From my Dec. 14, 2016 News Journal column, but with Father’s Day fast approaching, these gift ideas still apply!
There are only so many shopping days left until Christmas, and many of you are struggling with choosing the perfects gifts for the hunters on your lists.
Fear not, because I’ve done the heavy lifting for you by creating a laser-focused holiday gift guide that covers three simple categories: safety, utility and vanity.
Even though Delaware hunters aren’t pursuing man-eating game or traversing mountainous terrain, hunting in the First State is still inherently dangerous. Don’t think of charging grizzly bears or extreme-elevation rock slides; think of falls from tree stands, boating accidents and mosquito-borne diseases instead.
Therefore, rather than giving the hunter in your life a puffy pair of pumpkin orange gloves that will be relegated to a junk drawer, give the gift of life. Seriously. Consider giving tree stand harnesses to prevent complete falls from tree stands or personal flotation devices (PFDs) that can increase survival chances of hunters who are victims of boating mishaps. Various types of PFDs are available at a wide price range, but a somewhat different option is a camouflage flotation coat, like those made by Mustang Survival. Designed for constant wear during hunting trips, Mustang Survival’s camo Sportsman Coat provides hypothermia protection and flotation during an accidental water immersion.
Other safety-related gift ideas include portable mosquito repelling devices and personal safety devices that quickly notify selected contacts in the event of an emergency. The Thermacell Mosquito Repeller handheld device repels possible disease-carrying mosquitoes and other biting insects by steadily releasing allethrin, a synthetic version of the natural repellent found in chrysanthemums. I use the device effectively during spring turkey hunts and late-summer and early fall deer hunts. The React Mobile Sidekick, marketed as a personal panic button that pairs with a hunter’s mobile phone and the React Mobile app, enables hunters (as well as anglers, joggers, students, etc.) to share GPS locations with friends and family and to notify first responders and personal contacts at the click of a button.
Next to safety, utility or practicality is the way to go when considering gifts for hunters. Although hunters will tell you they need specific items, I know better. They usually just want things and act like they need them. When it comes to usefulness and need, however, consider items that facilitate communications. I’ve been in more than one situation in the woods or on the water where cell phone service is non-existent. For situations like those, two-way radios are the way to go. The two-way radios of today are not your father’s walkie-talkies, mind you. Midland Radio offers various two-way radios with ranges up to 38-miles, 36 channels, NOAA weather alerts, and animal call alert sounds. And Motorola offers similar radios with built-in flashlights and hands-free features.
An additional utility-oriented, communication-focused gift idea is mobile phone protection. Most of us have experienced cracked screens after phones have fallen a few feet. So imagine how the phones will look and function (or not) after they fall 25 feet from a tree or get submerged in the chest pocket of waders (it happened). Consider giving drop-proof, waterproof, and mudproof phone cases like those from LifeProof and Otterbox. In fact, if the hunter in your life is a gadget geek, you can even find phone cases from Otterbox that allow users to transform their phones into other hunter-friendly tools, like professional cameras (good for harvest photos), thermal imaging cameras (potentially good for night hunting), and sound systems (that can be used as game calling devices).
Rounding out the utility category, don’t overlook simple staples that make great stocking stuffers. Consider things like flashlights (especially those that mount on hats), extreme cold-weather socks, backpacks, blind bags, rain gear, and tie down cords. When choosing rain gear, consider pants and jackets that are big enough to fit over other clothes but small and light enough to pack and carry, like the camouflage garments made by Frogg Toggs. When looking to purchase tie down cords (for everything from securing gear in truck beds to strapping harvested deer to transport carts), go beyond basic bungees and consider more modern and versatile solutions like the fully adjustable cords and tie-down systems from LoopRope.
Hunters take pride in their hard work and accomplishments, so sometimes they just want to splurge and buy expensive gifts for themselves. Many, however, would much rather have their loved ones enjoy the spirit of giving instead. If any of you are looking to go above and beyond when purchasing gifts this holiday season, I have several recommendations. Consider high-end, high-value (in the $600 to $45,000 range) pocket knives from companies like William Henry or KnifeArt.com.
After all, most self-respecting men carry some sort of knife, so why shouldn’t they carry one that’s worth as much as a car? As an alternative, just purchase the hunter in your life a hunting trip. Think beyond the east coast, beyond the continental U.S, and maybe even beyond your wildest dreams. Alaska, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa are all excellent choices.