By Lynn Burkhead, For The Herald Democrat
The Christmas shopping season for the December holiday period continues its rush towards next weekend’s conclusion.
Meaning that this is the last full weekend of shopping for the outdoors enthusiast on your list. And if you’re still looking to give jolly old St. Nicholas an assist in the gift giving department — and hey, Santa, I’m still hoping for a new Orvis fly rod or a fly reel! — let me make a few suggestions, with several small and big ticket items listed below.
New Bows — It’s new bow season for the big manufacturers, including Mathews, Hoyt, Bowtech, Bear, PSE, Elite, and others to name a few. Ditto for crossbows coming from brands like Ravin, TenPoint, Barnett, and more.
If you’ve got a Grayson County bowhunter on your list, you can’t go wrong with a gift certificate to purchase one of these new 2023 rigs, which are arriving at area shops like Big O’s, or soon will be.
Gift certificates and gift cards to such retailers can also be used to purchase things like arrows, broadheads, field points, stabilizers, releases, targets, treestands, ground blinds, and more, all tools that every bowhunter and crossbow hunter can never have enough of.
Fishing Gear — This is pretty simple since fishing is big in Texas — especially for largemouth bass, and locally, for striped bass at Lake Texoma.
But since rods and reels — not to mention pricey fishing electronics — can be a very personal choice, you might opt for a gift certificate or gift card to a local shop like Academy, Walmart, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, or Scheel’s.
For stocking stuffers, spools of an angler’s favorite fishing line, different lures like a Strike King crankbait or spinnerbait, or a bag of Gary Yamamoto Senko soft plastics are tough to beat. Ask some questions of your favorite angler, head to your favorite sporting goods retailer, and find someone who can help you get the perfect stocking stuffer.
Cooking Stuff — We’ve already covered knives above for the hunter, angler, and barbecue connoisseur.
But don’t forget something to cook on (a Traeger pellet smoker/grill is one choice, a Big Green Egg is another), something to cook in (a Lodge cast iron Dutch oven for outside or a Staub enameled cast iron Dutch oven for the stovetop in the kitchen), and something to cook with (from mesquite and pecan wood pellets for your pellet smoker/grill to spices like the Meat Church Holy Cow seasoning mix from Waxahachie barbecue expert Matt Pittman). All are options, all are available online, and most can be found at local retailers.
Coolers and Drinkware — Ok, I’m going to admit that there are other good cooler and drinkware companies out there, but also admit that I’ve probably never met a YETI product I haven’t liked.
Part of that is because they’re based in Austin, Texas and I’m pretty fond of that town. But part of it is there’s always a use as an outdoors enthusiast for a YETI hard-sided or soft-sided cooler, on a fishing trip, a hunting trip, or even a trip to the beach.
Add in the variety of YETI drinkware products — I use my YETI coffee mug almost daily and there aren’t many weeks where one of my Rambler tumblers or bottles isn’t in use to carry liquid refreshment with me to church at Joshua’s Crossing, on a shopping excursion with my wife, or even to a football game—and the Christmas gift choices are numerous in this category.
With these products available at most all of the retailers mentioned above and online at Yeti.com, trust me, it’s hard to go wrong with a YETI. They’re almost always going to draw a smile on Christmas morning when the presents are opened up around the tree and those you love peak into their stockings to see what old St. Nick delivered this year.
As we wind down another December shopping season, hopefully, you can find a holiday gift idea or two off of this list. Good luck and Merry Christmas as jolly old St. Nick gets ready to warm up his sleigh once again!
And as one final reminder old St. Nick, I’ve been especially good this year. Just don’t ask my wife.
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