I wish I had a picture to post of me flying a monster bull out, but I have a question instead. I have always come to a resolve that I will just have to split the skull and fold the antlers in order to fit a big rack inside the '55 C-180 if I ever finally bag a really big bull. However I have seen many pictures (mostly Alaska) of folks flying everything from lumber to our wheelers to moose heads etc. strapped to the outside of the airplane (usually a Beaver or the like).

So my question is: Do any of you have any experience, advice/tips/suggestions, or pictures for safely transporting a large antlered elk head that won't fit into the cabin of a '55 C-180? I'm not interested in doing something stupid or experimenting with someones crazy ideas, but if it can be done safely I'm open for considering it. If not, then I'll stick with the origional plan of taking lots of pictures, splitting the skull and letting the taxidermist figure out the rest with plaster?!?

...can I even shoot a bull to big to fit in the 180?

CW

There is a thread on here from way back that has good info about this. I think it even has a pic of a set of antlers that were too big to fit in a 206.

You can pull ALL the seats out, and pull the doors off for loading, and see how that works. Sometimes it's just that 1/2 inch extra wiggle room that makes the difference. And if it does fit, leave all but the pilot's seat stuffed into wherever fits for the ride home.

The single strut on the Cessnas just doesn't lend itself well to strapping big stuff on the outside.

Gump

Gump is correct. I have carried a lot of external loads (legally, in AK, with a permit), including antlers. Antlers are difficult to secure to the airplane, particularly an airplane with only a single strut. Simply not much to keep it secure out there. Antlers in general create a LOT of drag, some more than others, but it's pretty unbelievable just how much drag a set of spindly antlers can create.

Finally, there is no provision in the lower 48 that permits the carriage of external loads in aircraft, so any such lash up would be illegal as well.

MTV

My biggest "antlers" carried.... Well, teeth actually. Were a pair of mastodon (or mammoth) tusks a couple of rich guys from Texas had excavated from the tundra near Deering, AK. Those suckers were huge, and heavy, and filled the length of that C207 from one end to the other. We had a hell of a time getting them in the airplane, and then I was scared to death I was going to jostle and break them during the flight.

Gump

My brother flew three Boone & Crockett sized racks out in a 206 (Arnold Aviation). They wrapped it in burlap and saran wrap and tied it underneath just aft of the main gear with rope going over the fuselage/rear windows. No damage to rack or plane. They had apparently done it before for hunters as well.

Wrapping is the trick to minimize drag.
Bedspring on floats is nie impossible but wrapped, its no problem.
Loads sticking out of door, as far forward as possible to minimize effect to tail surfaces.

Unless it is a world record bull (or potential ) ,you can cut it & put it back
together
You can't tell after the mount is done

This rack would not fit in my Maule, but did fit in an empty Cessna 180 but tore up the headliner. As usual MTV is correct. You can't operate an airplane with external loads in the lower 48.

James
Clear Creek, Idaho

A-ha. Very true...

So it happened back then. Yikes. I didn't know it was prohibited till you pointed it out. My suggestion was a bad one in that case.

Juan80 wrote:Unless it is a world record bull (or potential ) ,you can cut it & put it back
together
You can't tell after the mount is done

I aim for nothing less than a world record bull...

Super-Maule wrote:This rack would not fit in my Maule, but did fit in an empty Cessna 180 but tore up the headliner. As usual MTV is correct. You can't operate an airplane with external loads in the lower 48.

James
Clear Creek, Idaho

Very nice James! Thanks for posting the pics!

And thanks for all of the replies. As always I've learned something new and won't be putting an external load on the plane, however, I know there are still some good ideas, stories and pictures out there so keep'em coming.

CW

clippwagon wrote:

Juan80 wrote:Unless it is a world record bull (or potential ) ,you can cut it & put it back
together
You can't tell after the mount is done

I aim for nothing less than a world record bull...

Super-Maule wrote:This rack would not fit in my Maule, but did fit in an empty Cessna 180 but tore up the headliner. As usual MTV is correct. You can't operate an airplane with external loads in the lower 48.

James
Clear Creek, Idaho

Very nice James! Thanks for posting the pics!

And thanks for all of the replies. As always I've learned something new and won't be putting an external load on the plane, however, I know there are still some good ideas, stories and pictures out there so keep'em coming.

CW

Nice bull James.
I to aim for world records,but can't hold off long enough.
Great thread btw.
I tell my buds,my arrows go exactly where I aim,I just wish
that's where I wanted.Instinctive recurve shooter
Good luck
Chuck


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I would hire James to sling it out with his helly if I shot a world record Bull.

tcj wrote:I would hire James to sling it out with his helly if I shot a world record Bull.

Every State's laws vary regarding the use of helicopters and hunting. Idaho doesn't allow the use of helicopter unless it's a "designated landing area". However Idaho doesn't have a 24 hour or next day requirement for hunting either. Oregon and Washington do allow retrieving animals with a helicopter, but do have a 24 hour or next day requirement I believe.

I plan on being lazy this year and just wait for a call from my neighbor on Clear Creek. When he sees elk in his haystrip he will call me. If I drop a bull in his field we can get on it with a wheel tractor.

Lately I've been busy working on my airstrip. After the powerline is buried, deer will be the biggest hazard landing there. Another neighbor is coming in with a D-8 and a road grader on Septeber 22 to finish the surface. The County Road Department has brought in over 60 loads of fill this year.

Anyway looking forward to opening day of hunting season on October 10th. We have a 5 foot black bear up behind the house enjoying wild plums, and apricots. Maybe by next spring he will be a shooter too.

James
My Airstrip:


Yep thats bear sh#t:

Elk on "No Tell-Em Creek" last winter:

Um, James, I THINK you actually want the bear to be the shootee, not the shooter......Don't be giving those guys guns......

MTV

One of the things to rember, if you split the rack it can not be recoared in the books.
Flying the rack out side on your plane here in Alaska you need at least 500 hours and need a permit for external loads.
With a external load you can not hull pasengers while transporting the load. We have what is called lumber racks for cubs that fasten under the plane for transporting lumber. Most racks that are flowen out on plane have two wing struts. Makes it easer or floats to strap on to. If you can fit it inside the plane your better off.

Ken