NEWS
Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - Buying the Perfect Gift for the Sportsmen on Your List
If there’s a sportsman or woman on your gift list this season, selecting an item they will actually use can be a challenge. If they happen to be into fishing as well as hunting, many gifts that work well for one sport also work for the other. DEC recently canvassed some of their fisheries staff who consider themselves “diehard anglers”. When asked what they might recommend for this year's gift ideas for the fisherman on their list, here's what they came up with:
A fishing experience - whether it's to help fulfill their bucket list trip with a licensed guide/charter, or an IOU for a trip to their favorite fishing spot, it'll be something they'll never forget.
A fish and game cookbook.
A kayak crate with rod holders and a place to organize tackle and gear is great for the kayak-fisherman.
Portable battery charger for their boat.
Solar lantern/flashlight/phone charger.
Floating/waterproof phone case.
A nice set of binoculars.
Jigs, lures, flies and rods from a local tackle shop or small business that can offer local information and guidance for your gift selection.
Ice fishing safety equipment (think ice picks, whistle, spud bar, compass, ice spikes).
Ice fishing starter kit (jigging rod, jigs/lures, auger, 5-gallon bucket, ice scoop, etc.).
Heated apparel, especially socks.
Vacuum sealer to keep your catch fresh.
Many of the items listed above, which are perfect for the avid angler, are also a great choice for hunters. The same vacuum sealer that keeps your catch fresh keeps game fresh plus, a fish and game cookbook works for hunters who cook and eat what they harvest. Like fishing excursions, purchasing a guided hunting trip can get expensive. One way to lower the individual outlay is to consider forming a group of gifters/prospective attendees that are willing to share the expense and go-in on the gift for your hunter. An epoch hunting trip could provide the dream “hunt of a lifetime.” A less expensive but perhaps no less memorable alternative plan is an unguided trip for game at a location the recipient-hunter would not arrange for themselves. Heated apparel and socks are definitely great for hunters as well as fishers, and a nice set of binoculars is a key piece of equipment for the hunter on your gift list. The solar lantern/flashlight/phone charger on the fishing gift list also comes in handy whether you’re hunting, fishing, or anytime you’re in the field away from power. A floating/waterproof phone case is great not just for fishermen and duck hunters; Deer hunters may travel using boats or wade, canoe, or kayak when hunting swamps and wetlands in pursuit of their quarry. Camo mittens with magnetic flaps allowing finger access to firearms, calls and equipment are another excellent gift idea. How about a camo fleece neck gaiter which stops heat from escaping and adds real felt-comfort in cold conditions? For deer hunters, unscented scent eliminator spray and unscented bar soap and detergent certainly come in handy. *You don’t necessarily have to buy products marketed for deer hunters which are generally more expensive. Most brands of soaps, detergents, dryer sheets, and wipes etc. come in a scent-free version. Check them first as some claim they are unscented but do emit a fragrance. Gun oil, solvents, patches, and gun cleaning stands/kits can be a good gift for hunters. Buying anything other than a universal cleaning rod however can be problematic. Rods, brushes, and tips are specific to the caliber/gauge of the firearms used by the hunter on your gift list.
While some of the gifts listed are only appropriate for either hunting or fishing, many are great for both. Often, those who hunt also enjoy fishing, so if you purchase a few of the above items, you’re covered. While you can get most of the products listed for your hunter or fisher online, there are benefits to visiting a local gun shop or tackle shop. They are a great source for information on products that hunters, fishermen, and trappers actually need and use. They also have items like lures that anglers find particularly successful on local bodies of water. Plus, they can provide information on where and when to use them when fishing for particular species. Their depth of knowledge can be invaluable, especially if the purchaser has limited expertise and information about hunting and fishing products. So, with a little help, you can pick the perfect gift for the hunter or fisher on your “nice” list!
Good luck shopping, and happy hunting, fishing and trapping until next time!
News and Notes:
The regular firearms season for deer and bear in the Southern Zone closed on Sunday December 10th. The muzzleloading/archery season immediately followed, opening on December 11th and closing December 19th.