How do you shop for the hunter in your life? Maybe they don't hunt, but they fish. Maybe they don't even fish, but they just like being in the outdoors. Outdoor enthusiasts aren't always easy to shop for, but it's a task that is far from impossible. When the holidays roll around, and you start thinking about the gifts for the hunter or angler in your life, there are always options you can turn to. This list is far from complete, but there's sure to be something for just about everyone, at all kind of price points. Even if this list doesn't have that gift they can't go without, it's sure to have something that triggers another idea to go under the tree for Christmas morning.
The holidays are going to be here before we know it. The rut may still be in full swing, and the first snowflake has yet to fall, but before long it's going to be all hot cocoa and mistletoe, and the last thing you want is the wait until the last minute.
Happy shopping!
Everyone needs a good cooler. It doesn't matter if it's to bring fish back from the lake, or game quarters back from a hunt. Grizzly Coolers retain ice and keep contents cold for the duration. Grizzly Coolers offers a variety of sizes of bear-resistant, Made-in-USA coolers that match your group size, activity or trip length. Weekend trip for two or a few? The Grizzly G20 holds 15 lbs. of ice and 24 12 oz. cans. A stainless-steel handle with foam grip provides another way to carry this compact 20 QT camping cooler. Suggested retail $199.99.
No hunter wants boots that leave their feet hurting, tired, or wet. Irish Setter MudTrek rubber hunting boots provide 17 inches of protection from the elements. 100% waterproof. The exclusive ScentBan™ odor control technology kills bacteria and eliminates odor. TempSens technology reacts to your body temperature and sweat level to keep you dry and comfortable. Heavy self-cleaning tread on the bottom of this boot provides excellent traction. Available in unisex sizes to fit men, women and youth. Athletic Fit and Full Fit styles with varying levels of insulation. Starting at $179.99.
Filleting fish can be a tedious task. A quality fillet knife, especially a top-of-the-line electric fillet knife can make it much easier. Smith's Mr. Crappie Slab-O-Matic electric fillet knife has been designed and tested to have the best airflow on the market. The cooling vents and handle placement will ensure endless cleaning capability for that big haul. The Slab-O-Matic comes with a 8" stainless steel blade with sheath for added protection during storage. The only electric fillet knife kit on the market that comes with a 4-1/2" Stainless Steel Ribcage blade with a sheath. Also included is an XL fillet glove for your added protection. Storage of the Slab-O-Matic will be easy when stored in the Marine grade mesh bag. MSRP: $59.99
At some point in our life, we've likely fallen in love with the idea of buried treasure. Short of an old pirate map that marks the X, finding that treasure can be impossible. Unless you have another tool for the job. From the world leader in metal-detecting technology, Minelab’s VANQUISH Series metal detectors are advanced, easy-to-use, and offer uncompromising performance that won’t break the bank. Simple yet powerful, VANQUISH is the smart choice for anyone starting out or stepping up their detecting game. Featuring powerful Multi-IQ technology, multiple Find Modes, a lightweight and collapsible design and much more, VANQUISH detectors deliver more fun and more results, regardless of experience. Retail prices start at just $199.99.
Who doesn't want to up their fieldcraft skills? The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) offers videos covering topics that appeal to today’s bowhunter - the tradition of bowhunting, vintage bowhunting footage, survival skills needed in an outdoor emergency, scenic footage and safety messages. Skills of the Survivor Video offers you up-to-date information that acquaints you with the skills necessary to survive an outdoor emergency. Hosted by Peter Kummerfeldt, one of the world's leading authorities on survival. Kummerfeldt has extensive global experience, spent 30 years as an Air Force Survival instructor and then worked as a professional hunting guide in the Rockies. Practical survival training for outdoor enthusiasts. Available on Flash Drive for just $15.00.
Anyone that hunts wishes they had more trail cameras. The LINK-MICRO-LTE is a great option when shopping for that hunter in your life, because even if you're on a budget, you can give a lot of camera. If they are new the cellular camera scene, it's perfect because SPYPOINT is the only cellular trail camera company that doesn't require a plan to get it into the woods. Any paid plans are flexible and affordable if they do decide to go that route, but you can give it as a gift knowing they can get a lot of use out of it, even if they don't opt to pay for a plan. The LINK-MICRO-LTE gets photos from the field, right to your hunter's phone thanks to the SPYPOINT app, also free. It's a great option for the hunter on your list.
Has the hunter on your list had a rough deer season? Not seeing many deer, but seeing plenty of coyote sign? Have they been talking about needing to do something about it, but they aren't sure where to start? Hoosier Trapper Supply makes getting up and going with coyote trapping easier than ever with their starter kits. The Coyote Trappers Special Package #1 comes with traps, anchors, baits, lures, and accessories so your hunter can turn their attention from deer season to trapping season without missing a beat. It even comes with a DVD to get them going on the basics of coyote trapping so they can help make a dent in the predator population, and give next year's fawn recruitment a real shot in the arm. Starting at $123.99.
Nothing says love like a home-cooked meal. Enjoy the convenience of cooking on an oven and cooking top, anywhere with the Camp Chef Professional Outdoor Oven. Your new favorite camp oven now has thermostatic oven control and a higher (5,000 BTU/hr) internal oven output. Brew coffee at the campsite or cook asparagus in the Alps. Wherever you go, your camp oven is both dependable and durable for all conditions. While Camp Ovens are nothing new for Camp Chef, they upgraded this unit to include thermostatic temperature settings to offer you appliance-like control. Purchase this for the campsite, tailgate, emergency preparedness, or hunting cabin. MSRP: $399.99
Anyone that shoots for sport, competition, or recreation should take hearing protection seriously. The Howard Leight Impact Sport In-Ear Hear-Through Protection with Bluetooth is designed for hunters and shooting sports participants who want comfortable, lightweight, high-NRR in-ear hearing protection that still allows them to easily hear – even amplify – what’s going on around them, with the additional advantages of wireless Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. Featuring a highly-competitive NRR of 29dB, Impact Sport In-Ear Hear-Through Protection with Bluetooth activity listens and automatically stops amplification when loud impulse sounds exceed 85dB. Easy-to-use Bluetooth controls are integrated right into the device and there are separate volume controls for both Bluetooth audio and the ambient sound entering the earphones via the dual, external microphones. Impact Sport In-Ear Hear-Through Protection with Bluetooth comes with three pairs of foam ear tips (small, medium and large) and flexible, moldable ear hooks for a customized and secure fit on any wearer. Impact Sport In-Ear with Bluetooth’s rechargeable 200 mAh lithium battery delivers up to 10 hours of run time on a full, two-hour charge. A USB-C charging port, charging cable, and compact carrying case complete the package. MSRP is $165.
Who doesn't love a good hoody? Hunters never have enough hoodies, partly because everyone else around them is always stealing them. All the more reason to make sure the hoody you buy your hunter is one you would want for yourself. Obviously, we're going to a little biased here, because we are in love with our new badge hoody. That said, we can't say we aren't a big fan of this design from Sporting Journal Radio. We, like most hunters, are proud that we hunt. Let your hoody say it for you! Even if the rest of the design isn't accurate for the hunter in your life, they'll feel good knowing you think so!
Even once Christmas has passed, there's still a chance your hunter will have some season left to fill those last tags. Late-season hunting can be notoriously uncomfortable, with some of the harshest weather of the year. That's where ScentLok BE:1 Divergent Apparel comes in. Engineered for pinnacle late-season comfort and deadly quiet performance, the ScentLok Bowhunter Elite Series Divergent Jacket and Pant feature an unheard-of combination of premium features, technologies, and intelligent bowhunting design resulting in more warmth, more comfort, more protection from the elements, and maximum advantage over a whitetail’s defenses. Elite-level warmth without unnecessary bulk comes via premium, thermal-mapped Primaloft® Gold insulation, while proven-deadly Carbon Alloy™ technology delivers maximum odor adsorption. A removable, built-in, adjustable hood and facemask provides additional concealment and protection from the elements while also helping contain and lock away metabolic odors from the mouth, nose, hair and facial skin. A Primaloft® gold aerogel electronics pocket extends the battery life of mobile devices in cold conditions. Available in multiple sizes and a variety of top camo patterns to meet the needs of any hunter. MSRP is $379.99 to $399.99 per piece.
Few things look better in a cabin than a beauiful piece of waterfowl taxidermy. For the waterfowlers on your list there's the 6-pack of Flambeau Outdoors Gunning Series™ Mallard Decoys. The Gunning Series™ Decoy’s anatomically inspired rounded hull features a low-profile, blade keel with stainless steel insert weights for live duck performance in all conditions, including mere inches of water. This skeg-style keel, in combination with the decoy's carefully engineered curved underside tips the cap in gratitude to what our decoy carving predecessors knew best—a design that makes these decoys ride the water like a live duck. MSRP - $121.49
If the hunter on your list leaves the ground to climb a tree stand, and is doing it without a safety harness, this is the gift you absolutely need to the buy them. The reintroduced HSS-ProSeries combines the latest technology in treestand safety with the classic features that made this harness a fan favorite. The new ProSeries is treated with ElimiShield® Hunt™ Scent Control Technology, killing human odor before it forms for the life of the harness. The harness is 40% lighter, thanks to new, lightweight fabrics and ventilating mesh. The built in USB port connects your USB compatible device to a USB battery pack (not included). The ProSeries still features bino straps and eight pockets to hold all your gear. All of this is built on the patented Hunter Safety System design hunters have trusted for over 15 years. MSRP - $159.99
Keeping firearms, ammo, and other valuable secure is a must. Gun safes are great for exactly that. But have you ever had to move, and suddenly, when it's time to get that gun safe loaded up for it's next home, your friends are suddenly busy? Steelhead Outdoors modular gun safes offer convenient security. Your life can take you many places, you can choose a safe will go with you. Two people can assemble and move Steelhead Outdoor safes without special equipment. When it’s time to move, simply take it apart and take it with you. These American made gun safes are available in multiple sizes, colors, lock options and interior configurations to suit your needs. Steelhead Outdoors also offers custom safes and vault doors. Starting at $2,700. Steelheadoutdoors.com
Success on the water requires versatility. Bass may respond to squarebills at first light, pivoting to Carolina rigs by midmorning and Ned Rigs after lunch. To catch fish all day – every day – anglers need a comprehensive selection of handcrafted, precision-balanced rods that provide the strength, accuracy, and dependability required to best every adversary. For 2021, G. Loomis introduced the new GCX series: A collection of 23 casting and spinning rods offering anglers a competitive advantage. G. Loomis engineered each GCX blanks using proprietary Multi-Taper Design technology to enhance durability while further decreasing the blank’s weight. A series of “micro tapers” within the overall taper of the rod, the exclusive Multi-Taper Design process enables rod engineers to use more material on potential stress points and less material everywhere else. The result is a broad library of precisely defined rod lengths, powers, and actions that strike the perfect balance between durability and performance. GCX rods have an MSRP of $249.99 to $279.99
Hopefully you were able to find that perfect gift for the hunter or angler on your shopping this this holiday season. If you didn't, hopefully we at least gave you an idea or two to work from. It's the season of giving, and we hope you enjoy shopping for your hunters as much they enjoy hunting for a good present for you!
