To say I travel quite a bit for bird hunting and sporting clay tournaments is a bit of an understatement. It’s a little comical if I stop and think about it, and truthfully, I only recognize that because of the strange looks I get from family and friends when I try to describe my schedule. I’m not a professional shooter by any stretch of the imagination; I simply love the game and strive to get a little better at each event. And the birds—well, that needs no explanation! If you’re reading this article, you’re probably sympathetic to such foolishness.
While I’ll fly with my shotguns when necessary, I prefer to drive whenever possible. Driving lets me bring ammo, dogs, and even a backup gun for myself or a friend—maybe even a few nice bottles of wine to share along the way. I can also tow my golf cart if need be.
Last year saw countless trips to M&M Sporting Clays and Cedar Creek for training—each over an hour’s drive from my home in Bucks County, PA. In May I drove to the U.S. Open in Jackson, MS, stopping in Nashville along the way. Unfortunately, my 2023 GMC Yukon AT4 with the 6.2L V-8 blew its engine just as I reached Johnson City, TN. (That’s a different story, but it was terrifying—and GM treated me so poorly that I sold the truck at a steep loss rather than risk that experience again.) Another road trip took me to the Southeast Regionals at Back Woods Quail Club in Georgetown, SC, and from there I headed up to Leen’s Lodge in Grand Lake Stream, ME, for some October woodcock and grouse hunting. Then I went to San Antonio for the National Championships. My point is: I spend a great deal of time on the road traveling with my shotguns. I usually drive straight to a tournament but tend to meander and explore on the way home. Here are some things I’ve learned along the way:
Be Discreet
This may be the hardest part. I keep all those great hats and shirts I’ve accumulated over the years in my suitcase. There’s no need to advertise for Krieghoff, B&P, Gamebore, Remington, or Beretta when stopping for fuel, grabbing a roadside meal, or—worse—checking into a hotel. Keep that blaze orange out of sight. Bad-intentioned folks can spot us a mile away; there is no need to make it easier for them. If you really want to fool them, wear a Biden hat.
Avoid Vehicle Stickers
The same goes for stickers on your vehicle—I simply don’t do it. No need to draw attention or make people wonder about the contents of your vehicle. Most of us in the sporting community drive trucks or SUVs, which don’t have locking trunks. This means that people can look into the back and see whatever’s left in sight. If they see a bunch of ammo, they’ll assume there’s a gun inside, too. That’s why I like using our Smoothbore Flats Carrier—it keeps ammo organized and out of sight.
Why All the Precautions?
Gun theft is a real issue and several prominent shooters have had guns stolen on their way to or from major tournaments. A lucrative black market for guns exists and according to a January 2024 article by the U.S. Department of Justice, West Texas Division:
“More than 25,000 firearms have been stolen from vehicles across Texas’ four largest cities—Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio—over the past three years. In 2023, 3,146 firearms were stolen in San Antonio alone.” And that was just four cities in Texas. Think about this on a nationwide level and you get a sense of why this is such a problem.
A significant number of thefts occur overnight at hotels near major gun clubs as thieves often scout these areas during large tournaments.
Field Vault & Tournament Vault
We developed our Field Vault in 2015 to address the very real issue of theft. Wrapped in high-quality 18oz waxed canvas, the Field Vault is discreet and far more effective than a blanket to disguise what lies beneath. It secures up to three Negrini-style shotgun cases (or a double plus single) with a patented 10mm interlocking cable system that locks the guns inside and anchors the Vault to a fixed point in your vehicle. This matters because if I’m driving to a tournament, I’ll bring a backup gun and maybe a bird gun if I can rationalize a stop along the way. (By the way, I can rationalize a lot!) See the Field Vault here.
The only downside: multiple guns make the Field Vault heavy to carry. If I’m just bringing my competition gun or a couple of upland bird guns, I’ll instead use the Tournament Vault, which is a streamlined version designed for one Negrini multi-barrel case. (It also works for a couple of lightweight field guns in a double-gun case.) The Tournament Vault is wrapped in the same high-quality,18oz waxed canvas as the Field Vault and uses the same interlocking cable system. But it has heavy-duty backpack straps, making it easier to carry from vehicle to room with the added benefit of freeing up your hands. See the Tournament Vault here.
Extra Precautions
When I’m traveling with family or friends, I may have numerous guns in the vehicle and two Field Vaults will secure up to six shotguns. Yes, they’re heavy—but more hands help lighten the load. I also like GPS trackers like AirTags or Chipolo. Locked inside your gun case and then inside your Vault, they’re hard to find and remove. If thieves do manage to steal your guns, recovery odds improve with these devices.
And since I like using the Tournament Vault for going back & forth from the hotel to the vehicle to the event, I will generally have at least one Tournament Vault with me for my main gun and a Field Vault to secure the guns in the room that I am not using that day.
Hotel Routine
I’ve almost perfected my routine when checking into a hotel. Before arriving, I find a quiet spot to walk the dogs—less stressful than a busy parking lot. At the hotel, I grab a luggage cart, put the dog kennel on it, and transfer both dogs inside as leashes pulling me in ten directions through the lobby is not ideal. If it’s just a stopover, I bring a small bag with toiletries and sleepwear (I use our Bird & Boot Tote) instead of my whole suitcase. I grab the dog bed and bag, unlock my Field Vault and/or Tournament Vault, and put it all on the cart. Now I’m ready to check-in. Some competition guns have been stolen from vehicles right at check-in—I’d rather not share that experience.
Once I have my hotel key, I bring the cart to the room and secure my Vault to a fixed point using the 6’ exterior cable lock. There is always a good spot to lock the Vaults to in the room, whether it be the desk, headboard of the bed or a cabinet. The Vaults are discreet, so they don’t draw attention in the lobby or while they are in the room. Once everything is secure, I return the cart, park in the best spot available, and grab any remaining gear. I never leave my range bag in the vehicle—if stolen, I couldn’t quickly replace prescription lenses or custom hearing protection. I may also grab my Wine & Whiskey Tote—not for security, just practicality.
Final Thoughts
I leave the guns locked up in the hotel room and happily skip housekeeping if I’m not there. It’s far from perfect, but better than leaving them in the vehicle. If someone breaks into my hotel room and defeats the Vault system, there’s not much more I could do. My view is this: take all reasonable steps without being paranoid. At some point, transfer the risk you can’t afford to keep—that’s where insurance comes in. It won’t replace the guns, but it softens the blow.
When heading out to the event, I pack the gun(s) I’m shooting that day in the Tournament Vault—it’s easier to backpack them to and from the vehicle and it keeps my hands free. I make a habit of locking my guns down every time, even for short rides. I might head out for lunch or dinner afterwards or I could get rear-ended…or my GM engine could blow again. I always park where I can see my vehicle, and my app alerts me if there’s a problem. Most guns are stolen from vehicles, so I secure them—that’s one less thing to worry about. It’s a privilege to travel freely with firearms across the U.S. and it affords tremendous adventures. But it’s not without risk. The good news: we can manage it better with the right gear.