More Christmas ideas for outdoor enthusiasts

Let’s continue with some Christmas gift ideas for your favorite Alaskan outdoors person. Last week, we touched on surf fishing items and a couple of reloading equipment pieces. I’ll start by mentioning one more reloading tool.

As you are aware, I enjoy shooting blackpowder cartridge firearms. A gadget that makes reloading these cartridges much quicker and easier is a powder measure which throws accurate amounts of powder. However, because you are working with blackpowder, a standard powder measure, made of steel and plastic, won’t work because of the potential for static electricity or sparks igniting the powder with disastrous results.

I was able to find a powder measure specifically made to handle blackpowder. This measure uses brass and aluminum to eliminate both static electricity and a possible spark. It works great. This piece of equipment is not commonly available and probably will involve a special order through your local gun/outdoor store.

Because of the messed-up national transportation situation the country is currently experiencing, resulting in lots of empty shelves, you might have problems finding items you were hoping to gift to your favorite nimrod. If that is the case, consider giving a gift card which would allow the person to either pick out something else or wait for the specific item to finally reappear on the store shelves.

Both my wife and I are prolific readers, my wife more so than me. Over the years, my wife has given me a couple of magazine subscriptions for both muzzleloading and blackpowder cartridge-oriented periodicals. We have also given each other books of particular interest to us. Having material you enjoy reading on a cold and dark winter day can be very satisfying.

If your outdoors person enjoys fishing, another option, in addition to new tackle or gear, involves learning how to make that gear. Three Rivers Fly and Tackle, in Wasilla, offers both rod building and fly-tying classes. I took the fly-tying class several years ago and learned, not only how to tie different fly patterns, but also came home with a small assortment of flies I had tied myself. I’ve even caught some trout using these same flies!

Both my wife and I enjoy using our RV for sightseeing or fishing trips. I’ve had some concerns about how to transport certain food items, like eggs, without taking a lot of space in the small refrigerator. A good stocking stuffer involves those yellow plastic egg holders you’ll find in the camping section of your favorite outdoor store. Little kitchen gadgets like the egg holders can be handy even in your home, not just when camping.

I enjoy using my ATVs for riding, fishing, and hunting access to various areas. In fact, I’m looking to set up my six-wheeler for beach access this coming summer while surf fishing. As a result, I added a rear bumper this past summer to protect the rear end and provide an attachment point for a surf rod holder/carrier while running up and down the beach. Last year, my wife gave me a long gun carrier which attaches to the seat inside the cab and is specifically designed for my model ATV.

Another stocking stuffer or even a “wrap up and put under the tree” item is a box or two of the ammunition your nimrod tends to shoot through their favorite firearm. That is, if you can find the correct manufacturer, caliber, and bullet weight of the ammo. Ammunition is another item heavily impacted by the supply chain problems brought on by the Covid pandemic and current federal administration policies.

I’m an enthusiastic fan of military surplus clothing and equipment, if you can find an item which exactly addresses the need you have. Surplus stuff is overbuilt in both quality materials and design and will often outlast any “civilian” version filling the same need. I stopped in the local military surplus store the other day and found a small belt pouch perfect for carrying gadgets and reloads which allows me to use a certain muzzleloading pistol I own in the field.

Obviously, icefishing is a going concern now and any avid angler can always use additional lures in varying colors and a good supply of pre-tied bait hooks. A new set of ice-cutting blades for their auger or a few additional one-pound propane cylinders for their heater or propane ice auger will be used with much appreciation.

If you shop around, I’ve noticed that there appears to be a reasonable supply of icefishing gear and tackle available locally.