- Joined
- May 15, 2024
Lots of threads about this over the years, but they seem dated OR focus on something trivial like 50 lbs of meat.
I'm looking for the best way to get ~200lbs of bull elk + ~100 lbs of deer meat (1 buck & 1 doe) from MT to AZ . ~14 day long adventure (doorstep to doorstep). Good problem to have....but it is a problem that (hopefully) needs to be solved!
Am I missing any better options? (I'll worry about the antlers later...I have friends who can hold them for me).
1) Drive
I was originally planning on driving. Would love to have my (very off-road capable) jeep truck up there for hunting and meat hauling, but also would prefer to spend more time in the mountains chasing deer & elk than on the freeway. Its a minimum of 20 hours of drive...each way...so probably 3-4 of my 14 days not spent in the woods.
Transport Cost: 2800 miles / ( 16 MPG ) * $4.5 /gallon + $400 for hotel and meals = $1188
Travel Opportunity Cost Factor : (4 Travel Days / 14 Total Days + 1) = 1.28
Factored Transport Cost: $1520
2) Fly & Ship Meat
Fly there, ship back via fedex 2-day air. Both of the two travel days are considered lost days. Using the fedex.com shipping calculator for 6 -50 lb, 15x15x15 boxes of frozen solid meat.... is $2,370.42...ouch.
Transport Cost: $728 airfare + $2,370.42 shipping.
Travel Opportunity Cost Factor : 2/14 + 1.0 = 1.14
Factored Transport Cost: $3541
3) Fly & Check Meat, & Mail Luggage
Fly. Check 4-50 lb meat bags, carry another 50lbs on my back. Delta has a limit of 4 checked bags per passenger on "Delta Connection" flights, so I'll have to come up with a plan for the remaining 50lbs of meat (give it away, beg to check another bag...have it turned into jerky and shipped, etc). My $728 airfare includes 1 checked bag already. The second one will cost me $45. Third...$150, and fourth...$200. Shipping 50 lbs of gear/luggage back via ups ground is ~$150, per their calculator.
Transport Cost: $728 airfare + ($0 + $45 + $150 + $200) baggage + $150 shipping = $1,123
Travel Opportunity Cost Factor : 2/14 + 1.0 = 1.14
Factored Transport Cost: $1451
Per this calculus (algebra technically) & opportunity cost model....Option 3 appears to be the right option. With the flying option, I'm clearly neglecting the need to rent a truck, that would increase the costs and tip the scales (with this model) towards driving. I'm neglecting that because there is a good chance I wont need to rent a truck ( i have friends & family).
What are y'alls thoughts? Am I missing better options or mis-evaluating my known options?
I'm looking for the best way to get ~200lbs of bull elk + ~100 lbs of deer meat (1 buck & 1 doe) from MT to AZ . ~14 day long adventure (doorstep to doorstep). Good problem to have....but it is a problem that (hopefully) needs to be solved!
Am I missing any better options? (I'll worry about the antlers later...I have friends who can hold them for me).
1) Drive
I was originally planning on driving. Would love to have my (very off-road capable) jeep truck up there for hunting and meat hauling, but also would prefer to spend more time in the mountains chasing deer & elk than on the freeway. Its a minimum of 20 hours of drive...each way...so probably 3-4 of my 14 days not spent in the woods.
Transport Cost: 2800 miles / ( 16 MPG ) * $4.5 /gallon + $400 for hotel and meals = $1188
Travel Opportunity Cost Factor : (4 Travel Days / 14 Total Days + 1) = 1.28
Factored Transport Cost: $1520
2) Fly & Ship Meat
Fly there, ship back via fedex 2-day air. Both of the two travel days are considered lost days. Using the fedex.com shipping calculator for 6 -50 lb, 15x15x15 boxes of frozen solid meat.... is $2,370.42...ouch.
Transport Cost: $728 airfare + $2,370.42 shipping.
Travel Opportunity Cost Factor : 2/14 + 1.0 = 1.14
Factored Transport Cost: $3541
3) Fly & Check Meat, & Mail Luggage
Fly. Check 4-50 lb meat bags, carry another 50lbs on my back. Delta has a limit of 4 checked bags per passenger on "Delta Connection" flights, so I'll have to come up with a plan for the remaining 50lbs of meat (give it away, beg to check another bag...have it turned into jerky and shipped, etc). My $728 airfare includes 1 checked bag already. The second one will cost me $45. Third...$150, and fourth...$200. Shipping 50 lbs of gear/luggage back via ups ground is ~$150, per their calculator.
Transport Cost: $728 airfare + ($0 + $45 + $150 + $200) baggage + $150 shipping = $1,123
Travel Opportunity Cost Factor : 2/14 + 1.0 = 1.14
Factored Transport Cost: $1451
Per this calculus (algebra technically) & opportunity cost model....Option 3 appears to be the right option. With the flying option, I'm clearly neglecting the need to rent a truck, that would increase the costs and tip the scales (with this model) towards driving. I'm neglecting that because there is a good chance I wont need to rent a truck ( i have friends & family).
What are y'alls thoughts? Am I missing better options or mis-evaluating my known options?