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Flying is a complicated affair, and it is even more so when traveling with your shotgun. Over the past five years my shotguns and I have been throughout Europe to Rome, London, Budapest and Cyprus (with the US Sporting Clays Team), as well as to Madrid for driven partridge, and Dubai for impossible targets. There’s been extensive domestic travel throughout the United States, as well for various FITASC and Regional clays tournaments and events like the Jack Links and the Gator Cup. Once I am at my destination there is usually additional travel and sightseeing, so security is important throughout the trip. 

There are few things of similar value that we traipse all over the world with as our prized shotguns and naturally the risk of loss is significant. These things can get expensive, and unlike jewelry, it doesn’t fit neatly into a hotel safe. The fit and the history of your gun can never be replaced. 

Should you even take your shotgun? There’s no doubt that flying with your shotgun adds to the complexity of traveling – so much so that you may want to consider renting guns at your destination. This makes sense for places such as Argentina for volume dove or duck shoots, or to the UK for a driven bird hunt (I will never fly British Airways again, but that is another story). However, this is really not an option for a competitive shooter – someone who hopes that their custom stock might help with that one extra bird to claim the podium, or for the bird hunter that wants that special gun for a storied hunt.