Shopping for sportsmen is easy
The sportsman on your holiday gift list might be the easiest person to please. Here are some gift suggestions, generic and specific.
•For the fly-fisher, you can never go wrong with fly patterns specific to the angler’s favorite river or lake. Clerks at any good fly-fishing shop can help make the selections. Cost: $12-$18 per half dozen.
•For any firearms hunter, sportsman’s ear plugs are an essential that’s often overlooked. The Sonic Valve II plugs enable you to listen for game while blocking most of the impact noise from the gun shot. Cost: $18.
•For the bird hunter, get some high-quality soft-leather shooting gloves, which protect the hunter from scratches in thorn brush while retaining good trigger touch. I wear out a pair of Bob Allen brand every other year.
•For the bird dog handler, spend a few bucks and a little time to customize your own “Marriage-Saver Skunk Attack Emergency Kit,” an item as essential as a spare tire. In a plastic food container, assemble one quart of hydrogen peroxide plus ¼ cup baking soda and one teaspoon of liquid soap in separate bags or containers. Also include a small sponge, plus these instructions:
To de-skunk dog and save your skin should you attempt to come back home, mix all enclosed ingredients in the plastic container. Apply the mixture to the dog and take him for a half-hour walk. Rinse the dog with water, being careful to keep the mixture out of its eyes.
•For anglers who troll for big fish, the new Folbe Advantage Rod Holder has a unique quick-release design that works remarkably well when big fish such as salmon, steelhead and sturgeon weigh in heavy on the line. See the short video clip on how it works at www.folbe.com. Although Sportsman’s Warehouse may carry it soon, the only way to get it in this region before Christmas is to order from Cabela’s or call the Seattle manufacturer direct at (206) 762-9674. Cost: $35.
•For powerboaters who drop anchor, the EZ Anchor Puller from EZ Marine Products us a small pulley device that eliminates the danger of sinking your boat while pulling anchor. Combined with a buoy, the puller used the power of the boat to pull the anchor to the surface. The puller also can be used off the water as a hoist that’s perfect for hanging an elk for skinning. Other similar pullers are not nearly as durable. Available in Spokane at Skipper Bills. Cost: $35 for puller or $74 for puller with ball buoy.
•For sportsmen who actually bring home fish and game, get a good-quality vacuum packer to extend the freezer life of the meat. Shop a little, since cheap packers don’t pump out the air properly. The GameSaver Turbo from FoodSaver® is worth looking into at www.foodsaver.com. Cost: $300.