Necessary Gear for Hunting Road Trips

Know what to bring for your dog while maximizing space in your vehicle

At some point in a hunter’s life, they should go on at least one long-term hunting trip. Seeing the country as it truly is, outside of the echo chambers we all can dip into at times, is a remarkable experience.

But what if your chosen endeavor requires bringing along your four-legged buddy? That adds another level to your preparations, but luckily there are a few products that will make things easier on you.

Food and water

When traveling long distances with a hunting dog, you want to make sure you have their food and water locked down. Unless you’re going off-grid for an extended period of time, you can start with two large bags of food, a few gallons of water, and replenish your stock when you need to. But this brings with it challenges, as vehicles aren’t always climate controlled and opened bags of food can easily go stale.

Enter airtight containers, although these can have issues of their own. They can be bulky and take up a lot of needed cargo space, even for the most minimalist-minded hunters. Additionally, low-quality material can fail over time. One of the best products is the Gamma2 Vittles Vault pet storage containers. They come in a range of sizes, and one large container can cut down on needed space immensely, considering you want to bring extra food in case of an emergency.

But what about feeding and watering bowls? For short trips, two metal or canvas bowls are feasible, but for the road warrior the Dakota 283 Dine N Dash feeding and watering system is the best route. Coming in at less than $100, the Dine N Dash system holds 2.5 gallons of water and roughly eight cups of dry food, cutting down on both water storage and bowl storage. Not to mention, it comes with the Dakota Guard™ option, providing you a long-lasting, 98% protection rate against MRSA, Salmonella, Listeria, E. Coli, and other nasty organisms.

Want to cut back on more water storage and forego a sealable food bowl? Dakota 283 also offers 3.5- and 5-gallon options in the Dash series, allowing you to cut down on water jugs more efficiently.

First aid and medicine

For any hunting trip, but especially road trips, you want to make sure you have a first aid kit for your dog. Project Upland has a series of comprehensive stories to help you pack the proper tools and supplies in case of any situation you may find yourself in. They are:

In terms of space, first aid kits are one of the things that will take the least amount of room. They fit well in any type of drawer system, such as the Dakota 283 vault or in a pack.

For medicine, that changes on an individual basis. Whether your dog needs allergy medicine, insulin, or any kind of supplement, be sure to follow directions on how to properly store it.

Kennel protection

If you’re traveling in a truck or SUV, the best way to protect your dog is a sturdy kennel. Dakota 283 provides multiple options for different dog sizes and vehicle setups and is known to protect dogs in the case of serious vehicle accidents.

Further, vehicle accidents can take place within five minutes of leaving your house, let alone during a long-term road trip. And while chances are you won’t experience a wreck, it’s best to be prepared just in case you do.

To see the full list of kennel offerings, click here.

Other storage

So, you’ve got the essentials, but you’re still looking to maximize your space even more. What are some other ways to do so?

Some folks may build their own shelving unit, or even craft a shelf and drawer system. Dakota 283 offers storage options with our Badlands Lifestyle Vault line. While they are built to provide a safe place for firearms these lockable drawers also have space for other equipment, such as e-collars, leashes, bells, camera equipment, and more.

Another option is the Mud River crate cover which offers on-kennel pockets that fit the necessary equipment listed above.

All in all, if you decide to go on a long road trip this year or in the future, there are plenty of options to make sure you make the most of your vehicle’s space, bring everything you need for your dog, and protect it over the course of the trip.