying they won’t do anything. Just haven’t as of now.

And yes, I do know better. I should have never stuffed them in there. I had them on the plane with me on the ride there, I just got lazy and was shedding weight out of my backpack on the ride back.

I typically do a separate 4457 for my optics and record serial numbers. Customs a lot of times tells me it’s not needed/they don’t do it, and I just tell them it’s for damage or theft from the airline or “cop” in the 3rd World Country, explaining the value. They’ve always obliged …

I also typically take a couple photos where you can see my Binos slung, scope on a rifle, etc. during the hunt. Having both of those things should be pretty easy to prove they were on the trip. I know it sucks as that’s advice after the fact.

I also always fly with 4-6 extra padlocks (non-TSA) for my rifle case. Is seem to have a lock get cut every trip or two.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

What brand do you suggest?

Here they are: Kalispel gun cases mae by Native Americans in Washington state.

Our Cases

Since 1974, We've Been Manufacturing The Original Kalispel Case Line Gun Cases Here In Cusick, WA. Handcrafted, Secure Storage For Your Firearms and Bows.

www.kalispelcaseline.net

They formerly made them for Cabela's too.

 

[mark-hunter]

WD40 is great for removing duct tape residue.

Why would you remove it?
I have a boat in front of my house, which I use for fishing.

In summer time swimmers, hang on my mooring and berth. And they sit on floating bouy. I had some minor damages on the boat.

So, i apply a lot of good old fashion waterproof grease on mooring buoy.
Guess what?
Nobody touches a buoy anymore.

 

[Certus]

Never any issues with weapons but one year I had a CBP agent pull me to the side and ask if I had been hunting and if so where were my boots. I explained to him that I slipped them in my dad’s bag (who had already gone through customs ahead of me, bc it kept my bag from going over weight. He demanded I call him and have him bring them to him for inspection. I refused. It got kinda heated and finally ended after he said it was mandatory to swab my boots bc they had touched African soil. I told him “ dumbass everybody’s shoes on our plane touched African soil and asked him if he needed to swab my crocs I was wearing bc they touched African soils too. He hung his head and said no and let me go”

Soil borne pathogens are a large part of my current job and footwear is heavily linked to the introduction and spread of them where I am. If you’re in certain areas it’s an issue, general public no.

Just remember they’re there doing there job, no need to be aggressive or rude

 

[Bandera]

Years ago had an issue with latches popped open. I started carrying a roll of shrink wrap tape. After inspections.the case gets wrapped.
First trip to SA there and back with no issues with shrink wrap in my carry one.
Second trip I had to leave it as was a prohibited item. So I tossed it in the trash can.
Bit of a pain in the ass unwrapping it for inspection, but worth it.

 

[Mountaineer]

I had two hunting rifles and a pistol stolen at ATL. FBI told me it happens there more than any other airport due to the physical size of the airport. That was in the 90’s before cameras were everywhere.

 

[thinchliff]

What brand do you suggest?

As Ontario said, Kalispel in Washington or Impact Cases from Idaho. Have one of each. They are both identical in construction. My rifle actually fits in their AR case, which is 61.5” xyz so no chance of oversize fee.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Soil borne pathogens are a large part of my current job and footwear is heavily linked to the introduction and spread of them where I am. If you’re in certain areas it’s an issue, general public no.

Just remember they’re there doing there job, no need to be aggressive or rude

Not just pathogens hitch rides on footwear. When I was a ranger in Alaska part of my job was giving presentations on interpretive hikes. At the end of a climb to a scenic overlook I chose to talk about the threat of invasive species. One of the visitors remarked it was strange I would bring that up when we were looking at such a pristine wilderness environment. "You think? Look over there. That's pineapple weed and thistle, both invaders. How did they get here? Hikers' boots or their dirty tents." Every year when I return from hunting in Montana I make sure the dogs are brushed clean, my boots are clean, and, most importantly, my vehicle gets a thorough washing before I leave, especially the underside and wheel wells. There's some nasty invasive shit growing on the range there that I don't want to bring back (hopefully it's not already here).

By the way, ever notice the gigantic prickly pear in RSA? Yep, not native. Our gift to Africa. It was actually imported on purpose during the colonial era to use as fencing and for emergency livestock forage during droughts. But the shit took over and created a huge problem. Eventually another exotic was introduced: a moth that, as I recall, laid eggs on the plant and its larvae bored inside. Currently it's estimated prickly pear has been reduced 700% from 1950's ... and there's still plenty of it remaining. Must have really taken over. Agave cactus/succulent was also introduced in a failed attempt to build a tequila industry. I was told the Mexican govt sold SA the wrong species plant on purpose and the product tasted bad. The plants remain but do not appear to have spread like the prickly pear.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

As Ontario said, Kalispel in Washington or Impact Cases from Idaho. Have one of each. They are both identical in construction. My rifle actually fits in their AR case, which is 61.5” xyz so no chance of oversize fee.

I suspect Kalispell makes gun cases for Impact Case and Container. The latter is situated in Hayden, ID and Kalispel is at Cusick, WA only a short distance away. I borrowed Kalispell/Cabelas case for first two safaris. Excellent quality.

 

[UpNorthMI]

It just seems like too many bad experiences with luggage and gun cases in South Africa. I always put 4 non TSA locks on my Pelican case just as the OP did. I like the idea of taping the latches after inspection but that is not always possible.

I've generally found airline staff and security staff to not be gun friendly. It's a shame as I feel there can not be a safer passenger than a hunter who has taken the effort to show up to travel with guns.

On one trip I was in LA, I was not allowed to be present for a TSA inspection, the guy opened my gun case upside down and everything fell out, barrels hitting stocks!

It's disappointing that we all have stories about things not going well, long delays and other problems. In Europe it's getting harder to fly with guns, many airports do not handle guns, many airlines do not handle guns. Part of the hunt for me is taking my own guns but maybe others are right when they say use camp guns, it's far easier.

 

[Certus]

Not just pathogens hitch rides on footwear. When I was a ranger in Alaska part of my job was giving presentations on interpretive hikes. At the end of a climb to a scenic overlook I chose to talk about the threat of invasive species. One of the visitors remarked it was strange I would bring that up when we were looking at such a pristine wilderness environment. "You think? Look over there. That's pineapple weed and thistle, both invaders. How did they get here? Hikers' boots or their dirty tents." Every year when I return from hunting in Montana I make sure the dogs are brushed clean, my boots are clean, and, most importantly, my vehicle gets a thorough washing before I leave, especially the underside and wheel wells. There's some nasty invasive shit growing on the range there that I don't want to bring back (hopefully it's not already here).

By the way, ever notice the gigantic prickly pear in RSA? Yep, not native. Our gift to Africa. It was actually imported on purpose during the colonial era to use as fencing and for emergency livestock forage during droughts. But the shit took over and created a huge problem. Eventually another exotic was introduced: a moth that, as I recall, laid eggs on the plant and its larvae bored inside. Currently it's estimated prickly pear has been reduced 700% from 1950's ... and there's still plenty of it remaining. Must have really taken over. Agave cactus/succulent was also introduced in a failed attempt to build a tequila industry. I was told the Mexican govt sold SA the wrong species plant on purpose and the product tasted bad. The plants remain but do not appear to have spread like the prickly pear.

Opuntia are your gift everywhere ha, I’m in Australia. The moth you speak is Cactoblastis, it only targets certain species and is ineffective against large Opuntia tomentosa.
I work in pest control in national parks

 

[Sourdough]

I’ve got all kinds of Pokémon stickers all over my gun case and anything else I come across that’s not hunting or firearm related. Like a bumper sticker that says “Education is important, but fishing is importanter”.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Opuntia are your gift everywhere ha, I’m in Australia. The moth you speak is Cactoblastis, it only targets certain species and is ineffective against large Opuntia tomentosa.
I work in pest control in national parks

From Wikipedia "Prickly Pear in South Africa":

"In 1932 biological control in the form of, particularly, the cochineal and phycitid moths, was introduced and was highly effective. It is largely due to this that, in 2002, there was a tenth of the number of prickly pear left when compared with the 1930s."