Holiday gift ideas for those who love the outdoors

If you’re buying a gift for your favorite outdoor person, it certainly helps to have some idea of what they like. I mentioned some general items in last week’s column. I’d like to get more specific using myself as an example. Are you reading this, Debby? Let’s focus on shooting items to begin.

I inherited a Colt model 1911 handgun in 38 Super caliber from my mother-in-law on her passing a few years ago. The gun is in good condition but has been well used over its eighty-year life span. I’m looking to replace the original plastic grips with a new set of rubber ones and I recently ordered some replacement magazines so I can retire the originals. I found everything on sale with the grips costing around 17 dollars and the magazines also at 17 dollars apiece.

I located a firearm online, the model of which I had been thinking about getting for some time, to round out the collection of Savage model 24’s that I have. This one has the 22 Magnum barrel over the 20-gauge barrel and is brand new in the box. While I’m paying more than I would have preferred for it, finding a firearm that hasn’t been made in nearly forty years still brand new in the box with all the paperwork justifies the price, at least in my mind.

I already have the scope and rings I will mount on the gun but, since I also plan to mount a sling, which I also already have, I’ll need to order the sling swivels and studs to fit this model. I’ll need to attach a hammer extension on the gun to facilitate cocking the hammer when the scope is mounted. I just found all these items online and on sale.

About three years ago, I got in on a sale for the Glock model 40 MOS handgun in 10mm. I’m not a big fan of Glock handguns because they don’t fit my hand quite like other maker’s guns. However, this Glock sells for about half of what the other makers’ comparable handguns go for, and my fixed income limits spending. My mother used to say I had champagne tastes but a beer pocketbook!

I bought the gun to use as both a hunting tool (primarily tree stands) and as a potential self-defense gun when fishing or brush-busting. Either use requires proficiency in shooting the handgun — and that means practice. Loading magazines with cartridges for a large capacity semi-auto can wear down your hands. I found a magazine loading tool which works well (I have the same type for other semi-auto handguns I own) and ordered it in the same order as this other stuff I mentioned. The cost for the magazine loader was 10 dollars and the shipping was free on a promotion.

The point I’m making here is that, minus the Savage model 24 firearm, everything else is an accessory item costing less than 20 dollars per unit. However, the trick is knowing what to get. My wife and I decided several years ago to dispense with Christmas morning gifts and get what we wanted whenever and consider the purchase as one of our seasonal gifts.

However, if you still look forward to the Christmas morning gift exchange, you now have a sense of some stocking stuffers or small packages your recipient might enjoy — but ask first to get individual items of interest to your person.

Switching to fishing gifts, specifically ice-fishing, I’ve been thinking about getting an ice shelter for a year or two to use primarily as a warming shelter and possibly as an actual fishing and/or spearing “hut.” I also found this item online and on sale and was able to order it with in-store pick-up which eliminated shipping costs.

Last year, I had my ice-auger roll out of my tow-behind snowmobile sled while returning to my truck. I thought I had it well tied in, but obviously not! I had to backtrack about a mile to retrieve the unit. Last spring, I ordered an auger carrier designed to fit on an ATV rack to carry the auger. I think it will work on the back rack of my snowmachine. I’ll know in a day or so when I install the carrier. That should eliminate any “lost” augers while out ice-fishing.

If all else fails and you don’t have a clue what to buy your favorite nimrod, at least ask what their favorite outdoor store is and get them a gift card!