The “Dual Purpose” Hunting & Fishing Kit: Gear for Doing Both in One Trip

The kind of trips I look forward to most aren’t the big, week-long backcountry hauls. Don’t get me wrong, those are incredible in their own way, but there’s something simple and satisfying about rolling out of town each morning in the Gladiator, bow case in the bed , rod tube rattling in the storage box, and a thermos of coffee riding shotgun.

That’s the beauty of hunting and fishing the same country. Some mornings you’re glassing pronghorn on the flats. By the time the sun’s high and the animals have bedded, you can be knee-deep in a creek, throwing hoppers at brown trout. The trick is having your gear dialed so you’re not constantly unpacking, sorting, or realizing you left your waders back at home.

This is where the “dual purpose” kit shines—a truck-based system that makes it easy to switch from one pursuit to the other.

Why Truck-Based Makes Sense

My pronghorn unit this season was only about 30–40 minutes outside of town. It wasn’t the type of hunt where I needed to haul camp miles into the backcountry. Each day I’d drive out in the dark, hunt through the morning, and then, depending on how things went, either keep after it or slide down into a drainage and fish until evening.

That style of trip isn’t about ultralight gear or shaving ounces—it’s about organization and efficiency. With the Gladiator set up right, I can pivot between hunting and fishing without wasting time digging through a mess.

Hunting Loadout: Grab and Go

On the driver’s side of the bed rack sits one of my Roam 128L cases with the lid organizers, dedicated to hunting gear. It keeps everything sealed, dust-free, and ready:

Weapon of Choice: Bow in a hard case. I use a Pelican hard case with the foam cut to fit my bow and stabilizers so I don’t worry about bumps on rough two-tracks. Day Pack: Already packed with knife, rangefinder, snacks, and water. Optics: Bino harness is basically on me at all times though these hunts. Spotter and tripod tuck into the case. Kill Kit: Small bag with game bags, replaceable-blade knife, paracord, and gloves. A cooler with ice waits in the Gladiator bed for when things go right.

Most mornings I’d park along a dirt road, grab my pack and bow, and slip into the sage before first light. The world feels wide open then—sky turning pink over the plains, coyotes yipping in the distance, the Gladiator fading behind me as I hike in.

Fishing Loadout: Ready When the Hunt Pauses

The passenger side Roam case holds the fishing gear, sealed up and dust-proof:

Rod : A 4-piece 5-weight, in a rod tube so it doesn’t get crushed. Sling Pack: One fly box (dries, nymphs, streamers), 4x and 5x tippet, floatant, and nippers. Waders & Boots: Rolled and stashed in a mesh bag inside the case. On warm afternoons, I just wet-wade. Net: I like running a larger net to make missed scoops for fish a minimum.

By late morning, if pronghorn weren’t cooperating, I’d be back at the Gladiator swapping camo for a sling pack. In less than 10 minutes, I’d be on the water, roll casting under willows or drifting a nymph through riffles.

The Overlap Gear

Some things stay in the Gladiator full-time:

Headlamp: In the center console, always charged. First Aid Kit: Cuts from broadheads and hooks don’t care which pursuit you were on. Rain Jacket: Rolled up behind the seat—because high plains storms roll in fast. Coolers: One for food and drinks, another for game quarters or trout if I keep a couple for the pan.

That overlap gear is what keeps the system seamless—whether it’s a pre-dawn stalk or a late evening bite.

A Day in the Life of the Dual Purpose Kit

One day this season summed it all up. I was parked on a ridge at first light, watching a herd of pronghorn out beyond 600 yards. The wind wasn’t in my favor, and after two blown stalks, I eased back to the Gladiator by 10 a.m., sweaty, dusty, and a little frustrated.

Instead of calling it quits, I popped open the fishing case, grabbed my rod tube and sling pack, and drove 15 minutes to a creek winding through a cottonwood draw. By noon, I was knee-deep in cold water, watching brown trout rise in the shade.

The first fish came on a hopper pattern, a strong wild brown that darted under cutbanks and pulled harder than I expected. Sitting on the tailgate afterward, sandwich in hand, and waders in the sun, I couldn’t help but laugh. Two worlds in one day, both made possible by keeping the right gear squared away in the Gladiator.

Final Thoughts

The dual purpose kit isn’t about carrying more—it’s about carrying smart. With a little organization, your Gladiator becomes a rolling basecamp, with each Roam case dedicated to a pursuit and the overlap gear tying it all together.

Next time you head out to hunt, slip the rod tube into its case. Pack a cooler with ice. Keep those storage cases squared away. You never know if the day’s story ends with a stalk on the flats or a brown trout tugging at the end of your line—but with the right setup, you’ll be ready for both.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend gear I’ve tested and trust, and these commissions help support the blog.