The Captain’s Christmas Gear Guide: Captain’s Column
By Matt Schauer

Posted: December 20, 2012

Christmas is only 5 days away!

Time is running out, so I thought it would be a good idea to give you some ideas when you go shopping for the outdoor person on your Christmas gift list.

As always, there are many new products and gadgets that the outdoor person on your list would be excited to receive. There is also items that seem simple, but get used all year long: socks, a sweatshirt, a tackle box, and even a pair of long underwear.

Every year, we all here, “I need to buy a Christmas gift, for so and so, but he/she already has everything.”

A gift card always works well… and they’re easy to buy.

Here is another helpful hint! People tend to put the person into a dollar category when they go shopping for a gift. For instance you might have a person on your list you want to spend up to $10 or another person you feel comfortable spending up to $50. Maybe you have no limit!

So, here it goes:

  • A 28 lead camo flashlight
  • A duck, goose, elk, turkey or cow elk call
  • A GoPro video camera
  • A meat grinder or smoker to help them enjoy their deer, elk, and fish year round
  • A box of their favorite Hi Country spice or maybe a flavor they haven’t tried
  • A membership in a local trap club
  • Membership in a Wildlife Conservation organization
  • A Gerber or Leatherman tool
  • A SD card that fits in your Garmin GPS from HuntingGPSMaps that shows Montana land ownership and private and public boundary lines
  • Four or five crankbaits good for trout, walleye, or northern pike
  • A gas powered ice auger
  • A sportsman sled to haul gear
  • A pair of boots to use for hunting and ice fishing
  • A pair ice cleats to fit over their boots while on the ice
  • A bucket with a nice swivel seat, good for a waterfowl blind or for ice fishing
  • A pair of wool gloves and warm winter socks
  • A pair of snowshoes
  • A day ski lift ticket at a local ski area
  • A helmet for skiing or snowmobiling
  • A Strike a Fire Starters
  • A gift for his or her hunting dog
  • A two way radio-comes in handy all year long
  • A 12-volt operated electric air pump for low tires or rafts
  • A dozen of assorted flies
  • Tip-ups if the angler on your list likes to ice fish for walleye or pike
  • A pair of slippers
  • Any warm flannel long sleeve shirt (buy it big)
  • A fanny pack to keep gloves and stocking hats all in one place
  • An ice strainer (it helps them clear ice out of their ice fishing hole)
  • A dozen arrows and a membership into the local archery shooting club
  • A target for them to use while practicing with their bow
  • A oil change
  • A thermos
  • A knife
  • A range finder
  • A gas card

Hope this helps and have a Merry Christmas!

-Captain

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