Finding the right gift for an outdoors enthusiast should be easy, but it really isn’t.
Experienced outdoorsmen often are particular about their equipment because they know what works best for them, and most generally replace broken or lost equipment immediately.
I can verify this lack of patience and “I need it now attitude” that frustrates folks trying to buy us presents, but I have some suggestions.
Snoop around in gun safes or ammo cabinets, fishing tackle boxes or storage drawers and closets to pinpoint specific brands and calibers of ammo, gun cleaning material, weights and types of lines and leaders and lots of other info.
Target shooters and hunters always need ammunition. Some ammo has been limited and pricey since the pandemic, so check local shops first, then go online to find the best supply and prices.
Every shooter needs targets for sighting in hunting guns, target practice or just plinking with the .22-caliber gun. The standard black and white is available, but there also are vividly colored targets that show a fluorescent dot where the bullets strike and can be seen easily from afar.
They come with multiple peel-off dots to cover holes so the target can be used for an extended outing, even some of the entire targets are peel and stick so no pins or staples are needed.
If there are backyard or gravel pit skeet and trap shotgunners on your list, how about a box of clay targets, often called pigeons or birds. A lot of shotgunners practice year round. A hand thrower costs only $10 or $15, and a mechanical thrower that handles multiple clay targets can be purchased for $50 and up.
Any fisherman on Santa’s route will need a few new flies, lures or bass plugs to replace the ones lost or beaten up with overuse. Or maybe a new landing net — a smaller one for stream fishing or a larger one as a boat net. The new ones are made of a rubberized synthetic material that is better for fish that will be released.
For waterfowlers, Higdon Outdoors is producing a new silhouette goose and duck decoy called Flats. Full size with vivid color and feather detail in feeding and alert poses are Canada, snow and specklebelly goose and mallard duck models available in stationary or motion styles. A two-pronged stand holds the decoy firmly in the ground even in brisk breezes.
The motion style Flats offer lifelike movement via a similar mechanism even in the mildest wind and have a footstep bar to aid setting them into the ground. At $80 to$120 per dozen, Flats are perfect for building a larger spread with fewer expensive full body or shell decoys. Visit higdonoutdoors.com for more info or to order and to see the new flocked models.
There are myriad sizes and styles of flashlight, but for a compact, lightweight illumination source that leaves both hands free to set out decoys, fix a flat tire or tie a fly, a headlamp is the answer.
Check out Black Diamonds Distance LT 1100. Its interchangeable lithium USB rechargeable battery pack offers three levels of light intensity lasting several hours. It costs a little more than $100 at blackdiamondequipment.com.
Cabela’s CSL 2500 lumen spotlight turns night into day for boaters, ATV or snowmobile outings, camping and most other outdoor forays. This handheld light is waterproof and even floats and is shock resistant. Its battery can double as a portable USB power bank. It retails for $89 at Cabela’s.
My final gift idea is for someone really high up on the nice list. It’s the Avery Finisher folding panel blind in MAX 7 camo, which can be set up in minutes. It’s proven effective for hunting turkey, deer, bear and moose. Folded dimensions are 4 feet by 3 ½ feet and it weighs 31 pounds.
The blind has integrated stubble straps for adding more real brush. The window ports are mesh-covered but allow an open view. It also is easy to move. Check banded.com for this blind and lots of other top-rate hunting gear and clothing.
As a couple of final thoughts, a new hunting or fishing license will be needed a week after Christmas. A subscription to a favorite outdoor magazine or perhaps a book on a favorite hobby or sports pastime will help pass a few cold winter nights.
Finally if all else fails, a gift certificate to a favorite local hunt and fish store or one of the big name sporting goods outlets allows the recipient to select just what they want.
Here’s hoping Santa finds your chimney and you’re on his “nice” list.
