Although I certainly prefered the old 70 pounds per bag domestically, the new rules are not awful. Each bag can weigh up to 50 pounds at no charge. All passengers get two and Star Gold get three free bags. For an additional charge of $25 domestic, per bag, each bag can weigh up to 100 pounds. I believe the old overweight charge was $70 per bag.

So even without Star Gold, a passenger can bring 200 pounds of luggage for $50 each way. In the hunting example, presumably the fee would be incurred only one way: $25 or $50 to bring home a bunch of meat.

If it happens enough, make an effort to get Premier Executive or other * Gold status to get that third free bag.

You do still have to meet the size limits on the baggage or you are hit with a steep oversize fee ($75?). A lot of things probably can't pack 100 pounds in a standard 29 inch suitcase, which is what the size limits allow. A perfectly sized cube carton would give you more packing space in the inches allowed.

On the carryon subject:

For North America flights luggage is based primarily on pieces and size for carryons and checked luggage (with weight limits for checked bags). For all other flights worldwide, everything is based on weight. I think the world standard is 7kg/15lbs per carryon with one allowed for economy and two for business/first. On most carriers traveling in first (and maybe business) gets you a lot more leeway than the published rule, but not always.

Economy checked luggage allowances can be as low as 20kg/44lbs per passenger. That's most un-American! :-)

Charles