If you have a trip booked this fall to a destination that is 1,000 miles, round-trip, or more away, it's a tough call as to what is the least expensive way to get yourself there & back. Airfares, gas prices, time to be allocated to travel, all play a role. Before making that decision you must first figure out what you are going to do with your meat and antlers should you be successful.
If you are hunting big game from antelope on up and you want to bring your meat back, you will need to take into consideration two things;

"How do I get it home without spoilage?" and "What is the most efficient way to accomplish that from a cost standpoint?"
In almost all cases, driving, when practical, serves both concerns. Ever been on America's highways and byways during the fall and noticed all the pick-ups loaded with gear hauling a trailer with a freezer and generator strapped to it? Want to guess where they're going or coming home from? For destinations a couple of days or less away, coolers kept packed with ice can do the trick. If you're headed out west for elk, sheep & other big game, a bit more innovation may be in order. Maybe you are in a group and anticipate several hundred pounds or more of meat to transport. Building a box for the back of your truck out of plywood and lined with 2 inch rigid foam insulation can accommodate that kind of quantity but be sure to put a drain hole in and pack meat in bags or on a rack away from the ice water as it melts.

Nearly all Montreal based, caribou hunting outfitters include transportation of meat and antlers in their packages. Considering the tundra hunting grounds are nearly 1000 miles north of the US border this is a big deal. Typically, when you get back to Montreal your meat and antlers arrive on the same flight all boxed up and ready to go in the back of the truck for the drive home.

Newfoundland bound moose hunters from the northeast usually choose to drive the two days or so it takes to reach their outfit but, for others the extra 4 days of travel time is a show-stopper. Those that choose to fly can be well served by Central Newfoundland Shipping (709-651-4427). This company works cooperatively with most of the island's outfitters organizing and consolidating shipments of frozen meat for US customers. Antlers ride free with meat shipments which leave Newfoundland in November, in refrigerated trucks, delivering to over twenty US cities.

But what if your destination is Wyoming and not eastern Canada and you're a work'n stiff with a fulltime job and limited vacation time? One reality of this dilemma is that you ought to consider the ethics and economics of donating your meat. It will not go to waste. Your outfitter will be aware of food shelves, reservations, relief organizations, etc. who are more than happy to distribute the bounty of your success among the more needy in our society. A fairly common "trick of the trade" for bringing back some of your meat involves a little advance planning but so does every other aspect of your trip. Find out the maximum size container you can claim as checked baggage and go out and buy a heavy duty cooler that falls within those dimensions. Load the cooler with as much of your hunting gear as you can and ship it via a delivery service to your outfitter. At the conclusion of your hunt and providing you were successful, pack the cooler with meat. There are weight restrictions for luggage so know what they are and whether you can exceed them if you are willing to pay a premium for the excess. The cooler can then be duck-taped beyond any chance it might come open and checked as baggage for your return flight. Because you are usually allowed to check only two bags and one is your gun or bow case, you will need to UPS your duffle full of your hunting gear back home. Be sure and check with your airline to see if the contents of your cooler will need to be inspected so you don't have to tape it twice.

The most expensive option for getting your meat, horns or hides back is overnight or second day air shipment. Depending upon the method, expect to pay $3 to $5 or more per pound by the time the truck pulls up in front of your house and there are no guarantees that you meat will still be frozen. Regardless of your method of transport, getting your meat processed (cut, packaged and often frozen) is probably a worthwhile expense. Chances are antlers and horns are the only bone you want to pay to get home. Speaking of which, you may find it makes more sense to have your taxidermy done by a local taxidermist recommended by your outfitter. Shipping finished mounts is often less complicated and less expensive than trying to get green antlers, capes and hides on airplanes. Outfitters, agents and airlines should all be on your list as resources for understanding your various shipping options and the logistics that make the most sense in your particular situation.