Regardless of how hard you try, once duck season is here, your truck quickly starts looking more like a second gear garage than just a means of transportation. Decoys, blind bags, random calls, and loose shotgun shells are just a few things that come to mind. Rather than load and unload gear after every hunt, it’s easier to keep your truck kitted out—after all, you never know what random piece of gear you might need on a hunt. After seasons of trial and error, and the inevitable clutter that is duck season, we’ve dialed in our ultimate duck truck load-out. From storage and add-ons to waterfowl hunting essentials, this is how we built a duck truck load-out that is ready for anything the season throws at us.
Storage is Everything
The foundation of any duck hunting truck is storage. Not only for gear organization but depending on how you outfit your truck, you can dramatically increase your storage capabilities. Over the years, there have been a few pieces of gear we’ve come to rely on.
Super Pacific Camper
Super Pacific is an Oregon-based company that makes modular tent/truck bed cover camper shells. The X1 camper has become an integral part of my duck truck set up for the past few seasons. For duck hunting, this means lots of added and protected storage. Large items like decoys, blinds, and a dog kennel can live all season in the bed of a truck with this setup securely. Add to that the pop-up roof camper, and this setup becomes a mobile hunter’s best friend. Whether you’re staking out a spot in the tent or just looking to securely store gear this season, this setup has a little something that everyone can get behind.
Decked System
Decked makes modular drawer systems for any truck bed—to maximize organization, this is a must. For a full-sized bed, the Decked Drawer System comes with two separate drawers. As far as organization goes within the drawers themselves, the sky is the limit. You can add dividers to section off gear, toss in your favorite camp cooking set up for meals on the fly or even customize it to house your shotguns. Regardless of how you configure your decked system, this is a great addition to any truck to keep gear organized and secure throughout the season.
Clothing Bar
Living on the road and staying organized means figuring out innovative ways to store clothes. Over the past several seasons, I’ve implemented a backseat storage clothes rack across the back row of my truck. Folding up the rear seats gives me ample room to hang layers and waders after every hunt. The benefit of this setup is that I can keep all of my clothing inside the truck, so even on the coldest, wettest days, stuff will dry out.
B&W Trailer Hitches
While a trailer hitch doesn’t exactly fall into the category of storage, there’s no denying how important the B&W Trailer Hitch is for a mobile duck truck. This hitch comes with two different-sized balls, is adjustable, and stows out of the way when not in use. For hunters who have access to multiple boat and trailer configurations, this ensures you have the correct ball size and hitch height to tow safely. With the removal of two pins, you can reconfigure the hitch for any boat/trailer combo in seconds.
Plano Sportsman Trunks
Similar in vein to the Decked Drawer system, I’ve become accustom to running ‘gear boxes’ to increase storage options and organization in my rig. The latest line of Sportsman’s Trunks from Plano have made organizing smaller gear in the cab and bed of my truck a breeze. Things like bungee cords, extra layers, tools, camp cooking, dry storage for shotgun shells, etc. They’re rigged and durable which help keep gear protected but they’re not overly bulky like some of the more heavy duty gear boxes out there. They trunks come in multiple of sizes and come in at a super affordable price across the different size ranges.
The Gear
Now that we’ve got the basis of our truck storage, it’s time to load up the truck and hit the road. Below is some of the gear we’ve come to rely on season after season.
Chêne Gear
Over the last 10 years we’ve seen an explosion of technical apparel designed specifically for hunters. More recently there has been an particular focus on technical gear for waterfowl hunters. When it comes to the gear on our backs, Chêne gear has been our go-to choice for a variety of technical apparel. From waders to ankle boots, jackets, and more, Chêne has us covered for waterfowl season. A few of our favorite items that live in the truck all year are the 2S Waders, bibs, the Scout Jacket, the Sixty Series Half Zip, and the Hydro-Lok Gloves. While this isn’t an exhaustive breakdown of everything we rely on, these essentials cover the bases from early season right through the cold, final days of season.
Beefcake Jerky
It goes without saying that long days in the blind, or on the road, require adequate protein. My favorite go-to has been Beefcake Jerky. Beef jerky has a long shelf life, is on the healthier side of snacks, and can live in the duck truck throughout the season. As far as hunting snacks go they they also pack incredibly well which is a huge plus when you’re trying to be conscious of space in the truck or in your hunting pack.
Franchi USA
It goes without saying that every waterfowler needs a dependable shotgun. Over the past year I’ve been running the Franchi Affinity 3.5. This shotgun features an inertia-driven action, which performs time and time again regardless of the conditions. We opted for 26-inch barrels on our guns, which enables us to fit and store them in the Decked System drawers with ease. A few things I’ve really enjoyed about these guns so far is they swing incredibly well and have a bomb proof protective coating (Cerakote).
Rocky Talkie
A good pair of walkie-talkies is an often-overlooked hunting essential. For me they’ve been incredibly helpful when running rivers out west and coordinating gear shuttles on skinny water, as well as, when hunting big water. Whether that’s coordinating a retrieve on a cripple or when running multiple boats to set a big water spread. This is especially helpful when hunting in areas with little to no cell service. The Expedition Radios from Rocky Talkie are waterproof, attach to waders or a PFD easily and can be used at distances far beyond what you’ll need for most waterfowl scenarios.
onX Hunt
OnX has without a doubt become one of the most integral pieces of ‘gear’ for waterfowl hunters across the country. From being able to see property ownership to knowing what crops are on the ground in a given area, OnX is jam packed full of features that help us chase birds regardless of where the road takes us. As someone who scouts and hunts across multiple states, it’s a must have tool. With the advent of CarPlay in many vehicles today, it’s easier than ever for waterfowl hunters to hit the road and scout without needing to fumble around with their phones. For folks like myself with older or base model trucks, CarPlay might not be an option. To combat this issue, I’ve been running an adjustable mount for my iPad on my dash. Allowing me to track routes, scout new areas and drop pins while on the road.
Turtlebox Audio
Every road trip needs tunes, and for that, we rely on Turtlebox Audio. Their waterproof line of speakers ranges from the portable Ranger all the way up to the giant Grande. Impressive sound quality, paired with the rugged reliability waterfowlers need, makes it a perfect truck-and-boat speaker. After all, who doesn’t want a little music after shooting a limit of greenheads.
Pacific Calls
Over the years, I’ve used a lot of different calls—from lessers to honkers and mallards to teal. Having a variety of calls is important for hunting on the road. You never know what you might come across, especially hunting out West. For the past several years, I’ve come to rely on Pacific Calls. The Pacific Calls team is based in Post Falls, Idaho, so they know a thing or two about western hunting. Their calls reflect that, with a variety mimicking everything from your typical mallard and honker calls, to specialty calls for cacklers and cranes. I always keep a few mallard calls, a honker call, and a whistle on my lanyard with spare reeds and cork in my truck. Some of my favorites are the BBG Honker, the Solo, and the Queen B.
Excel Boats
A lot of duck hunters understand the need for a good duck boat. That said, the flat-bottom boats and mud motors popular throughout most duck marshes won’t cut it out west. For Western waterfowl hunting, running shallow rocky rivers is the name of the game, and that calls for a jet boat. The Excel Switchblade 1864 is an 18-foot boat designed to draft skinny and haul a lot of gear—essential for running big spreads needed on our Western rivers. I paired this platform with a 80 hp Mercury jet engine to maximize shallow water performance. Of all the pieces of gear in my rig, the Excel opened up the most new water to hunt and explore this season.
Gunner Kennels
Gunner Kennels is a key part of my rig, both on the road and in the blind. The first, and arguably most important piece of gear, is the G1 Kennel. This 5-star crash-rated kennel lives in my truck, keeping my dog, Quinn, safe on long drives. If you’re ever skeptical at just how safe these kennels are, I implore you to checkout the Gunner Saves Instagram page. In the blind, Gunner’s new Waterfowl Dog Vest is another piece of gear I won’t leave home without. Its adjustable design creates a custom fit for any dog, and a reinforced chest plate keeps your dog protected against punctures from sticks and ice. If you’re curious about the latest duck dog vest to hit the market check out our Field Tested Review of the vest.
Goal Zero Electric Power Station
My duck truck consists of a lot of gear that needs charging. Cameras, headlamps, spinner batteries, the list goes on. To keep everything powered for extended trips, I added a Goal Zero Electric Power Station. These portable power banks run on lithium batteries and feature just about any charging port you could need. For extended road trips, they have ample power to recharge all my gear multiple times. When the power bank does get low, a truck adapter lets you charge it from your vehicle while it’s on.
Migra Ammunitions
The last piece of gear essential for a mobile waterfowl rig is ammo, and a lot of it. Before the season, we stock up on several cases of ammo to ensure we don’t run out in the middle of nowhere. My preferred shells are Migra stacked steel for their versatility. A stacked shell consists of two different-sized pellets, which improves pattern density and results in cleaner kills. While Migra has several options, the 2/4 blend is a versatile option in terms of ducks and geese in a pinch.
Other Considerations
The gear and layout of my truck are specific to my style of duck hunting. That said, there are some other pieces of gear and things to consider regardless of what you use your rig for. The first is a good first aid kit. A properly stocked trauma kit, along with a basic kit of Band-Aids and other common essentials, will cover almost all your needs. In addition, for waterfowlers, a dog-specific first aid kit is a smart thing to have. A few other additions I’ve added to my duck truck set up are flat profile molle panels from Super Pacific to help keep some gear elevated out of the bed of my truck and a Huck Pack seat back organizer for added organization in the cab of my truck.
Another essential that all hunting trucks should have is some form of recovery kit. This can vary from a full-on winch setup to a simple tow strap. However, at the bare minimum, all hunters should carry recovery boards and a small shovel. If you get stuck in the middle of nowhere, you can dig out your tires and place the recovery boards down for added traction.
Final Thoughts
I built my idea of the perfect duck truck over the past several seasons. The organization, gear, and accessories are tailored to how I use my truck during the season. For some, this may be exactly what you are looking for, while others may have different requirements. Regardless of how you end up building your hunting rig, tinkering with gear and tailoring it to your needs is half the fun. My advice to anyone looking to build their own hunting rig is to ask yourself how and where you’ll use your truck, then start building from there.
Awesome build! It would be sweet to see more pictures on how you have things organized!