As an avid outdoorsman, you love nothing more than getting out into the woods to camp and hunt. Now that you have purchased an RV, you are looking forward to your first adventures that combine two of your greatest passions. Before you head out on the open road to a campsite for a hunting trip, it is wise to do some homework ahead of time to make sure your RV hunting trip goes as planned. With that in mind, check out the following tips:
Campground or Camping in the Open
The first thing you should decide is whether you want to stay at a campground or if you want to “dry camp” out in the woods. While campgrounds offer a variety of amenities, you might like the more rugged experience of being off the beaten path away from other travelers. If you do decide to stay in a campground, Google “hunting friendly campgrounds” to see which ones will be welcoming to you and your hunting plans. Make reservations at your chosen spot that looks to be good for your preferred game and location, and ask them about any rules and regulations they may have in regards to hunting. If dry camping sounds more appealing, you can ask your fellow hunting fans if they know of any great spots to park an RV near a good area for game.
Know the Gun Laws and Pack Your Firearms
There are a number of local, state and federal laws regarding transporting guns — it is a good idea to read up on where you are headed and all of the pertinent gun transport laws. The last thing you want is for you to get in trouble with the local law enforcement because you were unfamiliar with how to travel with firearms. The U.S. Code 926A allows a legal gun carrier to travel across state lines, as long as he or she can legally own and carry the gun where they are from and where they are going. However, there are a number of caveats to this rule — for example, you must unload your gun and keep the ammo separate, and put everything as far out of reach as possible. If you learn that you will be traveling through a “gun unfriendly” state it is probably best to try to drive through it in one day if you can without stopping at campsites.
Invest in a New Gun and a Safe
Depending on what type of game you hope to hunt on your upcoming trip, you might want to purchase a new gun. If you are in the market for a new firearm, you might want to check out what’s in stock at your local outdoors retailer; look for a library stocked with a number of pre-owned guns that are available for sale. Next, to keep your gun and other valuables away from anyone who might break into your RV, invest in an RV safe for your camper. You can purchase narrow safes that fit into a small RV closet or larger ones that are out in the open. This way, you can keep your hunting gun safely locked up while on the road and your credit cards and other valuables stored inside the safe when you are away from the RV.
With some advance preparation, it is very possible to have a successful and comfortable RV hunting trip. You can sleep in a warm bed and enjoy some of the comforts of home and, by doing your research ahead of time, you can travel legally and safely to your hunting spot and hopefully come home with some game.