Santa’s gift ideas for deserving sportsmen

With less than a week to go before Christmas, some shoppers are becoming a bit antsy about not finding just the right present for that special sportsman on their list.  

The often voiced gift buyer’s frustration reflects that most outdoor enthusiasts already own everything they need. Hunters, anglers, and shooters really are prone to the old “see it, buy it: theory” (before someone else does), but thankfully there are plenty of new or improved items on shelves monthly and dozens of cast and blast products are one and done usage, so need regular replacement.

Partridge, woodcock and turkey hunters all need a couple of boxes of shotgun shells for next season, and duck and goose gunners usually need to replace several boxes of non-toxic cartridges. Deer hunters may only fire a few shots to sight in their rifle and one or two if a buck is spotted, but a  backup box of their favorite caliber makes a great gift. Target shooters and skeet or sporting clay enthusiasts can easily burn through a dozen cartons of handgun, rifle and shotgun shells, fresh stock is always appreciated.

I’ve yet to meet a fly fisherman who feels they have enough flies in various styles, sizes and patterns. Likewise for lure trollers, bass plug and plastic worm casters, not to mention the specialty baits, lures, leaders and gear required for musky, Atlantic salmon and ice fishing. Fish chew up flies, trees and shoreline brush claim their share on backcasts, and submerged rocks, logs and other obstacles grab and keep $10 lures and spoons with no remorse. Select a few replacement baits, a couple of rolls of leader material and a few bait hooks to use as stocking stuffers.

Over the last few Christmases and birthdays, a few presents have arrived that I’d never have gotten for myself, but now never go wade casting or boat fishing without. Maybe the angler on your gift list needs one or another. Attached to my fly vest or fishing jacket are a pair of retractable lanyards, often referred to as zingers. I use them to keep my line clippers and hook-release forceps close and in the open, which is much easier than searching through pockets and possibly dropping gear into the water. A magnetic net holder attaches behind the neck of a fly vest, always out of the way, not likely to catch on brush or brambles and can be quickly deployed and just as easily returned as the strong magnets find each other. Either of these costs less than $20.

If there’s a camper, hunter or angler on your Christmas list, a Bedford, Massachusetts, company called ThermaCell has a couple of great gifts. They produce several sizes of very portable insect repellent devices perfect for keeping biting pests at bay and allowing bear, turkey and deer hunters to remain quiet and inconspicuous rather than fidgeting and batting at bugs. ThermaCell has now ventured into repellent devices that keep disease carrying ticks at bay, with the very real threat of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and other serious illnesses. These ThermaCell devices are an inexpensive and effective way to protect outdoor-oriented friends and family.

ThermaCell also manufactures a wireless, rechargeable set of boot inserts that offers warm comfort by remote control regardless of weather conditions. Ice fishermen, waterfowlers wading or standing in frigid water and even snowmobilers can be assured of comfort for several hours at a time and thousands of quick, simple recharges. Speaking of keeping fingers and toes warm, another great and really inexpensive stocking stuffer is a 12- or 24-pack of chemical hand and foot warmers. They last up to 12 hours, are easy to use, and you just toss them away after the outing.

There’s never a Christmas season when I can’t find one or two items from L.L. Bean that I just can’t live without. This year, there’s a set of magnifying glasses with lightweight nylon frames and tough polycarbonate lenses. They split at the magnetic nose bridge for quick easy on and off, have a neck strap and come in three magnifications. For tying flies at home or putting tiny dry flies on a leader at a favorite pool, these “cheaters” are a must. There’s also a camouflage tote bag with a zipper to keep contents dry and clean. It has three sizes and makes a great field hunting or boat bag. Thirty bucks get the glasses or smallest tote bag, and there’s no cost for shipping.

It would not surprise me to learn that every family in Maine owns at least one pair of Bean boots, I owned four set of various heights and styles this past spring. Now I have five sets and I didn’t even wait for Christmas as I requested them for my birthday in July. Once I spotted the Arctic Grip slip-ons in a spring catalog, I just had to have them. Waterproof, these slip-ons are perfect for spring fishing, everyday winter use as long as there’s no deep snow involved, and for barn or yard work. Just $139 for dry, warm comfort and Bean’s lifetime repair or replace guarantee.

Now if you have a hunter on your gift list who has worked really hard to be on Santa’s “Nice List,” Browning’s firearms division has not just one, but two special limited edition long guns. The Hell’s Canyon rifle and the Wicked Wings A5 shotgun are truly unique works of art. The camo patterns, combined with the burnt bronze Cerakote receiver and barrels, are truly breathtaking, and of course there’s no equal to Browning quality and efficiency. I did a full article on the Hell’s Canyon 6.5 Creedmoor rifle and many professional hunters and shooters consider it the “Gun of the Year.” Visit your local gun shop or check out Browning.com online. Not inexpensive, but average for such quality and features, either firearm would elate any sportsman or woman.

If you’re still in a quandary about the right gift, head down to Ben’s Trading Post in Presque Isle or Mac’s Trading Post in Houlton and wander the aisles filled with bountiful quantities and varieties of every type of outdoor gear imaginable. If you’re heading downstate, a stop at L.L. Bean in Freeport or Cabela’s in Scarborough certainly should help you decide on a perfect present.

If none of these ideas seems to fill your needs, how about a combo hunting and fishing license? In just a few days, a new year arrives and everybody needs a 2018 license. A gift certificate takes all the pressure of a wrong selection off the buyer. The recipient can visit a regional sports shop and pick out anything they want. Last but not least, I had a favorite uncle who always said, “An envelope of greenbacks seems to always be the perfect gift.”

Here’s hoping Santa finds your chimney, there are presents under the evergreen, and the gifts you give bring fun and happiness to the recipient.