With Christmas only a few weeks away, what should Santa
bring our little outdoorsman? It’s safe to say, if you are like me you were
fishing, hunting and playing in the woods at a very young age. I bet that some
of your favorite memories as a youngster are from learning your way in the
outdoors. Why not give our kids and grandkids the same opportunity to make
memories of their own and some more for ourselves?
Let’s start with fishing. Many of us had a fishing rod in our
hands about the same time you could walk. I got my start in 1967 or ’68 with a
Zebco model 33. Zebco still makes the model 33 and many other spincasting (push
button) reels, for both fresh and salt water. They also have combos in every
color and movie or T.V. cartoon imaginable. All at a reasonable price. You
might be asking yourself, okay, these are cute but do they work? About 29 years
ago I took my 4-year-old son out in my Jon boat, he had a Snoopy rod and reel
combo and he caught a nice 14-inch Redfish.
If your angler is a little older, there are a number of
nice spinning rods and reels out there. If he or she has been fishing awhile,
you might consider a baitcasting reel or even fly fishing.
Combos are a great money saving gift. A word of caution,
don’t buy the cheapest combo on the shelf, they tend to break. Buy a name brand
Shakespeare, Bass pro shops and Daiwa all make combos that will provide your
young angler years of fun and memories.
If like many of us, your young angler has a rod for every day
of the week and then some, How about their own tacklebox? There are several pre-stocked
tackleboxes on the market, that have always produced big smiles. There is
another option. Buy a new tacklebox and a few new lures, then include some of
your favorite baits out of your box. Knowing that he or she has some of your
personal favorite lures, not only makes the gift more personal, it also gives
them bragging rights to their fishing buddies. It says that you have enough
confidence in them, as an angler to give them some of your best baits.
There are so many more gifts we could discuss, from nets
and bait buckets to shirts and fishing shoes, but its time to move on. If your
young outdoorsman is a swimmer there are some nice mask and snorkel combos and
don’t forget fins for exploring under the water. Let them see how fish and
other aquatic animals live. If you’re a paddling family a personal floatation
device is a great safety gift. For the older outdoor enthusiast, how about a
kayak, canoe or paddle board of their own?
Let’s paddle ashore, shall we? If you’re a hiking or
camping family, a new pair of boots, a backpack or sleeping bag are always nice
gifts. I believe everyone should know how to use a map and compass, with
technology something can always go wrong. No satellite, dead batteries any
number of things, but if he or she has a good compass and knows how to use it,
they have a better chance of getting out the way they came in. Compasses sell
for as little as five dollars to over one hundred dollars.
If you are a hunting family, the first thing I would
recommend is a hunter safety course. Every state requires young hunters to
carry their hunter safety certificate in the field. I would also recommend
shooting, gun handling lessons and firearm maintenance classes (this can also
be done by you and would appreciated more). A Junior NRA membership is a great
gift for the young hunter or shooter. Always remember safety first.
There are duck and turkey
calls, tree stands, hunter clothing and bows galore. Your young hunter will
have a big smile on his or her face Christmas morning unwrapping any of these
great outdoor gifts.
At any age information is a
sportsman’s friend. If your young outdoor enthusiast is thirsting for
knowledge, then books and magazines are a great source of information and are
full of stories of the great outdoors and make wonderful gifts. A kindle
pre-loaded with books about his or her favorite outdoor sports is always right
on target. To steal an old saying “Knowledge is power.”
Should you buy your youngster
a pet for Christmas? In a word, NO! An
animal for Christmas is not a good idea. Many times when a pet is given at
Christmas, its played with and cared for, for a few days, but because the
person who received the gift, is not old enough or the family isn’t willing to
care for the pet, it is put in a cage or thrown outside and lives an
unfulfilled life. That’s how I got two beagle puppies almost six years ago. The
person who received them on Christmas, didn’t have the time to care for them.
If you choose to give your young sportsman a pet for Christmas, whether it’s a dog, rabbit or reindeer,
remember it is a living thing and will need love, food, water, shelter and
medical attention for the next 10-15 years. Before you buy one, make sure your
family is ready and committed to having and caring for a pet
Merry Christmas
& enjoy your family and the outdoors in the new year
