Outdoor writers spend their lives eating, breathing and writing about the outdoors. Who better to help put together a comprehensive list of potential Christmas gifts for the outdoorsy folks in your life.
Members of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) were asked to do just that. Founded in 1956, AGLOW is one of the oldest outdoor communicators associations in the country. Its more than 400 members includes writers, publishers, broadcasters, electronic media specialists, bloggers and tourism professionals.
Here's the list of potential Christmas gift ideas they put together this year:
1.Kenny’s Christmas Kit- Al’s Goldfish have an amazing flash and twist in the water because of their unique design and flashy plating. people actually make earrings out of these beautiful lures. I picked these versions that have hooked about every fish imaginable, including saltwater versions. However, my favorites are the old fashion gold plated Goldfish and the silver with blue 49'r Spoons. www.alsgoldfish.com.
2.Why Women Hunt by KJ Houtman is a beautiful coffee table book any man or woman of the outdoors would enjoy displaying and reading. Delve deep into the outdoor stories of what brings us joy and helps us define who we are by ordering a gift copy at www.whywomenhunt.com.
3. In the Land of the Bear by Denny Geurink - Here's the perfect Christmas gift for someone who likes to read stories filled with excitement, adventure and danger. The Chapter titles say it all: Journey To The Evil Empire, Hanging Out With The KGB, Bear Drags Off Man In Sleeping Bag, Bear Stalks U.S. Astronaut and much, much more! targetcommbooks.com
4.Smith's Slab-O-Matic Electric Fillet Knife - offering the best airflow on the market; cooling vents and handle placement ensure endless cleaning capability. The Slab-O-Matic features: 8" stainless steel blade with sheath and the only electric fillet knife kit with a 4-1/2" Stainless Steel Ribcage blade/sheath; and an XL fillet glove. Stores easily in the Marine grade mesh bag. https://smithsproducts.com.
5. Galco’s EDC Valet Tray keeps everyday carry items together and secure on a night table, dresser, or anywhere else. Made from premium Latigo dark Havana leather, it features sturdy brass-riveted construction. At 2” high and 9 3/4” diagonal, it offers plenty of space. It’s the ideal solution to the nightly “pocket dump”! mikeb@galcoholsters.com
6. G. Loomis GCX- iconic actions and innovative design that anglers have come to expect. Utilizing G. Loomis Multi-Taper Design technology to engineer technique-specific rods, the GCX collection features ultra-durable blanks with powers /actions to boost effectiveness on the water. Ultra-lightweight SeaGuide Hero One guides on carbon-built blanks minimize line tangles and maximize casting efficiency. www.gloomis.com
7. Tennessee River Fishing Adventure - The New York Times named Chattanooga, Tenn. one of the "Top 45 Places to go" in the world. Tucked between the mountains along the beautiful Tennessee River - that's where multiple guides can take you on the fishing adventure of a lifetime.
8. Hi Mountain Seasonings Variety Pack #3 - Features Original, Hunter’s Blend, Bourbon BBQ, Jalapeno and the new Spicy Lime Blend - five different flavors. Each flavor is a special blend of seasonings and spices that perfectly compliment wild game or store-bought meat. Available online at www.himtnjerky.com . Two other Variety Packs are also available.
9. BPS Extreme Boat Bag - My Extreme Boat Bag is well traveled. It’s been to Alaska, Costa Rica, both coasts of America and more. It’s ridden in overhead compartments in airliners, in the back of pick-up trucks, in canoes and cruise ships. Most notable, it’s ridden on the front deck of my boat hundreds of times since I bought it over 20 years ago. The one I have is “jumbo” measuring 30X14X14.—Mike Schoonveld
10. Hunting Camp LIVE - Know an adult who's curious about hunting? Hunting Camp LIVE delivers online courses for those interested in taking first steps into the hunting world. From animal biology to equipment basics and wild game cooking, the adult student will quickly start down a path to new adventures. www.modcarn.com/holiday21
11. Pit Command - No one in the world needs a Pit Command but that doesn’t make it any less cool. This high-end fire tool is forged to last a lifetime and it makes an outstanding gift for the dad who likes to play with fire. The Pit Command is going to be one of those tools that will be handed down from generation to generation Get one at pitcommand.com.
12. The Tick Terminator - Check out Santa’s secret weapon from thetickterminator.com. Get your special hunter, camper, or outdoor enthusiasts the most versatile and cost effective permethrin tick repellant on the market. Keep them protected for up to 24 weeks from tick borne diseases!
13. Koola Buck Anti-Microbial Game Bags- Keep your harvest safe and fresh. The Koola Buck Anti-Microbial Game Bags are an extremely important means to ensure the safety and quality of the meat that you harvest and process. By putting them in these special bags the growth of surface bacteria is significantly slowed, providing additional time to get to proper refrigeration.
14. Tungsten Icejig Kit with Tackle Box and Hook Remover- Our most popular tungsten ice jigs: The Chekai™, popular, all-around tungsten jig; The Majmun™ has a slightly longer hook exposed; The JaJe™, a tungsten buzzer fly has hat will work without bait; The Glazba™ has a diamond nose to attract the fish in; and the NEW Wolfinkee™ is a tungsten version of our popular Ratfinkee. dansfishntales@juno.com
15. The Henry Arms U.S. Survival Kit - Assembled in the USA specifically to save lives, many included items are U.S. Military Issue and/or NATO Issue. For those of us who love the outdoors and prefer to spend our time a little outside of civilization, the Henry Arms U.S. Survival Kit will be there when trouble strikes.dansfishntales@juno.com.
16. St. Croix Crappie Holiday Tee - What’s better than an ugly Christmas sweater? A versatile long-sleeve tee that looks like one with a distinct angling flavor. St. Croix’s special-edition Holiday Long Sleeve is only available for a limited time, stcroixrods.com/collections/apparel.
17. St. Croix Triumph Travel Rods - Never miss an opportunity to fish with legendary St. Croix performance. St. Croix Triumph Travel Rods break down into four pieces for easy transport in luggage, a backpack or your car’s trunk, while fishing with one-piece performance. Six models available. stcroixrods.com.
18. St. Croix Tundra Ice Rods - Angler-driven features meet world-class performance and durability in St. Croix’s semi-custom Tundra Series, nine all-new handcrafted ice rods optimized for comfort and performance in support of multiple ice presentations. Five-year warranty. stcroixrods.com.
19. Raymarine Element HV Sonar/GPS Combo - Delivering the sharpest view of the underwater world, Raymarine’s Element HV Sonar/GPS uses HyperVision™ 1.2 megahertz sonar technology to take DownVision, SideVision, and RealVision 3D to a new level of precision imaging and fish identification. Perfect for fishing kayaks, freshwater fishing boats, and inshore saltwater fishing boats. raymarine.com/element-series.
20. Howard Leight Impact Sport In-Ear Electronic Hearing Protection with Bluetooth - Howard Leight’s new Impact Sport In-Ear Electronic Hearing Protection with Bluetooth features a NRR of 29dB, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, rechargeable 200 mAh lithium battery, hear-through amplification and volume control, automatic attenuation of dangerous sounds over 85dB, and a highly comfortable fit via three sizes of soft foam ear tips. howardleightshootingsports.com.
21. Minelab VANQUSH Metal Detector - Right out of the box, the lightweight and collapsible Minelab VANQUISH features a fully waterproof coil and Multi-IQ Technology that searches with multiple frequencies at the same time to find all metals in all soil conditions. minelab.com/vanquish.
22. ScentLok Stealth Jacket and Pant- Featuring Carbon Alloy technology for maximum scent control, deadly quiet and ultra-soft fleece fabric for warmth without bulk, and a host of other bowhunting features, the Stealth jacket and Pant are available in three popular camo patterns and six sizes. scentlok.com.
23. Blocker Outdoors Women’s Sola Drencher Jacket and Pant - Featuring S3 silver antimicrobial technology for odor prevention, the fully waterproof Sola Drencher Jacket and Pant is for the alpha huntress who refuses to trade stealth for comfort. Available in two popular camo patterns and five sizes. blockeroutdoors.com.
24. Tree Spider Safety Harness - We all have a life away from hunting that requires good health to experience fully. Tree Spider safety products kill every excuse hunters have for not taking safety seriously. Easy to use, comfortable, and stealthy, Tree Spider Safety Harnesses actually increase mobility in the stand. blockeroutdoors.com.
25. OZ NFuse Ozone Sprayer - The OZ NFuse Ozone Sprayer injects ozone molecules directly into ordinary water, transforming it into a powerful and highly economical means of destroying odors and up to 99.9% of bacteria on surfaces. Ideal for use by hunters as an effective and renewable source of field spray, the OZ NFuse Ozone Sprayer's InfiniCote 360™ nozzle provides a generous coverage area with increased control; can be used upside down. scentlok.com/nfuse-ozone-sprayer.
26. Fan Tales: A Chronicle of Wild Turkey Hunting Stories - Written by award-wining author Berdette Elain Zastrow who challenged the gender gap in the hunting arena, Fan Tales is a collection of hilarioius, bone-chilling and exciting wild turkey hunting adventures and photographs and puts the reader in the turkey woods where wily turkey hunts are fun, exciting and always adventurous. bzastrow@venturecomm.net.
27. 4-play Turkey Call - The first four sided box call of its kind. Our patented new design allows for an almost unlimited number of tones, giving hunters that extra advantage needed to bring in a trophy Tom. A great Christmas present for that special turkey hunter! Customization available. 4PlayTurkeyCall.com.
28. Hawke Optics’ Frontier ED X Binoculars - The Frontier ED X Binoculars from Hawke Optics provide premium optical clarity and crisp focus. Designed to handle the most trying weather conditions, you can take these lightweight binoculars on any adventure. With a lifetime warranty and an adorable price, these will be the last pair of binos you’ll ever need. www.hawkeoptics.com.