Passionate uplanders across the country work diligently each season to achieve a dialed-in setup to transport loads of gear and their beloved gun dogs deep into remote places. It’s a fine balance between ease of access to gear needed for each trip afield, efficiently using available space, keeping everything secure during transit, and providing protection from severe weather throughout the season.
Upland essentials for the pursuit of wild birds include shotguns, ammo, e-collars, vests, and various items unique to each hunter–tent, sleeping bag, stove, coolers, and bird camp fundamentals. The investment made to build an upland arsenal demands security and protection from the elements while maintaining easy access. Achieving the perfect upland hunting setup has an extra layer of complexity that comes with man’s best friend. Our loyal bird dogs are why most pursue the challenge of upland hunting in the first place, we do it largely for the dogs.
Canine Priority
As a result, strategies to safely transport bird dogs across the country require provisions for ample water, food, supplements, first aid supplies, and much more. Once all the essentials for the field have been stowed away, the upland hunter begins the task of determining where their luggage may fit in the cracks and crevices that remain. Now, stack a buddy or two in the cab along with their gear, and you’ve got a game of upland Jenga on your hands.
Hard To Top
The perpetual deviations each season to achieve upland rig nirvana rival those of the treasure hunters on the search for the holy grail. After over a decade of traversing multiple states each season from September through January, I’ve settled on a setup that’s likely not considered as “traditional” in the upland world as others but achieves a solid in-season and off-season balance. My foundational vehicle is a truck, as I am heavily involved in our family farming business and simply need the capability to perform duties on a daily basis.
Those tasks also require unrestricted access to the bed for storage of tools, feed, mineral, and various other hauling duties. As a result, the traditional “topper,” often leveraged by upland hunters, required installation and removal each season, and occasionally a cycle or two in between. Ultimately, it’s an exercise that requires the help of a buddy and a decent storage space and simply isn’t ideal.
Each upland hunter’s definition of perfection is likely as unique as their bird dogs, so I’ll outline my approach and expect each reader to gaze through the lens expecting that their mileage will vary. My objectives are efficient storage, the safety of multiple bird dogs, weatherproofing and security without a topper, and an overall setup that can be broken down and set up relatively quickly by one individual.
The Platform
The foundation I chose is a 2016 GMC 3500 SRW (single rear wheel) crew cab with a standard 6’6” bed which provides the necessary platform for service on the farm and the field. The bed length is essentially the equivalent to a “long bed” in a 1500 crew cab truck which would enable a similar setup for anyone that doesn’t need the HD capability but finds this overall setup appealing.
A DECKED system serves as the foundational storage system mounted in the truck bed and meets the secure and weatherproof requirement. Its gliding drawers provide ample space to consume upland gear including shotguns, ammo, camp supplies, tools, stakeout chains, etc. It’s a system that’s worked flawlessly over the years and taken a beating year-round, both hunting and farming, with continuous exposure to the elements.
Dog Boxes
Transportation of my bird dogs has come through a lot of trial and error over the years. I’ve leveraged a couple of variations of the “two-hole-diamond-plate” dog boxes. They provided security with locking mechanisms, adequate safety during transport, and sufficient temperature regulation when prepped with insulation. The key drawbacks were awkward loading/unloading for a single individual and restriction to a single configuration. I tried a few different single kennel options and ultimately invested in Gunner Kennels in the intermediate size.
The 6’6” bed enables three intermediate kennels to run long ways or double/single configurations at the rear. Their build quality ensures extreme durability which adds a bit of heft but is still very reasonable to load and unload by myself. Severe duty strap kits provide security, and Gunner’s commitment to safety keeps my mind at ease.
Soft Storage
For additional gear storage that I’ve required over the years, I strived to zero in on options that provide increased organization while maintaining guaranteed weatherproofing. For my personal luggage, there’s simply nothing as bombproof as a Yeti Panga Duffel. The 75L seems to be the goldilocks of the three options, as the 50L is a bit difficult to access due to the rigidity of the material and zipper system while the 100L gets cumbersome due to overall size. The capacity is certainly a bit of a personal need, so do your research, but the overall design is rock solid under any weather conditions and is simply unmatched from a durability perspective.
Hard Storage
I’ve settled on the Yeti Loadout GoBox 30 as my go-to solution for miscellaneous organization and storage. They’re rock solid, strap down individually, together, or on top of coolers, and can be crammed with essentials. I have a dedicated unit that stores all my e-collar electronics, K9 first aid supplies, gun cleaning kit, spare chokes, ear plugs, and an array of miscellaneous items. They’re also great for ammo, camp supplies, JetBoil, and freeze-dried meals.
While I’ve yet to achieve upland nirvana, it’s as dialed-in a setup as I’ve had to date for my unique needs. I’ve recently added some upgrades to my overall kit which provide improved electronic support via solar charging which I’m determining how best to leverage. Additionally, I’ve been eyeing internet connectivity via new satellite technologies which could extend overall time in bird camp and enable remote work opportunities, real-time research, and addressing personal business needs from the field. Always evolving, I’m hopeful the above may provide some ideas and solutions to other upland-inspired hunters. Until we cross paths in wide open places in pursuit of wild birds, stay #huntredi.
Published in Western Hunter Magazine - Spring 2025