Braxton Taylor
Hunters aren’t hard to buy for. I know this because my wife is married to one. Sure, new hunting rifles, scopes, or binoculars make excellent options, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to bag a thoughtful and practical gift for the hunter in your life. In fact, some of the best gifts for hunters fit in a stocking. Whether you’re last-minute shopping or looking for a few stocking stuffers, here are a few gifts that any hunter would be pleased to open on Christmas morning.
Hunting Knife
Every hunter needs one of the best hunting knives. From EDC to butchering wild game, a solid hunting knife should provide years of reliable, hard use. The Case Trapper offers both a spey and clip blade for a variety of tasks, and the orange handles make it hard to lose when you’re breaking down an animal in the field. If you’re looking to splurge for a premium fixed blade, the MKC X MeatEater Stubhorn should outlive the recipient of this gift.
Field Sharpener
Maybe the hunter in your life already has plenty of knives. If that’s the case, you can’t go wrong with a solid field sharpener. I’ve been carrying the Worksharp Field Sharpener in my hunting pack for several years now. This compact sharpener makes it easy to touch up your knives while you’re in the field and a long way from the truck. It features guided ramps to ensure your blade keeps the correct angle while sharpening. Because sharpening stones wear out over time and they’re easy to misplace, the Worksharp Field Sharpener makes a great backup or truck option.
Fingerless Talus gloves
Like other small items, gloves are easy to lose, so hunters can never have too many pairs. The Fingerless Talus gloves stay in my hunting pack all season long. These lightweight gloves provide plenty of warmth or cover in most hunting scenarios and even make great liners for the late season. Best of all, the fingerless gloves make it easy to navigate your maps or perform other tasks without having to remove them. If you’re looking for an inexpensive and practical gift, you should consider these gloves.
Bluetooth Thermometer
For the grill master, MEATER’s Bluetooth Thermometer provides instant, efficient readings that allow you to monitor your cooking from a phone or tablet. Not only does it provide internal temperatures, but it also estimates cooking and resting times for precise meal planning. This thermometer comes with a premium price, but a serious home chef should appreciate this kind of tech.
Hot Sauce
Looking to spice things up this holiday season? Try MeatEater’s Fire Breather Hot Sauce. You can even get a free bottle when you buy MeatEater’s Smoke Signals BBQ Sauce. This versatile sauce pairs well with a wide variety of foods, and right now, it’s 50% off, that’s a smoking hot deal.
T-shirt
Everyone loves a good T-shirt. For hunters, you’ll find plenty of options in the MeatEater Store for casual, comfortable wear that doesn’t scream hunter. Or, if you’re looking for hunting apparel, any of First Lite’s merino wool or synthetic base layers make great additions to any hunting clothing system.
OnX Membership
Give the gift that keeps on giving, and I don’t mean a jelly-of-the-month membership. Pick up a premium or elite one-year membership for your favorite public land hunter. You’ll save them a few bucks, and they’ll know exactly where they stand, thanks to OnX’s comprehensive mapping system.
Freedom Wall Mount
If you have a spouse or partner, you’ve probably been guilty of buying them a gift that’s secretly for you. Shoulder mounts cost a small fortune. If you want to save yourself and your significant other that small fortune, buy them the MeatEater Freedom Wall Mount. It’ll space, money, and probably a few disagreements.
Nite Ize
I can’t think of a more practical and handy gift than the Nite Ize Gear Ties. If there’s a piece of equipment I use every time I’m in the field, it’s this one. These reusable ties allow you to tether gear to your pack, hold climbing sticks together, or even hold branches back in places where you’re not allowed to cut them. They’re one of the best gifts for saddle hunters, and you can purchase them in a variety of colors and sizes.
Tow Rope
Nothing says practical like a tow rope. Someone always sends me one of these every year, and every year, I’m pleasantly unsurprised by this. Whether you lose your tow rope or cut it in frustration while you’re trying to pack up in the cold and dark, it’s always helpful to have another one on deck. If you’re at a loss for what to buy, good rope is hard to beat.
Headlamp
You’ve probably noticed the common theme with most of these items—it pays to have multiple. This especially applies to headlamps. I never carry less than two headlamps in my hunting pack at all times. I typically carry a rechargeable one and a battery-operated headlamp with extra batteries. I’m not afraid of the dark, but I definitely don’t want to spend the night in the woods when I’m not prepared. You can splurge for a super bright rechargeable headlamp like the Black Diamond Storm 500-R or an affordable Astro 300. Either way, they’ll be excellent gifts.
Stealth Strip
Becoming a successful hunter requires stealth, among other things. While you can’t buy woodsmanship, you can buy Stealth Strip to silence your hunting gear. A roll of this stuff can help you silence your climbing sticks, tree stands, bow shelf, you name it. If you’re shopping for a hunter and not sure what they need, they’ll find multiple ways to use this handy material.
Read the full article here