If you have a sportsman or an outdoor-oriented woman on your holiday gift list, finding just the right present to put under the tree can be difficult. Anglers, hunters, shooters, archers, campers, boaters and other woods and waters enthusiasts tend to be particular, even choosy, about their gear and equipment. The older they are, the more stuff they have accumulated, so perhaps the answer is to replace what they are low on, what’s worn out, or find a brand new product.
There are a few items that every cast and blast enthusiast requires regularly. I call them “renewable resources,” and they make great moderately priced presents. Every skeet, trap and sporting clay shooter needs shotgun shells; target shooters and plinkers want more small arms ammo; and of course a box or two of rifle or shotgun field loads are appreciated by big game, waterfowl and upland bird hunters. Sneak a peek or ask a family member to check so you buy the right caliber, weight and brand of cartridges or the correct gauge and pellet size of shot shell.
If there’s a fisherman on your gift list, there’s a wide variety of likely choices. Who can’t use a few more flies, lures or plugs to replace those lost or worn out every season. A few spools of leader material, a new net or creel or perhaps a nifty set of line snippers or hook remover on a retractable zip line are all very useful. If the recipient is a bait caster or bass fisherman, a couple of spools of top-notch monofilament, a couple of packages of hooks and non-toxic sinkers and bobbers make great stocking stuffers.
A number of the Christmas gift ideas mentioned in the story are displayed here. The only problem is that once you buy them, sometimes you really don’t want to give them away.
(Courtesy of Bill Graves)
If your sportsman hunts or fishes, he is going to need a new license the week after Christmas, so why not put one under the tree? How about a one or two year subscription to a favorite outdoor magazine to bring some warm memories and future hope to an otherwise cold, dark season. There are a couple annual “big books” for firearm enthusiasts, Gun Digest and The Shooters Bible, that offer plenty of stories and gun info. The “Blue Book of Gun Values” is an amazing wealth of info on any firearm manufactured.
Now if there’s a really special someone on your Christmas list and they have been especially good this year, I have a few neat ideas. Any Maine outdoorsman worth his salt owns or uses a boat, snowmobile, cargo or utility trailer and sometimes each requires a different ball and receiver depending on trailer size, torque weight, and height. I finally found a single unit that can handle every situation and even flips out of the way when not in use to prevent those painful shin and knee bruises.
Built by BW trailer hitches, the Tow and Stow adjustable ball mount offers 1-7/8”, 2” and 2-5/16” balls that rotate into position quickly and simply to fit any trailer tongue. By pulling a couple of pins, the hitch can offer a 3” drop or 3.5” rise in one-inch increments for level towing, and the outer unit flips and stows under the receiver arm with two more pin adjustments. Available in chrome or black powder coat, this hitch is a multi-task wonder and a long-lasting gift.
If you have a duck or goose hunter to buy for, there’s a new and improved layout blind that may just be the new king of the hill thanks to several technical advances. Rig ’Em Right waterfowl builds the Lowrider 3.0, with a steel frame for durability. This blind is long and wide for big man comfort, but low profile to fool keen-eyed waterfowl. Featuring a multi-layered padded seat, backrest and headrest for comfort and warmth, this blind is lightweight and compact to carry into the field. Best of all, there are no pins, and even when wearing gloves this blind can be assembled and ready to use in less than 60 seconds. The Lowrider comes in Gore Optifade camo, which is perfect for regional agri-fields.
Technical advances in outdoor optics such as scopes, binoculars and rangefinders have expanded so far in the last decade that it borders on science fiction. At the top of the list are thermal optics and in particular Leupold’s LTO Tracker HD thermal viewer. This compact, light monocular unit is a must for hunters as it will pick up and vividly display the heat signature of an animal (alive or dead), blood trail, recent tracks and more, day or night. It’s second generation thermal sensor will detect heat out to 750 yards. At only seven ounces with a fixed focus, 6X digital zoom, and extended battery life, the Leupold’s LTD tracker HD will soon be as essential as a good knife and your favorite game gun on an outing.
It used to be when someone heard the name Yeti, they thought of the abominable snowman. Nowadays, sportsmen associate it with the premier brand of coolers. Yeti also offers tumblers, bottles, totes, backpacks and soft sided bags for cooling as well as hard-sided carry and rolling cases. The coolers are extremely effective and stylish, yet tough and durable for use in any outdoor ventures and with a size for every need. You can carry a six-pack of soda or the meat of a moose, just select the shape and size for your personal outing. Every rod, gun and boating enthusiast needs at least one cooler. My day to day favorite for local outings is the Yeti Hopper Flip 18. I’ll bet you find one just right for someone on your list.
If you have a chance to visit L.L. Bean’s Freeport store or just shop online, the options are extensive. Shoppers seem to find something for themselves as well as others. Check out the new Tropicwear long sleeve fishing shirt with built in sun protection or the classic Upland shirt in hunter orange. Both are tough, long-lasting garments for any angler or hunter. In the way of fantastic footwear, which Bean is famous for, I chose a pair of the new StormChaser slip-on shoes. Top rate for slush, light snow, mud and wet ground, excellent non-slip traction and comfortable; great low top choice for work or play.
Finally, the Maine Warden’s Day Pack offers another great gift idea for any venture. The pack body is water resistant while the bottom is waterproof, and there’s a fleece lined pocket for glasses, binoculars or electronics. Multiple pockets of various sizes and many loops offer the chance to carry water bottles, fly rod case, bipod and even a hydration bladder. There are two sizes available in dark olive and for woods or water. This is the carry-all to own.
Many of these items can be found at local rod and gun shops or at least ordered. Others are easily researched and even ordered online from the manufacturers. I’m certain one of the gift ideas will fit a deserving sportsman on your holiday list. I’ve found it very rewarding to give top quality, useful presents at Christmas as then I might be able to borrow them in the New Year!
