Gift ideas for sportsmen
MAINELY OUTDOORS
During late November, a handful of buddies joined for a waterfowling outing, and during a lull in the action the subject of new outdoor gear and possible Christmas presents arose. For some reason, I became the brunt of some severe verbal abuse (I shrugged it off as envy). One fellow mentioned, then all agreed that since I already own one, if not two, of most every piece of hunting and fishing gear, it must be a real pain to shop for me.
While it’s true that I have amassed a fair inventory of outdoor gear over the last half-century, there are still some needs, and a lot of wants. Equipment does break or wear out, and some sharp thinker is always coming up with a new or better product. I never seem to have a problem coming up with several ideas for my holiday wish list. That’s right, just like my childhood letters to Santa, I make a list! How are family and friends supposed to get the right shell caliber or gauge, the correct lure color or line size or the best type of decoy or call if you don’t help with a bit of guidance?
Some important cast and blast items are renewable resources used every year and must be replaced before the next season. Hunters and target shooters go through a bunch of shells, sneak or peek at near empty boxes and buy a replacement supply. Bass casters lose lures and go through bags of plastic baits and hooks. Fly fishermen also lose flies or fish chew them up, and all anglers need spools of leader material or new monofilament.
One of the top ideas on my list is a true necessity each and every new year — an annual combination hunting and fishing license! Since Jan. 1 begins the new ice fishing season, it’s a must. There are even lifetime licenses and extras such as archery, muzzleloading, bear, and waterfowl for the all-around sportsman. While you’re at city hall or the town office, you could register a boat and trailer, or an ATV for Dad or your brother. A lot of these things may be purchased online so you never have to leave the house.
Editor’s note: The second half of this column ran in the Dec. 16 edition of The Star-Herald.
