Small cars and hunting/traveling for shoots

[Hoosierarcher88]

We have had the retro and modified 4x4 page but what about us with a small car that hunt or travel to shoots. I just sold my tracker and took over the dodge caliber we have as my vehicle which leaves me curious on how to make it work for hauling things like my stand, bow and in a good day a deer back home. I'm really considering a roof rack to carry my stand but with my bow being 66" long if I fold my back seats down it will fit with my passenger side seat slid up but just barely. So how do you all haul all of your gear with a small car.

[old_goat2]

Haven't done it in a few years and had a 62" bow then, I quartered the deer in the field put it in the trunk. Is your bow a take down model? Also that was an out to hunt and back to home same day kind of trip. We have a Honda Fit Hatch Back now, with the back seats down I can fit quite a bit of gear, just have to arrange it right!

[Hoosierarcher88]

My bow is a 66" 1 piece northern mist. It fits fine as long as I don't have any passengers lol.

[old_goat2]

It's certainly easier to manage by yourself. I know a guy here that's came home more than once with an elk rack strapped to the roof of his Civic. Back pack Hunter and he shoots the other kind of bows though, but where there's a will and a desire there is a way!

[Hoosierarcher88]

I have a feeling it will just take some adjustments. It helps being a hatch back and thankfully the back is kind of a plastic spill proof tray (nice and easy to clean). I think a roof rack to carry my stand for hunting or my tent and camping gear will greatly help the little car. Worst comes to worst I can always snatch my wife's pretty new Durango lol. I'm just so use to having my own SUV or truck for hunting I feel a bit out of place trying to safely tuck my bow away into the back of the car.

[old_goat2]

I would get one of those roof box things instead of a rack, unless you use a ladder stand, the wind on the car could play havoc with stuff.

[nineworlds9]

I was stuck in an older Honda CRV for a few years, then a minivan.  It just takes some creative adaptation.  If you have a hitch on it you can get one of those receiver mounted cargo carriers they are great.

[Red Beastmaster]

I drove a Suzuki SX4 hatchback for several years.

On the roof was a Thule box for skis. It held a load of stuff and my longbows. I could also strap an easy-up canopy to the roof rack for shoots.

On the rear I had a hitch receiver and a custom made hitch hauler that fit in the rear well when not needed. A cooler, gas cans, or dead critter could ride on the hitch hauler.

Inside with the rear seats folded down I could put my huge tent, sleeping bag, cot, duffel, food, etc.

I took a lot of ribbing from my buddies because of my "little girl car" but it took me anywhere, 4X4, and over 25mpg fully loaded.

[ron w]

I had a Dodge Caliber for a long time, I just put the seats down and filled the old girl up. Carried a small tarp to down if I killed something.

[Pat B]

I've used our Toyota Corolla to travel to the Tenn Classic(about 350 miles) for a week stay there and it has all my camping stuff, bows and arrows, staves and other trade items and a cooler full of food. I'm amazed how much can be put in that car when the back seats are put down. Never took it hunting though.

[Sam McMichael]

This thread gives me a renewed appreciation for my pickup truck.

[Pete McMiller]

I've got a 2012 VW Jetta Sportwagen Diesel that I have put 125,000 miles on while camping (over 210 nights in a tent since 2012) from the Olympic Peninsula of Washington to the Everglades and San Diego to Newfoundland.  I have packed it with all my hunting and camping gear and even hauled the meat of a cow moose back from NFLD in it.  I do have a homemade roof rack but only for my duck skiff.  A couple of trips I pulled an Aluma utility trailer to haul my Rokon to Arizona but 99% of the time I find a way to pack it full.  Fold the seats down and leave the unneeded stuff at home.  Once you try it you'll realize that you have way more room than you thought you did.

[degabe]

My solution to this problem is to hunt the back 40. My only problem with that is most of it is under water right now.

[old_goat2]

My solution to this problem is to hunt the back 40. My only problem with that is most of it is under water right now.

That's a wonderful option, I'm about three hours drive from where me deer tag is good for, so fuel efficiency is definitely considered

[John Scifres]

I have had small cars for years.  I drove a Toyota Corolla and had 2 deer in the back of it more than once. I hauled disassembled ladder stands, a 10 x 10 pop-up, and all my hunting/camping gear to many places.  A buddy and I drove it to CO for a backpack elk hunt. 

I now drive a 2011 Civic Coupe.  I put a 2 year old, 140# buck and a huge doe in the back last season at the same time and probably could have put another one in there.  Plus a weekend's worth of hunting stuff in there with me. Deer are not nearly as big as some people perceive.  They also aren't as bloody as you might think when properly dressed and drained.  I do have a Weather-Tech cargo liner and use a tarp to get the deer in without getting blood all over the bumper.

[bucknut]

I've hauled several deer in the trunk of my work car, hunting on the way home from work. The funniest thing I've ever had happen was when I got the bright idea to haul one for a short distance home without gutting it, thinking it would be less messy.  That thing pressured up and crapped everywhere.  Bad Idea!  It was like an explosion had occurred!! I'll just deal with the blood from here on.   In my opinion the hitch hauler would by far be your best option for gear and deer. I'm having the same bow dilemma as you. I have a jeep now as my hunting rig. I just set it between the seats for now but I'm still trying to rig a holder for hanging it from the roll bar.

[LC]

I several years ago had to get out of a truck because of necessity. I had twin daughters that I had to buy a used vehicle for. When it needed work, which was usual they couldn't drive my truck. So I bought a Rav SUV. It could double as a vehicle for them as a second vehicle in a pinch. I put a hitch on it and never looked back. I can tow a trailer with it. Fold the rear seats down and I can load a bunch of crap in it. 28 mpg on trips, I'll never own a truck again. Of course my buddies laugh at me when I show up hunting in it but then again they tell me I can't afford to go on this trip or the next because of truck payment mileage etc. LOL

[bigbadjon]

My first hunts that I could drive myself I had a 94 Cheve Beretta. I had a cooler that fit between the hinges of the trunk. My pack gear rode back seat. My one piece bow rode shotgun. It sucked hard but it was what I had.

[Nantahala Nut]

I bought a cheap 01 Outback for an adventure vehicle. Decent gas mileage and not afraid to beat it up a little. Has a roof rack and is basically a covered small pickup with the seats down. Big enough to sleep in the back. Putting some money in it this year to get it ready to head west.

[Hackbow]

Ha.....I saw the title of this thread and instantly thought of the elk trip with Scifres and he'd already beat me to it. I also hunted for several years out of a Honda Accord and, many years ago, a Chevette - which carried dead deer rather nicely. Creative packing is always a plus, but discovering one doesn't need the kitchen sink to hunt and/or camp effectively and comfortably is the real secret.

Having a two piece longbow makes things a bit nicer as well.