Holiday gift ideas for the outdoor enthusiasts

Christmas is only two weeks away and for those procrastinators who wait for the last minute because they don’t know what to get for their outdoor person, I’d like to suggest some options.

Of course, buying a new firearm or a new rod and reel setup are always possibilities. So is a box of ammunition, some new fishing tackle like lures and spoons, or a new fillet or skinning knife. Clothing for the appropriate outdoor adventure can also be given, but let’s look slightly outside the box for some other ideas.

Anybody who ventures outside for whatever type of adventure will probably be wearing some type of shoe or boot, be it rubber, leather, or some man-made material. And guess what — that footwear will probably be wet at the end of the day. I absolutely hate putting on cold, wet boots to begin the day! A boot dryer is the answer to that dilemma. This accessory comes in electric and propane energy source models that I am aware of. I keep an electric model at the house to dry out boots from the day’s hunting or fishing adventure and have used a friend’s propane version at a remote hunting cabin (it seems I regularly manage to find water depths just a little deeper that my boots are tall!).

I became enamored with boot driers after the following little adventure. I was on a sheep hunt with a friend several years ago where it snowed about 8 inches the night before opening day. We spent a good part of opening day walking through the snow glassing for animals. The temperatures had warmed up and both of us had thoroughly soaked leather boots (the grease I had treated my boots with before the trip didn’t work at all). It froze that night. The next morning, my friend, in all seriousness, offered me $20 cash to wear his boots until they were at least thawed out! I declined because I didn’t think my feet would survive thawing out two pairs of boots!

Speaking of feet, keeping your toenails in good condition and keeping them properly trimmed by getting a good set of nail trimmers really helps. I bought a new large version of a nail trimmer at a thrift shop several years ago and it’s the best thing I’ve done for my feet in years.

While we’re a little light on snow right now, a set of snowshoes and/or a pair of trekking poles can open up a lot of different possibilities for winter activity. Hiking, hunting, ice fishing, or emergency travel if your snowmobile breaks down are all uses I have put my snowshoes to over the years (I always carry the snowshoes on my machine but I haven’t had to use them because of a breakdown – yet!).

If you happen to use those new snowshoes for any winter trip, stopping along the way to heat up a warm drink or food item can be a real comfort. Carrying a small propane or butane camp stove and some minimal cooking gear can really top off the adventure. A good set of ice-creepers, either for your shoes or snowshoes or both, can save your bacon anytime you’re out on icy surfaces like streets or black ice areas.

In this time of short days and long, dark nights, having a small flashlight in your pocket can make all the difference in trying to find and unlock the lock on your front door to get into the house. Any type of small light will work but I’m fond of a small LED unit because of the extended battery life and brightness of the actual light.

If you process your own game and/or fish at home, there are several items that can make your life easier. A good set of butchering or filleting knives are always welcome. If you handle enough meat to make the investment worthwhile, a good quality, larger-capacity grinder might be in order.

For my grinder, I invested in a foot switch which makes grinding burger and stuffing wrapping tubes a breeze. A freezer paper stand with a roll of freezer paper is also good. A vacuum packer with extra bags works great for either fish or game. I like to shop military surplus stores for some of these items because the genuine surplus is always well built, functional, and often cheaper. And, if all else fails, there’s always a gift card redeemable at your outdoors person’s favorite store. Have a merry Christmas!