Snake HOOKS on a plane

Just curious about this -

TSA specifies that you can not bring a tool over 7" long onto a plane as carry on. . . OK check.
Checked baggage usually cant FIT a 36-42" snake hook . . . ok CHECK

So you're left with:
1) getting a collapsible hook which - admittingly - sucks
2) Shipping it to your destination - poor option when you are going to central / south america
3) Using a shipment container and checking it onto the flight - best option, but at a cost?

So - how - if you do - do you fly with your snake hook for field herping trips? Lately I've just been flying with a 12" micro hook, Hercules snake gloves, and a 40" collapsible tong. . . but I really want to bring my 40" midwest pro hook that I've had with me for years on my next trip, but it just does not seem reasonable. Anythoughts on this matters?

FWIW I'll be flying out to Panama for a week of field herping in Gamboa and El Valle, Friday.

Ok - GO

I recently had to deal with this. Their regulations also say no golf clubs as carry on, so I doubt they would let a golf club handle with a hook on the end as a carry on, I didn't even bother trying though. Going to Lousiana I initially shipped a hook in a cylindrical shipping tube as my a checked bag, and had no issues checking it. They did, however, lose the tube, and I'm still waiting on my claim check for it. When I was there, I of course needed a hook, so I bought another one, but this time shipped in a triangular prism box, which fed-ex gave me for free, and had no problems with it, but it did come through on the oversized items baggage claim. Hope this helps, good luck, and have fun!