I’ve flown to Africa with bow cases more than 20 times, an absolute gauntlet of abuse. Whether you want a case to protect your bow to travel down the road or across the country, a quality bow case is a must-have. Ironically, I transport firearms, crossbows, and compounds in hard bow cases, so don’t tune out if you are a rifle hunter.
Big and Roomy
Small compact bow cases are excellent for a close-to-home trip because they will protect your gear and you’ll probably be wearing your hunting clothes. For distant travel, a large case is best because you can carry a bow, crossbow, or firearm and some of the gear you will need on the trip. Packing clothes and soft gear will help cushion against rough treatment or an unexpected drop or accident.
Bows and crossbows can be carried in large soft-sided cases, yet firearms must be in a hard lockable case, an important distinction. If you fly to your destination, you will pay baggage fees and doubling gear and shooting equipment in one case saves money.
Case within a Case
You are about to see four cases that protect gear from abuse. Even so, I like to put my gear in a slim case inside the large case to protect the bow string and cables. Once you get to the hunt, you may want to leave the large pack in camp and some outfitters won’t pack in a large case. A small cloth or padded case is perfect for the lesser damage dangers of the hunt. When packing a crossbow, I put several coats or shirts over the bow to protect the limbs and strings.
This post from Bowhunting.com will give you great ideas about the protection you need:
