December 2007

UNDER THE TREE
by Arni Dunathan

No group of people is more difficult to gift than outdoor enthusiasts. The worst among them are hunters. I ought to know. I am one.

What makes us so difficult is we already know what we want and, if we can afford it, have already bought one. If not, we're saving for it.

With 60 years of experience getting and giving outdoor sporting gifts, here are some suggestions for buying presents your hunters will appreciate.

DON'T

1. Don't buy firearms for other people. No piece of sporting equipment (Ok, maybe golf clubs.) is as intensely personal as a gun. All the vagaries that together make a shooting iron a favorite -- fit, finish, weight, balance, pointing qualities, etc., etc., etc., -- are so subtile that no matter how sure you are that he or she will like it, almost any gun will disappoint. Give money or a gift certificate instead.

2. Don't buy anything electronic including, but not limited to, handheld weather forecasters, mosquito repellers, hunting and fishing predictors, antler scoring devices, bird song identifiers, deer blind locators, digital compasses, and a host of other gadgets no real hunter needs or welcomes. Besides, they all will ultimately fail and leave your loved one disgusted or, worse yet, in danger.

3. Don't buy outdoor clothing unless it's made of wool, cotton, leather, rubber, or goose down. Canvas is OK. All other materials are synthetics and the claims for their performance are bogus. Trust me on that.

4. Don't buy anything --nothing-- that has a trademark you've never heard of. The sporting goods market is drowning in junk equipment nobody will stand behind and won't take responsibilty for. This is particularly true for optics packaged in see through plastic.
DO

1. Buy for love and the security, safety and comfort of your dear ones. If you spend your time listening carefully to what they say about their adventures, gifts will suggest themselves.

If they complain of the cold, give them a MR. BUDDY heater. Nothing works better. Or, buy them a suit of DUO FOLD underwear (cotton lining bonded to a wool shell). Nothing is warmer or more comfortable. If they need outer wear, buy a down filled vest or jacket. It is absolutely the only thing that really works. Lightweight wool shirts are always welcomed.

If they say they get hungry, buy SAM'S CHOICE TRAILMIX. Better, make your own. Include cashews and almonds (no peanuts), real chocolate chips, dried cranberries (not raisins), Good and Plenty (candy covered licorace), and miniature marshmallows. Crackers and cheese take care of the rest. Don't buy nutrigrain or so called nutrition bars. They're indigestable and constipating.

If they say they get thirsty, buy a genuine THERMOS brand vacuum bottle with a glass liner. You may have to go to a thrift shop to find one. Don't buy anything with a stainless steel shell and a mystery material liner; they won't hold heat or cold; don't believe for a minute they will.

Here, randomly, are a few other suggestions.

Buy a good watch with a stainless steel case. Read the back of the case; if it anywhere says base metal, don't buy it. Choose a self winding (kinetic) model, not one powered solely with batteries or light. Expect to pay $100 to $150 for something worth having. Less than that is junk; more is jewery. I like SEIKO.

Buy compact pocket binoculars. Eight power is enough; field of view should be at least 320 feet at 1000 yards. You can stay under $100. I like NIKON.

Buy a clip light (fits on a cap bill). I used one all fall and wouldn't be without it. LED bulbs last to 10,000 hours and batteries will last 24 hours on high beam. Expect to pay less than $20.00

Buy shooter's hearing protectors. A decent pair of range muffs will improve your shooter's accuracy and save hearing for less than $50.00.

Buy a good pocket knife with jigged bone handles. Other handle material is novelty junk and not worth the money. In the field I use MARBLE'S small or medium Trappers depending on the game: under $30.00.

Buy smokers a ZIPPO lighter. There's nothing better. Cases come in dozens of designs; twenty or thirty bucks buys most models. Don't forget lighter fluid and flints.

Buy a good compass. Better yet, buy two -- a pocket model and a pin-on. I like MARBLE'S at less then $20.00.

Buy a membership in any national wildlife conservation group. Look for one with a local chapter near your hunter. I like DUCKS UNLIMITED. But there are ones for virtually every game. They do great good and have wonderful publications.

Finally, if none of these work for you, give your outdoor person the most precious gift of all - TIME: time without worry, time without chores, time without errands, time without duties, time without questions, time off and time out, time to be alone to do what they love.

Hallmark doesn't make a gift card for that. But you know how to write one. From your heart. And if you toss a few hugs and a little walking around money in with it -- perfect.

Have a joy filled Holiday and a peace filled New Year.


© 2007 Arni Dunathan


Arni Dunathan is the author of the newly published collector's guide "The Encyclopedia of MARBLE'S Knives and Sporting Collectibles."