The holiday season is at hand and shopping days are dwindling. Most every gift giver is likely to have at least one outdoors enthusiast on their list who enjoys hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, boating, bird watching or photography.
Purchasing just the right present can be a tough task. Sportsmen and women tend to be very particular about their gear, favoring specific styles, brands and types, and often don’t want to wait. We buy it when we see it. I have a few ideas regarding some always necessary annual replacement merchandise as well as a few new, innovative products to consider.
Be sneaky and check gun safes or ammo cabinets, fishing tackle boxes or storage drawers and closets where gift recipients store their equipment. That will pinpoint specific brands and calibers of ammo, gun cleaning materials, as well as weights and types of fishing lines, leaders and various flies and lures that might need replacement. Any anglers on Santa’s route will need a few new flies, lures or bass plugs to replace the ones lost or ruined by overuse.
(Courtesy of Bill Graves)
Also, how about a new landing net, a smaller one for stream fishing or a larger boat net? The newer models no longer use string, nylon or fiber for the netting; instead, a rubberized synthetic material is easier on the fish being released since it doesn’t disturb their protective body slime. Fish and hooks are far less likely to tangle on the thicker, heavier net material, as well.
If you’re shopping for someone who is a .22 plinker, skeet shooter or target gunner, they will need shells or reloading supplies replenished for next year. Every gun or archery shooter will need to replace targets, as well: paper targets for sighting in or just plinking, clay throwing targets for shotgunners and dense foam squares or even animal replicas for archery enthusiasts are all great gifts.
The old black and white bullseye circles are still available, but now there are vividly colored targets that show a bright fluorescent dot where the bullet strikes that can be seen easily from afar. Some even come with multiple peel-off dots to cover bullet holes so the target can be used for an extended outing, and a few companies offer entire targets that are peel and stick so no pins or staples are needed at the range. If the gift recipient isn’t immediate family, enlist help from their family to play detective and offer advice.
Regardless of your particular outdoor endeavor, there’s likely to be a good deal of sitting, and more often than not the surface is very uncomfortable. In many cases there’s also a need to remain fairly motionless for long periods, and with every birthday prolonged sitting becomes a bit more difficult. When I discovered the ThermSeat company of Petersborough, New Hampshire, last year, my hunting and fishing sojourns became a lot more comfortable. I purchased a 3-inch-thick, two-man cushion and a one-man tree stand/blind seat, as well as a kneeling pad.
(Courtesy of Bill Graves)
So far I’ve used the seat cushions in tree stands for long stakeouts for deer and bear, in a goose blind, on an uneven, stoney riverbank gunning puddle ducks over decoys, and on a wet, rocky ledge shooting sea ducks. The single pad was like sitting on a bag of soft, warm marshmallows in my ice fishing shanty or in my turkey blind chair, shielding me from rocks and roots while waiting in a hedgerow for a gobbler. The kneeling pad has cushioned my knee bones and wonky cartilage while I’ve cleaned fish by the stream, dressed a deer and cleaned out auger holes while ice fishing.
That’s a lot of comfort, and I’m sure there’s a ThermaSeat cushion among the dozens of choices that you might find perfect for someone who enjoys camping, boating or just sitting by the campfire. The joy that goes along with the comfort is the really tough, long-lasting material and quality workmanship at a reasonable price.
Speaking of comfortable sitting, let me offer another gift idea that I’ve personally tested with great results. The Blackout Comfort Support blind chair is almost as comfy as the recliner in my den. I’ve used it in ground blinds for big game, waterfowl and turkey blinds and just sitting in natural cover, as well as for ice fishing inside and outside and even on my fishing boat, as well as at many camping and outdoor gatherings.
Made of a strong, weather-resistant mesh fabric with a spacious padded seat and backrest, the chair offers silent, full 360-degree rotation and fold-down padded armrests. The large, swivel feet adjust individually to ensure stability on uneven ground, and the steel tube frame folds for easier transportation. It can hold 350 pounds.
(Courtesy of Bill Graves)
This model of chair and a couple of other styles can be purchased at several online sites or at any Bass Pro or Cabela’s store. It has dozens of outdoor uses and more comfort for a great price. Maybe put one on your own Christmas list, too.
Blackout also has a wide array of archery targets, including several sizes of the multiple-sided square block variety and even foam game animal forms for use at the range or backyard. There are some targets built especially for the speed and power of crossbow bolts. With the recent inclusion of crossbows in several Maine archery seasons, more hunters are taking up the sport and a top rate target would make a great gift.
My last suggestion is a bit expensive, but you can’t put a price on the life of a dear friend or family member. Thousands of outdoor ventures provide enjoyment and excitement, but sooner or later there’s going to be an accident, medical emergency, vehicle malfunction or a person lost in the woods. Many locations in Maine’s remote woods and waters offer no cell phone service and therefore no quick call for assistance.
(Courtesy of Bill Graves)
Garmins’ inReach mini 2 is a lifesaving help and rescue option in a 2-by-4-by-1-inch, 3.5-ounce, shockproof, weatherproof shell. It uses satellite connectivity to text, e-mail or send an interactive SOS. Other features include trackback routing, a live tracking system so others can follow your location and progress in real time, along with a digital compass, current weather service info and up to 14 days of battery life.
A flexible reasonably priced satellite subscription that can be started and stopped as needed is required. There’s currently a seasonal sale on this product that could save your life. Even if an outdoorsman or woman never has an emergency situation, the dozens of other features make this a wonderful gift.
As a couple of final thoughts, a new hunting or fishing license will be needed a week after Christmas. It’s a great stocking stuffer. 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, a gift certificate to a favorite local or online hunting and fishing store allows the recipient to select just what they want.
Here’s hoping Santa finds your chimney and you’re on his nice list. Have a safe and healthy holiday.
