I'd drive

Rent a car and drive.

#1. Lost luggage...not just any piece of luggage but specifically a rifle case.

Not sure why folks think it’s a hassle. No different than it was before except for wearing a mask. I’m at Sacramento getting ready to fly back to DFW right now in fact.

I may fly to Seoul and Shanghai in the next few weeks as well as Utah.

If buddies are going and you can share the driving then drive. If not, fly.

I'd drive given the situation you're describing - less stressful, and all it takes is being bumped one day on the flight schedule to screw your hunt. Just be sure that your firearm(s) are secured, unloaded, etc, if you're going through any states with oppressive Gestapo gun laws.

This is what I'm worried about Numero Uno.


No.2 is having a delay and not getting to the property in time and/or missing a day's hunt

You should show up dressed up as a Union General in the Civil War.


When people ask you what you are doing, tell them "Well since we are into re-enactments now".....

Where are you going exactly? Guided or unguided?

Are you taking your rifle and ammo along on any of these trips?

Drive. It's less of a headache than having to deal with all the idiots and lines at the airport.

Not on these but have others, mainly shotguns, without an issue, but they did have the notable orange priority tag on the bag tag.

Bahahaha

I would probably drive. I got lucky flying to NY a few weeks ago, but if my flight got delayed I would have been okay. This was pre pilot vaccine mandate. I wouldnt trust flying right now.

I’d drive, unless it was going to be in real snowy conditions. As for the airlines getting me to where I need to go, when the timing is critical, that’s a risk.

The problems with flying are why the wife and I bought the Sprinter van.

Tough call !!

Personally, I HATE driving long distance ALONE. Getting older

Traffic SUCKS everywhere

If your vehicle is old or too many miles, Rent a pickup

IMO, flying would be less stressful, if you plan.

Driving on any highways, with all the other idiots...talk about STRESSFUL !!!

All in All, that far, alone, I'd fly with rides to and from the airport. Couple good magazines in your carry-on backpack. Chill back with a beer.

FLY

IMO

Anything over 10+ hours I would typically fly but since the airlines are having so many issues I think I would drive it.

Under these circumstances it's a no brainer for me - I would drive. There is no way I would take a chance of missing any of my hunt. The added bonus is you don't have to deal with the airline, TSA, or anything else that goes with the "experience" of flying. You can even carry a full size tube of toothpaste in the cab with you!

yes, you can come and go as you please. stay an extra day, leave a day early, split it up

weather goes bad, its good to be hole up somewhere safe and warm, TV, shower, wait it out.

I would drive. I used to drive 17 hrs straight to Nebraska twice a year, many times that was after an 8-9 hr drive home from SE Louisiana. If you get tired you can always get a room for some shut eye. No way I would fly right now.

Well, I guess I’ve been lucky. I’ve flown all over North America and Canada to hunting destinations and just traveling for over 40 years without any problems.

I’ve also flown American many, many times without any serious issues. My wife and I are both AA members/credit card holders. We have never lost any luggage, experienced any significant delays, or had any other issue that comes to mind. The same is true for Delta, United, and Southwest.

I know there are problems and I know I’ve been fortunate in my travels, but I think many folks who rag a lot about flying haven’t really done much of it and I think the issues are overblown. Mass cancellations like SWA just did make headlines for a reason - they rarely happen.

All that said, now may be a particularly bad time to be flying. But unless I had good intel that my flights were going to have issues, I wouldn’t drive 20 hours each way unless I just wanted to sight see. Which we do quite a bit too. We just don’t like to be in a hurry doing it.

If it’s a physical hunt you will be worn out before you get there if you drive and certainly worn out when you leave. If it’s a pronghorn hunt or a hunt with less physical activity that won’t matter as much.

This is a hard situation to give advice on without knowing more. If you want to not have to worry, just plan to drive it. You are young.

Or just pull over at a rest stop and lean the seat back and get a power nap then hit the road again

I fly for work, so when we have personal trips, I tend to prefer driving. Especially across the West where highways are mostly open, and speed limits are reasonable.

Once had to drive from SW Colorado to Tulsa for a wedding (too poor to fly), but was only able to take one day off work. Rented a cheapo car and left Friday afternoon, returned the car on Monday evening with a tick under 2,000 miles added to odometer. The agent asked where the heck I had gone, and I said, oh, just around here sightseeing. Didn't think it was any of his business.

Shoulda made this a poll. Just drive, go 12 hours the first day. The remaining 8 hours the second day will be easy. If weather will be a factor, leave a day earlier.

Yessr, done that too. was sleeping like a baby until a popo shined his spotlight in my face to check on me, that’ll wake you up lol.

I’ve flown all over North America too, Asia, the Middle East, and Central America. I’ve had my luggage lost for days, and have had my flights cancelled & rescheduled numerous times. All part of it. I’ve been stuck at the airport sleeping on the floor, and have had to rent a car and get a room for a night. This was all pre covid when things were normal. What’s going on right now is not overblown by any means, it’s happening. This is coming directly from family that works for American Airlines and I’m being told that if things continue as they are it’s going to get a lot worse soon with cancellations. For a hunting trip like this where you cannot be late, I wouldn’t risk flying right now.