Best Travel Gear for Out of State Hunting

It was honestly a tough call between this case or a Pelican case, but I went with the SKB simply because I have used one for a longer period of time and it has never let me down. It has a hard plastic exterior that is airline approved and can take the abuse that those lovely baggage handlers can dish out. There is a dense foam interior to secure your firearms and the heavy-duty aluminum seam has a rubber O-ring to make the case very water resistant. Four massive latches secure the two halves and the case is lockable per TSA regulations. It has a side carry handle and roller wheels for scooting through the airport or lodge. I’ve used mine to go all over North America, and it still looks great, and everything has been safe upon arrival.

Quality binoculars are a must for any hunt and when you can get a smoking hot deal, well that makes it so much the better. Leupold McKenzie compact binoculars are a good buy at $200, but what if you could score them for under $100? Oh yes, you can! These 10X42 compact binos have fully multi-coated lenses and are extremely tough for the worst conditions you can come up with. And seriously – Leupold binos for under $100! Buy them for yourself and maybe a friend or loved one for the holidays. I’m buying at least one pair. You should too.

One of the things that drives me nuts in some major airports. You have to be on time, but if you look around, there aren’t many clocks to be found. You should consider a watch, but why not have one that serves as your GPS, too? The Garmin Instinct watch is seriously tough, meeting or exceeding the military requirements for thermal, shock and water protection. It’s rated to be waterproof to 100 meters or more, and can handle the heat of the sun. The Instinct can access multiple global navigation satellite systems – GPS, GLONASS and Galileo. This means you’re not going to get lost, no matter where you are. It has Garmin’s Tracback routing that lets you start a route and navigate right back on the same path, so you’ll always remember where you parked the truck. This watch also has a built-in altimeter for elevation data, a barometer to monitor weather and a three-axis electronic compass. It has several health monitors like heart rate and oxygen levels, and there is an SOS alert feature that can let people know where to find you in case of an emergency.

Wait, a soft case, too? It actually makes a lot of sense. You have your big airline case for the trip out, but what about when you get to the lodge or to camp? Chances are, you will still need a case to carry your firearm out to the actual hunting location. You don’t want to haul your bulky travel case, so a soft case makes more sense. The Cabela’s Xtreme case is perfect with heavy-duty padding, a shoulder strap and pockets for other gear. This way, when you load up with the outfitter in the morning to head out to the stand, you can grab the case and go.

If you’re flying the somewhat friendly skies to go on a hunting adventure, you’re likely already getting hammered with a baggage fee for your firearm. If you can get away with using a carry-on bag for the rest of your gear, this one from Osprey is really good. It has an aluminum outer chassis and plenty of room inside for your clothes. It is water resistant and made from durable nylon materials with strong zippers. I like carry-on size bags because it gives me the option to check it or carry it on the plane. The only time I’ve really needed a much bigger bag was when I was going duck hunting and needed to take waders in addition to my shotgun and other gear.

If you’re going to be sharing a bathroom with other hunters, or making do with stuff in camp. Having all of your toiletries in one convenient spot is a huge help. And if can hang on the door, or tent frame, even better. The BPS Hanging Travel Kit saves time and helps keep your stuff close at hand.

You’re going to need at least two TSA-approved locks for your gun and gear if you’re flying. These sturdy, easy-to-use locks are approved for travel and will help ensure your stuff gets to where it needs to go. Remember, you’ll need at least two for your firearm case, one at each end. Plan ahead, so you don’t have to rush and get one while you’re trying to make your flight.

You may already have a rangefinder in your gear, but if not, get one. I once drove for four hours to get on some pronghorn on opening morning. If you’re not used to it, hunting wide open land can screw with your distance judgement. I had a trophy buck right in front of me. I swear it was maybe 100 yards, but it was way more than that. WAY more. I shot right underneath it, they spooked and took off, and I drove home pretty upset. Came back for the last few days of the season with a rangefinder and shot a smaller, but respectable Prongy buck. Bushnell invented the rangefinding game. The Prime 1300 reads out to 1,300 yards or so. It has all the bullet drop and arrow ranging goodies you’d expect from a good rangefinder and the price is a screamer right now.

If you’re rolling out 100% DIY, you may need a new tent. This bad boy is a 6-person canvas tent that works great as a base camp, or a spike camp if you need it. It’s very versatile. It measure 10ft x 10ft and is made from cotton duck canvas with Hydrashield to keep the elements out. It has a galvanized steel frame and a 78-inch center height.

One of the things I stress about when I’m on the road for any reason comes from thinking about the security of the valuables left at home. A firearm safe makes so much sense in that it keeps all of your firearms secure and protected, and you can put important papers, jewelry and more in the safe too. This is a great safe from Browning that holds up to 23 guns and more. This is a premier safe with 12-gauge steel, seven 1-inch locking bolts and 30 minutes of 1400-degree protection.