The Best Hunting Gear Management System: Organized & Protected

Ask my wife, and she’ll tell you I have too much hunting gear. I chase dove, whitetail, waterfowl, turkey, and other game animals whenever I can. Which means, yes, I have a lot of hunting gear (but definitely not too much) that I need to keep organized and protected. So over the last several years, I’ve honed an effective hunting gear management system. I’m always tinkering with it (including after we moved recently), but for now this is the best way I’ve found to keep all my hunting stuff organized and in tip-top shape.

The Simple System For Hunting Gear Management

I’ve always been of the mind to keep things simple, very simple. The KISS Method is always my preference; otherwise, I likely won’t continue it. That’s why, in my opinion, the best hunting gear storage system is overly simple: Use totes. I label each one by pursuit, then store my gear inside. It’s really that simple. My deer and big-game hunting clothing and gear go in one tote, and the same goes for my waterfowl, turkey, and upland game gear. 

I began organizing my gear with totes before I moved out of my parents’ house, thanks to my ole’ Pops. My dad started doing it, and I saw that it worked well for him, but I also saw there was definitely room for improvement. So, I started working on my own gear management system. I kept the totes because  I can grab the box and go knowing all my gear is in there. The main problem I run into is that when I need something at the bottom, I have to take everything on top out to find it (there’s also a pretty simple solution to this problem, which we’ll discuss in a minute). 

However, in my experience, the pros drastically outweigh the cons. I’ve stored my hunting totes in a cargo trailer and never found bugs or mildew, even when I used the cheapest totes I could find in college. As long as I put my gear back where it’s supposed to go, it’ll be there the next time I need it, in as good shape as when I put it in. If you’re a hunter like me who enjoys going on as many hunting trips as possible, traveling with totes in a vehicle is ideal (this also includes deer hunters who take every scent precaution and don’t get dressed until they’re in the woods). Speaking of scent precautions, you can douse your gear in scent eliminator and then seal it off from the rest of the world in a tote. 

Best Totes I’ve Found (So Far)

Recently, I upgraded from the cheap totes I’ve used for over a decade to the heavy-duty Condition 1 Sportsman Trunks, and I’m never going back. My new totes are great because they come in various sizes (18”, 28”, or 38”). I ordered the 28” & 38” trunks to ensure all my gear would fit, depending on the pursuit. All three sizes are crazy durable, which gives me peace of mind when stacking them. The 38” also has wheels on one end, which is nice when sliding it into my truck bed or trailer. But the best feature is the lid, hands down. 

I always had problems with the lids on the cheap totes I used to store my gear in. They flexed and bent when I stacked them, and the latches rarely stayed sealed. My new Condition 1 Totes have an excellent lid that latches in four spots, and best of all, zipper pouches on the inside to organize small items that always get lost in the bottom of totes.

I’ll be the first to admit that not all of my gear fits in the totes; I do have a lot of gear, after all. Instead, I keep my clothing and small items in the trunks, while I store larger items, decoys, and gear that doesn’t need temperature control in my trailer. But that’s why I strive to make my system work for me, not the other way around.

Make It Work For You

What’s so great about keeping everything simple is that this system works for anyone. Whether you live in a confined space, focus on a single pursuit, or, like me, have wide-ranging interests, storing your gear in totes and labeling them keeps it organized and protected. There’s no single way to organize gear, as I recently found out. 

I used to have to store all my gear totes in a small cargo trailer because our small house didn’t have a garage or attic. After moving into a new, larger house with both, I’ve adjusted my system to fit the extra space. It’s been really nice. The biggest change is that I no longer have to stack my totes in a tight spot. I have room to spread them out a bit and access them without unstacking. This is a welcome change because I used to unload the gear I didn’t need from my trailer, find what I did need, then load everything back into the trailer. It was a hassle, but I did what I had to do. 

Another way this system is adaptable is that I can take it on the move. Previously, I mentioned I enjoy going on hunting trips, and my gear management system has been a lifesaver on many trips because it’s so adaptable. I love being able to grab the sportsman trunk, toss it in my vehicle, and go. I can then live out of the tote while on the trip (unless we’re backpacking in, of course). 

I’ve lost far less gear since using my finely tuned system (partially because I was a young kid back then who would constantly lose gear). Everything has a place, so I immediately notice when something is out of place, and I can quickly find it and put it where it belongs. 

The Nitty Gritty (How I Actually Organize My Gear)

I initially made it sound like I stuff all my gear in the tote willy-nilly, because that’s what I used to do. While that kept my gear together, it was hardly organized. I’d spend a lot of time pulling out coats and pants, hoping to find the piece I needed. It was frustrating, to say the least. 

Now, I fold each piece (not nearly as nice as my wife folds her clothes), and it goes into my totes in a specific order. 

The Order

Empty gear bags, turkey vests, and outer layers go first because I’ll need them last and remove them first. So I keep my jackets and coats at the bottom of the tote. Next, I stack my mid-layers, like shirts and pants, then put base layers on top. I store my socks, gloves, face masks, and other small miscellaneous items in zipper pouches so they’re easy to find. This way, when I open the Sportsman Trunk, the layer that I need first is on top, followed by the next layer, and I don’t have to dig through everything to find each piece. I know right away where it should be and can find it with ease. Throughout the season, I might get lazy and mess this process up; when I do, I can only be frustrated with myself for the delay it causes. 

Miscellaneous Gear I Store In My Sportsman Trunks

A few other items that I keep in my tote are unscented antiperspirant deodorant, Sawyer’s Tick Spray, hats (beanies/stocking caps), climbing sticks, tree saddle, ropes, calls, face paint, dog vest (waterfowl), and hunting knives. I’m sure I’m forgetting something, so I put in pretty much anything that fits in the tote and keep it there until I need it. 

Gear I Do Not Store In My Hunting Totes

I own and use a lot of gear that doesn’t fit or doesn’t need to be stored in a tote. My decoys (waterfowl and turkey), boots, waders, blinds, firearms, bows, or arrows aren’t stored in my totes because the gear is too bulky, or I can store it somewhere else, like my closet (waders and boots) or my cargo trailer (decoys and blinds). Firearms are stored in my gun safe until I need them, and my compound bow has its own case. 

Parting Shots: The Best Hunting Gear Storage System

As a kid and teenager, my grandpa harped on about putting his tools back where I found them after I finished using them when I worked for him over the summer. I didn’t understand why it was such a big deal that I put this specific wrench back on that specific nail on the wall in his shop. Now that I’m much older, I understand exactly why he’d get upset if I didn’t return his tools to their specific spot, which is why I started doing something similar with my hunting gear. 

Keeping all my gear organized in totes has made getting ready to go hunting more enjoyable (and I didn’t think that was possible). It’s also saved me some money because I don’t buy duplicate gear, since it’s easier to find and better protected (it lasts longer). I strongly recommend starting your hunting gear management system today, even if it’s just as simple as mine (heck, even simpler would be better). While my wife still claims I have too much hunting gear (which I keep explaining isn’t possible), at least it’s organized and out of her way.

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