Christmas gifts for outdoor-minded people

This is the first of a four-part series about Christmas shopping for outdoor-minded people.

Christmas is just 27 days away, with four outdoor columns scheduled for publication between now and the big day. Every year I'm asked several times about appropriate gifts for outdoor-minded people.

The most popular being; what should I get for my husband who has everything or how big or expesive of a gift should I buy for my boss?

The questions put me off balance when beginning to write this column 20 years ago, because there are so many gift ideas. The inquiries caused me to reconsider my thinking about the situation.

Sure, it is easy for me to say it is easy to shop for a person who spends time in the outdoors, but some people seem to actually have everything. At least the people who are looking for the gifts seem to think the pile of equipment constitutes everything in a given outdoor sport, such as fishing, camping or hunting.

These four columns have become an annual practice and are intended to serve as a gift-buying guide.

Firearms

Buying a firearm as a gift takes much consideration. Usually such a purchase is intended for a close family member, such as a husband, father or daughter. A firearm is an expensive purchase, plus there are concerns about the person who will receive the gift.

Is the person trained in handling a firearm? Which firearm is appropriate? If the person is a youngster, would she be better off with a 12 gauge or 20 gauge shotgun? Would a .243 or a .270 rifle fit him better?

If the youth is not trained, who will conduct the training, a father or uncle? When could this person be scheduled for the required hunter education class?

Giving a firearm is not a simple matter, unless the person is already a hunter. Picture a daughter who has a shotgun, has completed the hunter education class and is now ready to hunt deer and elk, so a .270 would be appropriate.

An established hunter could always use a box or two of ammunition. Before buying the shells or cartridges, be sure to find out what type of ammunition is used by the hunter.

If the hunter's rifle is sighted in to shoot .30-06, 165 grain bullets, a box of 220 grain, 180 grain or 125 grain ammo just won't do. Likewise, a duck hunter isn't going to be able to use a box of 20 gauge filled with 9 shot, when she hunts ducks or geese. Waterfowl hunting requires steel shot of size 2 or larger shot.

Guns and ammo aren't the only items on a hunter's agenda. There are boots to consider. These days some hunters prefer the lighter and shorter boots, such as what is termed hiking boots.

Still others are fond of the old-fashioned hunting boots which may be 7-, 10- or 11-inches high.

The duck and goose hunter may want pacs, sometimes called packs, which consist of an outer large boot, with a thick, warm, inner liner.

A waterfowl, archery or muzzleloader hunter will want camouflage clothing. It's possible to buy shirts, pants, coats, bibs and complete coveralls in several different camo patterns.

Upland bird hunters, along with deer and elk hunters, will want orange clothing. So it's possible to buy shirts, pants, coats, bibs and complete coveralls in hunter orange.

Plus there are several different broken patterns with orange as the prominent color, but a black pattern in the design of tree limbs.

A hunter will need a binocular. These are available in a variety of powers and price ranges. A hunter will get by with an inexpensive bino and can expand to the more expensive brands over the years.

Examples of prices include one which sells for $85 after a mail-in rebate and another which has a listed price of $1,100 to $1,550.

Rifle scopes are similar in need and price. Sure, hunting with open sights is possible, but most big game hunters use a scope. Which one is appropriate for the hunter in your life is a personal matter.

Does the hunter want a fixed power or a variable? Examples of the scope powers include 3 by 9, 4 by 12 and, now on my .30-06, an 8.5 by 32. Rifle scope prices are similar to binocular prices, ranging from $100 to $2,000.

One solution to the price concern on any product is to give the hunter money earmarked for the item, such as $50 toward a firearm, or $25 toward a rifle scope.

The person is then able to add to the nest egg over the next few months or years, depending upon the price of the item.

Next week: More Christmas gift ideas for outdoor-minded people.