As outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen, we always have “needs,” so I thought I would share a few of mine with you to help with your choices.
If you see something on this list, circle it in red and stick it on the refrigerator door.
Now that deer season has come to an end, weekends can find us sitting on the couch, watching TV hunting celebrities shooting big trophy bucks. It’s entertaining, but wouldn’t it be better if you could relive your encounters in the woods and on the water?
I don’t know how many times I’ve watched my Sika deer hunt last October on my GOPRO Hero 4 Black action camera. Santa stopped by Brownells — the world’s largest supplier of handguns and accessories — and picked it up a bit early and dropped it off at my house.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could film that big eight-pointer you’re going to shoot next year, or how about your young hunter’s first squirrel or rabbit hunt this winter? All you need is the GOPRO and its gun, fishing rod and bow camera holder.
Why GOPRO? Foremost for me, it’s easy to use. It has professional video up to 4K30 and records ultra-high-resolution, has built-in WiFi plus Bluetooth and is waterproof to 131 feet. Don’t worry about gun recoil, the mounting backdoors help stabilize the camera. Considering the multitude of indoor and outdoor filming opportunities, the GOPRO is really a family gift. For further details, go to, www.brownells.com.
Henry rifles
In the firearms category, “All I want for Christmas” is a Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 rifle. This little .22 semi-auto carbine is a takedown model that stores all the components easily and safely in the impact- and water-resistant stock, making its total length just 161⁄2 inches. It only weighs 31⁄2 pounds.
This rifle has been a favorite of U.S. Air Force pilots, bush pilots, backpackers, hunters and plinkers. It features an eight-round magazine, ABS plastic stock, adjustable rear and blade sight, Teflon-coated receiver, coated steel barrel and the receiver is grooved for scoping. It also comes in camo. Look for it at www.henryrifles.com.
Predator hunters might want to bring along a Jonny Stewart Wildlife Attractor Max compact caller with that Henry.
Coyote hunters note — this unit has 10 preloaded sounds including cottontail, jackrabbit, rodent and a wireless remote that can operate it from up to 50 yards. Should there be a need for more sounds, two more can be downloaded free.
The Attractor Max includes a 128MB of internal memory, a jack for an extra speaker and weighs just two pounds. It’s powered by four AA batteries and the remote operates on an included 12V, A23 battery. Running time is 6-8 hours. Look for it at www.hunterspec.com.
Havalon
A number of years ago, I visited the Havalon knives booth at the Shot Show and since then, I’ve been carrying their original Piranta knife. I’ve used it to dress many deer and turkey, and in October, used it to dress, skin and quarter my Sika deer. Havalon has a new Piranta-Bolt hunting and skinning knife featuring stronger, thicker #60A blades and a larger handle for improved grip. Features include 12 additional 23⁄4-inch stainless steel blades, ABS shock-grip, green handle with rubber grip insert, ambidextrous thumb studs, easy open for cleaning, liner lock construction, removable holster clip and nylon holster. The overall length is 73⁄8 inches. Go to www.havalon.com.
Fishing
It doesn’t matter how many rods and reels we have in our collection, there is always room for one more. The Bass Pro Shops Extreme Rod and Reel Combo will definitely bring a Christmas-morning smile.
The spinning reel of this versatile combo features a Mag Spool Technology (30 percent wider than others) to deliver longer casts. It also has a speedy 5.1:1 gear ratio. Other features include: six bearings, instant anti-reverse for better hook sets, ultra slim body, carbon fiber drag and lightweight sealed aluminum frame, side cover, and machined aluminum handle.
The rod is RT3 graphite with Powerwall construction giving greater sensitivity for soft bites, Fuji guides with aluminum oxide inserts, and comes with lightweight cork grips. The Extreme combo has over 13 different selections.
Should there be a young angler in your family, consider the Bass Pro Shops’ TinyLite spinning rod and reel combo. The reel is ergonomically designed for young hands with an oversized handle, multi-stop anti-reverse, stainless steel line guide and adjustable drag. The rod measures 5 1⁄2 feet, and is constructed of rugged fiberglass. I suggest surprising them with their own tackle box because this Tinylite combo includes 13 lures. Go to www.basspro.com.
Sorel
Whether following a beagle in hot pursuit of a cottontail, walking on hard water or just shoveling orsnowplowing the driveway, you have to keep your feet warm. My suggestion is a pair of Sorel 10-inch Caribou Wool Pack boots. Their high-performance wool-lined inner boots are waterproof and have handcrafted rubber shells, full grain leather uppers with Aerotrac outsoles, all of which gives you complete protection from the elements. They come with a 9mm removable wool liner and snow cuffs that seal in warmth and are comfortable for outdoor sports and work. Other features include superior wicking ability and conventional toe closure designed for cold weather use. Look for them at www.sorel.com.
Frostline
No matter how well you dress, the body and feet are losing a lot of body heat if your head isn’t warm. I recently found out about the Frostline Hat from a snowmobile and hunting friend.
Designed for extreme conditions, it’s water-resistant and made of an ultralight fabric to keep out the elements without being bulky. A posh, pile-fleece provides warmth and wicking insulation. It has a zip-out mask, fleece-lined earlaps and a form brim that snaps up for greater visibility when needed. Total weight is just 3.4 ounces. Go to www.outdoorresearch.com.
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