Got a hunt booked? Sure, I know it's summer but for hundreds of area sportsmen the trip reserved many months ago is nearly here. Wherever you are headed the quality of your adventure is going to be somewhat influenced by the thoroughness of your planning and preparation. For veteran sports who travel to hunt every year or so, the task of getting ready is a well-honed ritual. For first timers, preparing for a week in the bush often raises more questions than answers. A little insight can go along way and in this, the first of a two part series on trip preparation, we will look at limits, restrictions and required documents related to air travel and getting where you are going with the least amount of hassle.

If your trip involves airplanes than the weight restrictions and baggage limits are going to be a primary challenge. Generally outfitters will provide you with a list of recommended equipment but few actually tell you how to bring all that stuff and stay within 65 to 75 pounds. This is an important consideration, as many charter services will charge up to $2 a pound if your gear is overweight. Neither is an oversized gun case or travel bag appreciated on float or bush planes where space is a premium. And, if your trip involves commercial flights than you are also up against the limits set on checked and carry-on luggage.

Let's deal with the number of pieces issue first; commercial flights allow you to check two pieces of luggage free and carry a third on the plane with you. The fees charged for additional pieces can be exorbitant. In fact, it recently cost me an additional $250 to bring a boxed set of whitetail antlers back from Texas simply because it was an additional piece of luggage and because it was antlers! Further, there is the reality of how many individual bags and cases of stuff you want to physically haul around airports and load on and off buses, trucks and floatplanes. You only have two hands and for sure, one of them is going to be carrying a weapon case. A soft-sided duffle big enough to carry your clothes and your sleeping bag will fill up the other hand and put you at your limit of two checked pieces. Your carry-on should be the daypack you will carry in the field.

So now we have defined what you have to work with. Don't be discouraged you can make it all fit. How? For starters, wear your hunting clothes when you travel including your boots if they are heavy. Sure you may feel a little self conscious standing in the middle of an international airport in your hunting garb but you will be making major gains toward meeting your weight limits. (Suggestion #1: fellow passengers will appreciate it if you take the time to wash last year's buck scent out of your camos before heading to the airport.) Your carry-on can not exceed 50 linear inches but can weigh up to 40 pounds so make sure cameras, binoculars and anything else that is heavy goes in the daypack. All of your trip documents and identification papers need to be readily accessible so they also go in the carry-on. (Suggestion #2: do not attempt to board an airplane with knives or ammunition in a carry-on bag)

On the subject of guns and documentation, what you will need is somewhat determined by where you are going. Let's assume you are traveling with one or more firearms. If leaving the country you will be required to have a gun declaration form which often needs to be witnessed by a custom's agent or notarized. You will also need appropriate proof of identification in the form of a passport or birth certificate and a driver's license. Be sure to find out about gun laws and what types of weapons may be restricted in the country you are visiting. If traveling domestically, you will be asked to present your guns to an airline agent who will want to look inside the case to insure that the weapons are unloaded and that the actions are either opened, locked or have bolts removed. He will then fill out a firearm tag in duplicate placing one inside the case and one affixed to the exterior. Note you can and should transport your ammunition in your gun case and this is also a good place for hunting knives and anything else that may raise security issues. You may not transport black powder on airplanes. (Suggestion #3: if you love your guns you will own a good quality, lockable, gun case) Be sure and have your trip documents handy to validate where you are going. And don't forget, in most states and provinces you will be required to have a hunter safety card or previous hunting license.

In the August issue we will examine specific equipment, the things most often forgotten along with gear and gadgets for the traveling outdoorsman. (Suggestion #4: read next month's column).