Christmas gift ideas for outdoorsmen and women

Like the song says, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”
And as in years past, this outdoor writer has a few gift ideas and stocking stuffers for people having trouble buying that special gift or simply getting started.
With just less than three weeks remaining to shop, we’d better get moving.
“You’ll shoot your eye out!” Boy or girl, who can forget that famous line from the 1983 movie classic, “A Christmas Story.” Every time 9-year-old Ralph “Ralphie” Parker, played by Peter Billingsley, asked for a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, that is the response he received.
Thirty years later, Daisy is offering a commemorative edition of the 1983 model that is depicted in the motion picture through the Daisy Museum in Rogers, Ark. The company previously offered 20 year (2003) and 25 year (2008) anniversary editions.
What’s interesting about Daisy’s 1983 “A Christmas Dream” model is that it comes with a compass and sundial in the stock, which the original Red Ryders didn’t have.
Joe Murfin, vice president of Public Relations for Daisy Outdoor Products, said, “It was humorist and author Jean Shepherd who approached Daisy with a copy of the script. While the movie is not autobiographical, Shepherd based his stories on his own upbringing. The only problem was his recollection that he owned a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun with a compass and sundial in the stock was incorrect. The only gun Daisy had made with those features had been the Buck Jones, which was a pump and not lever action gun. Daisy agreed to produce three guns to use as props in the movie.”
According to Murfin, the customer service team inset a compass in the stock of the Daisy Red Ryder and silkscreened a sundial. Additionally, a copper forearm band and front sight band were included in the design.
Because of the popularity of the movie, Daisy subsequently committed to producing the Red Ryder BB gun with a compass and sundial in the stock for the balance of 1983 and all of 1984.
Each Daisy Christmas Story commemorative will feature a walnut stock and forearm, the retro package and come with a certificate of authenticity. The company will offer 2,500 of the special editions with each gun bearing a unique number in the forearm from 1 of 2,500 to 2,500 of 2,500.
Old or young, this Daisy commemorative is an ideal gift for a family member. The price for the BB gun is $89.99 plus shipping. The 30th Anniversary Daisy Red Ryders can be ordered at www.daisymuseum.com.
My vote for the top stocking stuffer would be the original “Speed Cinch.” This product is hailed as the fastest, most secure tie down ever.
Years ago a friend of mine once said to me, “If you can’t tie a knot, tie a lock.” I used to watch him tie the bowline of both his and my boats on a tree that I swear you needed a knife to free if you were going to be home by dark.
If I’m not mistaken, he was also a Boy Scout. What’s more, he never showed me his merit badge for mastering knot tying. And not one time did he ever tie a half hitch, bowline or even square knot.
The Speed Cinch may be the best Christmas present for those who are security challenged when it comes to tying things down with a rope.
Speed Cinches can be mounted to your vessel or dock with one-eighth stainless steel bolts or screws. And it works well with ¼-inch to ½-inch diameter double braided nylon line rope. For more information on the Speed Cinch, visit www.speedcinch.com.
Another item available this year is a do-it-yourself vinyl rifle skin product from Mossy Oak Graphics that camouflages your firearm. The vinyl is made from ultra-matte non-glare finish material that is bubble and wrinkle free when installing. The website for this camouflage product is www.mossyoakgraphics.com.
Red Eagle Technologies is offering a gun cleaning system called “Gun Protect.” What’s more, Red Eagle products are used by the U.S. Military.
Each kit comes with Gun Protect spray shield, GPW-256 super weapon wipe and a corrosion protective product and rifle/shotgun weapons cloak, which protects guns from corrosion for 12 months.
For information on Red Eagle Technologies products for gun maintenance, visit www.mygunprotect.com.
With a camouflaged and clean gun, all you need is to be scent free when it comes to deer hunting. Wildlife Research has a new product called “Scent Killer Gold” that allows you to apply it, dry it and go hunt. What’s unique about the product is it allows you to spray it onto your clothing hours, days or weeks prior to your hunt.
Visit www.wildlife.com for information on this scent-killing product by Wildlife Research.
No Christmas gift ideas would be complete without a fishing lure. Booyah’s Boo Teaser Rig may be just the artificial lure that helps you land the bass or sac-a-lait you’re looking for. The rig can be used with crank baits, spinner baits, jigs or other swim baits.
The rig allows you to fish any of these lures at any depth and activates the “bait chase,” instinct in predator fish such as bass.
For more information on Booyah’s Boo Teaser Rig, visit www.BooyahBaits.com.
If you wish to make a comment or have an anecdote, recipe, or story you wish to share, contact John K. Flores at 985-395-5586 or gowiththeflo@cox.net or at www.gowiththeflooutdoors.com.