travelling with bows

[Carebear11]

Hey Katie baby!
Check out Boards.ie I started this exact same thread there!lol
Got some helpfull info there.....xx

[napolienne]

Originally Posted by tel

Anyone know if its acceptable to lock the zips together on a soft case - or does it have to be the hard variety?

Tel - I've used an aurora rucksack type bag for flights to Greece with no problems, it only seems to be the transatlantic carriers that insist on a hard case (for example Virgin flights to Vegas...). So for Guernsey you should be OK. Do check with the airline first though, and pad things well!

[tel]

Thanks nap
I have now had an email back from the carrier to say they don't have a problem, but they did suggest it may be an insurance requirement (as they don't accept any liability for Sporting goods).

[highway-star]

hi,

I have posted a question on archery in Europe but there is no reply.

I am from Asia and will be having a job assignment in Europe for some time. I would like to know if it is easy to move around Europe with my equipment. My job assignment is in Bratislava, any body know if I need to apply for some permit to bring in my equipment.

Thanks

[Russ]

Hi Highway-star,

You'll have no problem moving around within Europe with your bow, as long as you travel with it as checked luggage in an airline-approved case. You can find more details on airlines' web sites, usually under "Sports Equipment."

In Denmark a recurve or compound bow is not considered a weapon, because it can't be "loaded" and accidentally fired (this is a bad translation of the Danish terms "skarpladt" and "vådeskudt" but I'm sure you get the idea). I don't know about the rest of the EU but I imagine the laws are very similar. I've checked with Danish police, airlines, and insurance companies, and they all consider target archery gear as sports equipment.

Under the above definition, a crossbow IS definitely a weapon, so please keep this in mind in you use a crossbow.

You may have to pay a membership to a local club, in order to be covered by their accident/liability insurance. Most national archery associations have a webpage, and you'll probably need to contact a local club before you shoot anyway, so I imagine you will be able to ask someone from Bratislava what the rules are.

Here's a directory of Archery Associations in Europe: IPC Archery

and the site for the Slovak Archery Association - if you follow "Links" in the menu you'll find clubs in Bratislava: Archery.sk

Good Luck!

[mk1]

I'd check what the airline mean by "sports equipment". Many consider it awkward stuff like surf boards, golf clubs and bicycles.

Archery gear is usually just stuff in a big case. Whether you use a hard or a soft case pad it out with clothing, waterproofs, bubble wrap and foam.

Put your arrows in a tube not in the foam slots in the case lid (if this applied to how you normally transport them). I put foam in the bottom and top of the tube and put half points up/half points down and roll in bubble wrap so they're not flapping about in the tube.

For a compound bow you can use pipe lagging foam tubes to protect the limbs - the small guage will fit split limbs nicely and some of that fairly solid foam that you get in computer boxes can be use to protect the cams from end impact so it goes to the limbs instead - if you have it in a soft bag.

Just some tips I've picked up from others who had travelling experience.

I don't lock my bags I use plastic ties, but you need to remember to put something you can cut them off with into an unsecured pocket of your hold bag