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Author Topic: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?  (Read 5765 times)

wyatt

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How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
« on: July 30, 2016, 06:07:28 pm »
I'm flying from Dallas/Fort Worth airport to Ketchikan, Alaska and then take the ferry to Prince of Wales Island for camping and fishing.

I need to have a shotgun and handgun with me while I'm there but I'm not sure how to get them there and back to Texas.

How do you get guns and ammunition through TSA? Or would it be better to have a local FFL ship them to an FFL in Ketchikan?

Any advice is appreciated.
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    ksuguy

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #1 on: July 30, 2016, 06:14:09 pm »
    I'd probably ship them to the destination.  Are you traveling to some sort of resort there?  They might offer some sort of service for that.

    I know many people travel with firearms in checked luggage,  but I just don't trust the TSA and baggage handlers.    Not to mention the possibility of getting a layover in some unfriendly location like California, New Jersey, or Canada and having to deal with the giant problems that would entail.   
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    Kansas

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #2 on: July 30, 2016, 08:04:13 pm »
    It's perfectly safe to fly with firearms as they are stowed in the security section and the last thing the airlines want is to have to deal with the ATF because they lost a firearm.  I recommend a solid case and if you can't afford a Pelican then check out Boyt.  They are along the same quality lines but at about 1/3 the price.  You will need to declare the firearm at the check-in counter and the agent may or may not have make you remove the firearm(s) and show that they are unloaded and then you will lock them back up and then they will put a huge security sticker on it.  You can pack ammo in your checked suitcase as long as it's in another container and you will have to check with the specific airline to see what their ammo limit is.  If there is a layover in a hostile state then the airline will more than likely store it in their security area. 

    Don't sweat it too much about traveling with a firearm, you'll find the information on the airline's website and it's easier than what you think.
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    ksuguy

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #3 on: July 30, 2016, 08:36:00 pm »
    With checked baggage fees these days, you might not save much money over shipping them.   
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    Kansas

    Kaso

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #4 on: July 30, 2016, 08:42:49 pm »
    Perhaps, but you can avoid a trip to the dealer and a 4473 on each end.  Or at least the Alaska end.
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    ksuguy

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #5 on: July 30, 2016, 10:14:47 pm »
    Quote from: Kaso on July 30, 2016, 08:42:49 pm
    Perhaps, but you can avoid a trip to the dealer and a 4473 on each end.  Or at least the Alaska end.

    https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/0501-firearms-top-10-qaspdf/download

    It is actually legal to ship it to yourself at an address in another state.  However, the package can only be opened by you upon your arrival. 
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    Kansas

    Kaso

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #6 on: July 30, 2016, 10:26:03 pm »
    Makes sense, I suppose. 
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    Mikee5star

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #7 on: July 30, 2016, 11:08:38 pm »
    Shotgun can be mailed to your self, but the handgun has to go to an FFL or on the airline.  Just look on your airline's website for their requirements, all of them if flying on more than one carrier, and follow their regs.  It is not that big of a deal, just plan a bit of extra time for check in/TSA. 

    Ammo should be available in Ketchikan and that simplifies the whole deal in my experience.  But if you want to mess around with shipping your guns, and have the time to deal with that, it looks from a quick search it looks like you have several options for both FFL services and ammo sales.  But remember there is NO one day service USPS/UPS/FedEx to Alaska.  That is what they will charge you for, but it will take 3-7 days for your guns to actually arrive.  IIRC most of Ketchikan's mail/UPS/FedEx comes through Seattle and not Anchorage, so that might be a little different than what I am used to here in South Central AK.

    Why do you need multiple firearms on PoW island?  If you shoot anything with out proper license's, you will end up with your firearms confiscated and a big fine.  The State of Alaska has been cracking down on people shooting bears for questionable "defense of life and property" reasons.  Look at the http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livingwithbears.bearcountry  these are good guidelines to NOT needing a firearm while fishing and camping.  The above link is Alaska Department of Fish and Game, look at the regs and licenses required all planned hunting/fishing activities while in AK.  Also it outlines the penalties for not following regs.  Not trying to be a jerk, but a bear walking past your camp is not a reason to shoot it.  Also if you shoot a bear in your camp, and Troopers/ADFG wardens find that you did not follow bear country camping advise, you still might be ticketed for illegally shooting wildlife.
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    Alaska

    wyatt

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #8 on: October 12, 2016, 05:15:10 pm »
    I'm back from Alaska and I want to thank everybody for your advise and help! There was absolutely no trouble at all traveling with a firearm. I ended up only taking a handgun, Glock model 20, and left the long gun at home.

    Alaska Airlines was great and made it stress free! When I checked my bag, all I did was say I needed to declare a firearm. I was given a card with a carbon copy to sign stating that the pistol was unloaded. The card went into the gun case and I kept the original in my wallet. I then put locks on the case. DFW and Ketchikan did things a little differently. At DFW Alaska Airlines took the bag to TSA and in Ketchikan I did. I'm assuming in both cases TSA ex-rayed the case to make sure it really was unloaded but I'm not positive. In neither case was there a problem or any questions asked.

    Neither the float-plane company or the ferry from Hollis to Ketchikan cared if I had a firearm or not.

    Anyway I had a wonderful trip, caught a few Coho salmon and cutthroat trout, saw lots of wildlife and beautiful scenery (never did see a bear!) and met some very interesting and friendly people. I'm already looking forward to going back and visiting again soon!
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    Mikee5star

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #9 on: October 13, 2016, 12:56:57 am »
    Glad to hear that you had a good trip.  Alaskan's are great people in general.  The scenery can't be beat, and the hunting and fishing is fantastic.  If you head in to other parts of the state next time, remember it is all different.
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    Alaska

    tokugawa

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    Re: How do you travel to Alaska with guns?
    « Reply #10 on: October 13, 2016, 02:05:47 pm »
    Quote from: Mikee5star on October 13, 2016, 12:56:57 am
    Glad to hear that you had a good trip.  Alaskan's are great people in general.  The scenery can't be beat, and the hunting and fishing is fantastic.  If you head in to other parts of the state next time, remember it is all different.

     And that is the truth- Tundra to snow capped peaks to lush interior valleys to volcanos and thick forested fish filled fjords- A guy could spend a lifetime there and not see it all.
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