Sunday, 4 December 2011

Pat Durkin column: Gift suggestions for outdoors folks.

With Thanksgiving and Black Friday behind us, it's time to get serious about gift-buying for the outdoors geeks and enthusiasts in your life.

If none of the items below interest you, visit your nearest gun, archery or fishing store and buy gift cards. Either that, or suggest your loved one visit the store, and put three items on a wish list you can review when you go shopping.

Meanwhile, here are some specific products to consider:

» Gamehide's Mountain Pass Big Game Vest features a built-in Sherpa-lined hand-muff beneath a roomy cargo pocket. It also has a large cargo pocket in the rear, and several other handy pockets designed for calls, bullets, a flashlight, GPS unit and water bottles. For more information, visit www.gamehide .com or call (952) 895-8740.

» I've been using Snipe-Pod shooting rests since 1997 because they're compact, lightweight and quickly adaptable for most shooting situations. The new Snipe-Pod V2, by Kramer Designs Corp., is even sleeker and handier, and folds flat for easy carrying in a shirt pocket. More information: www .kramerdesignscorp.com, (406) 933-8658.

» Cuddeback's Attack and Attack IR trail cameras promise great photos and long battery life, even during our cold winters. Consider setting the camera to snap pictures every 12 seconds to photograph animals at distances that don't normally trigger sensors. This option is perfect for monitoring fields, food plots and woodland openings. More information: www.cuddeback.com, (920) 347-3810.

» This sounds like science fiction, but the Ozonics HR-200 is an electronic scent eliminator that originally was designed to destroy foul odors during dental surgery. This device mounts above the hunter's tree stand or inside the ground blind, and uses ozone technology to eliminate bad odors while delivering a clean, fresh-air smell. More information: www.ozonicshunting.com, (979) 285-2400.

» Whether you're a bow hunter or gun hunter, you'll like the compact, convenient accuracy of the Bushnell Scout 1000 "ARC" laser-rangefinder. The ARC (Angle Range Compensation) quickly gives you the exact distance to your target, plus the "shoots-like" yardage in "Bow" mode and bullet-drop/holdover data in "Rifle" mode. It's 4.3 inches long, weighs 6.6 ounces and ranges targets from 5 to 1,000 yards. More information: www.bushnell.com, (800) 423-3537.

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» If you like hunting for shed deer antlers and you own a retriever or other sporting dog, consider cross-training your dog to find shed antlers. The DogBone Shed-Antler Retrieving Kit from Moore Outdoors includes a DogBone dummy antler, antler scent and training manual.

With a few basic training methods and the proper tools, most dogs can be trained to find sheds. More information: www.moore outdoors.net, (920) 615-5788.

» If you're looking for a fun way to stop squirrels from raiding your bird feeders, check out the Yankee Flipper. This spinning bird feeder sends every squirrel flying; humanely, of course. More information: www.drollyankees .com, (800) 352-9164.

» Strike King sunglasses make a great stocking stuffer for anglers. These economical sunglasses work great for ice fishing and open-water fishing, and are available in several models. More information: www.strikeking.com, (901) 853-1455.

» Most anglers never have enough crankbaits, so check out the latest shad and bait-fish imitations from Strike King, Rapala or ThunderStick. I like patterns in chartreuse, dark red, tiger stripes and dark purple colors.

» If your ice-fishing rigs need new line, consider spooling with one of the Vicious Panfish Ice lines in 4-pound test for panfish and 8-pound for walleyes. The Hi-Vis Yellow line is a great option because it's easy to see against snow and ice. More information: www.vicious-fishing.com, (866) 645-0024.

» Women might want to check out Muddy Girl Designs, a new line of outdoors clothing from Moon Shine Attitude Attire. The Muddy Girl Camouflage pattern is available in hats, hoodies, tank-tops, short-sleeve shirts and long-sleeve shirts. More information: www.shineattire .com, (800) 466-6674.

» Campers and shoreline anglers will like the Sport-Brella Chair, a lightweight, fold-up sport chair with an attached, 360-degree swiveling and sliding 46-inch umbrella to shelter you from the sun and wind. It also has a built-in cup holder, bottle opener and item pouch. More information: www.sport-brella .com/sport-brella-chair, (877) 225-7275.

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» Another handy device for hunting and fishing camps is the Drink-N-Plate, a durable, reusable and dishwasher-safe plate and drink-holder combo. Its unique design lets you carry your entire meal in one hand, then eat standing or sitting. More information: www.drinkandplate .com, (888) 717-5283.

» Most hunters and anglers who spend much time around mosquitoes, black flies and no-see-ums know about the hand-carried ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent appliance. These units create a 15-by-15-foot barrier against biting insects. Now campers and patio-dwellers can get similar protection with ThermaCELL's Outdoor Insect-Repellent Lantern, which weighs only 13 ounces. More information: www .mosquitorepellent.com, (866) 753-3837.

» Finally, smart-phone users who like to fish should check out these apps: FishingKnots, NOAA Buoy Data Reader and NOAA Weather Radio. I've learned how to tie every knot used by the Navy and Boy Scouts, but I can't remember more than five of them, so the FishingKnots app refreshes my memory. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration apps help me monitor weather conditions anywhere in the country, as well as wave heights and wind speeds on the Great Lakes.

OK. That's it for another year. I hope something caught your eye and will help you enjoy the outdoors even more in 2012.

≈~≈Daily Catch Team≈~≈

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