© copyrighted by Lisa Metheny
It is that time of year again, time to get out of your treestand, put down your gun and decorate the Christmas tree, attend the boring office party, make a donation to your favorite charity and hit the mall to shop for gifts for your family and friends.
If your anything like me, it can be stressful to come up with unique gift ideas that are sure to please, especially if you despise the mall like I do, the mere thought of going near one this time of year makes me break out in hives, but for the sake of my family I do it anyway.
What do you get everyone on your list? Well, my Christmas gift to you, the reader, is this helpful shopping guide. I done all the leg work for you, all you need to do is check out the Web sites, pay for them, wait for them to arrive and then wrap them. You are on your own there!
Remember the classic song Twelve Days of Christmas? Sure you do, we all know it by heart, or at least part of it. My mind tends to wander more to the thought of doves wrapped in bacon instead of the vision of two Turtle Doves, after that I am useless. So, for the first TWELVE DAYS of December, let’s look at some great gift ideas.
But before we get started, please take a minute to think beyond the lights, gifts, and baked goods to think about the true meaning of Christmas.
Let’s get started. Oh yeah! Feel free to sing along as we count down the 12 Days of Christmas.
On the 1st day
I really don’t know where you could go this time of year for a Partridge in a Pear tree, but I can point you in the direction of a really neat product that will help you protect the gun that you could use to shoot a Partridge.
Regardless of the type of firearm you have, shotgun, rifle or pistol Envelop® Gun Covers offers one of the most effective and uniquely beautiful protective cases on the market today.
This company has taken its patent-pending, five-layer protection product that was originally designed for the military and created custom gun protection products.
Unique, unmatched protection from the elements will provide you with years of tough protection for your firearms. Envelop® offers a variety of attractive, custom gun protective cases. See for yourself at www.envelopecovers.com
On the 2nd day
Give the gift that offers protection from nasty disease-carrying insects. Everyone on your list will love the ease and effectiveness of a ThermaCell ® Approximately the size of a TV remote control, this gadget works and can easily be thrown in a tackle box or strapped to a belt. This gift keeps on giving, year-round and offers hours of protection from mosquitoes, all without messy lotions or toxic repellant sprays. ThermaCell ® makes great stocking stuffers. They are available at sporting good stories nationwide. For more information, buzz on over to their Web site at www.ThermaCell.com
On the 3rd day
What does Mrs. Claus do in the off season? Well, if she is an outdoor woman, chances are she hits the area rivers to do a little fly-fishing. I am certain that Santa’s better-half will look stylish on the river in a colorful, functional, and well-made fly-fishing vest. Forget the dull colors, professional angler Char Bloom of Colorado had created superbly designed fishing vests in a variety of vibrant colors made just for women. Don’t forget Santa’s little helpers, who also enjoy fishing, Char Bloom offers children sizes as well. Char Bloom vests are available online at www.charbloom.com
On the 4th day
If you are into “calling birds” like the song says, and there is a turkey hunter on your list be sure to check out a great gift for turkey hunters. Hunt Comfort ® seat is simply the best seat in house. Lightweight, portable and designed to withstand thousands of hours of use, this seat is among the best money can buy. Surprise someone you love this Christmas with a Hunt Comfort® cushion. Hunt Comfort® can be purchased a major outdoor stores or online at www.huntcomfort.com.
On the 5th day
Imagine Christmas morning, when the gift unwrapping frenzy is at its height, you hear “Wudyaget.” No, it not a Jeff Foxworthy Redneck Dictionary CD, which would also be a great gift idea; instead it is an actual “Wudyaget” product.
You will find everything you can possibly imagine for the outdoorsmen and women on your shopping list at Wudyaget. Wudyaget offers endless gift ideas to help “Relieve the dream” from that special hunt, trophy fish or family outing. From license plates, state shaped plaques, mugs, and ceramic tiles and more, Wudyaget.com provides unlimited gift ideas. Visit them at www.Wudyaget.com
On the 6th day
We can’t help you with the actual “geese a laying” part of this song, but we can do the next best thing and that is offer you a great gift idea for cooking that goose.
For the cook on your list give the gift that keeps giving. WildCheff game seasonings created by Master Chef Denny Corriveau offer endless gift ideas.
Cooking with pheasant, goose, venison, elk, duck and other wild game does not have to be boring or labor intensive, in fact you will want to participate in the fun of cooking after you smell the inviting aromas that escape when you cook with WildCheff’s special blends. WildCheff offers products that will help the chef in your family create delicious dishes throughout the year. Check out all the WildCheff products online at www.wildcheff.com
On the 7th day
You can tell a lot about a woman by her purse, and I have found a purse designed by Poske Designs® that reflect the huntress within us all. It’s so cute that even the non-hunter will find these handbags attractive. You are sure to get a big hug when she unwraps one of these purses this Christmas. Every girl will want one and with several styles to choose from, there is something for every lady on your list. Available online at www.poskedesigns.com
On the 8th day
Whether you have eight maids a milking or just one hard working woman on your list here is a gift that will show her how much you appreciate her.
Nothing says comfort like a comfy bathrobe, especially if the robe is push and comes in a camo pattern. Imagine curling up in a cozy robe on the sofa after a hard day of hunting, or after a cold morning of milking cows.
The John Marshall Design Company offers camo robes for her or for him and for the little ones as well. Everyone loves to receive loungewear for the holidays, so why not give her a gift she will enjoy every day. JDM products are available at major retailers such as Bass Pro and Cabela’s or online at
www.johnmarshalldesign.com
On the 9th day
Even if you do have nine ladies to buy for this Christmas, do not get discouraged. I have found a place where you can buy something different for each and every one of women on your Christmas list.
Women love fashion and the two seem to go hand in hand. This Christmas Realtree ® has it covered with trendy casual clothing options. Realtree Girl ® provides endless options for casual clothing that reflects her love of the outdoors. Cute camo mini-skirts, t-shirts, Capri’s and sweats to name a few, are sure to leave the ladies on your list dancing.
Realtree Girls® are available at major retailers and www.Realtree.com
On the 10th day
“Tickle Me Elmo” this is not, but it could easily create the same buying frenzy as the little orange Sesame Street character. Bushnell® Outdoor Products offers the perfect gift for everyone on your Christmas list this year. The new BackTrack GPS system is the ideal gift. Unlike other GPS units that are often difficult to program and even harder to understand, the BackTrack unit is one of the simplest units available on the market.
Bushnell® created a GPS unit that is so easy to use, even a technically challenged person such as myself can figure it out. Bushnell® did away with all the unnecessary programs and features of the standard GPS unit to create one that uses only two buttons and offers an easy to read screen. This unit retails for under $70 and is about the size of a stopwatch, perfect for marking your vehicle or stand location. The Bushnell BackTrack® is a must have for every one.
For more information visit www.Bushnell.com
On the 11th day
Scrapbooking is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the US today, and people of all ages enjoy it. Now with the help of Paper’s Best ® products, scrapbookers can now relive their memories of the hunt with specially designed hunting scrapbook items. Upland, waterfowl, and deer hunting are just a few of the many designs that will delight the scrapbooker on your list.
Paper’s Best® also offer Realtree® stationary products that reflect the interest of those that love the outdoors. Check out the endless gift ideas at Paper’s Best® at www.papersbest.com
Finally, on the 12th day!
Everyone loves a great big gift under the tree and do I have a gift that every woman will love. For the ultimate Christmas gift that keeps on giving, send her on a trip of a lifetime. Regardless if the lady you’re shopping for is a seasoned huntress or just getting started, she will love what the National Rifle Association (NRA) has to offer women. The NRA offers several options for women that love adventure and are eager to gain new experiences and meet other like-minded women. The NRA Women on Target (WOT) program hosts several hunts around the country each year. From turkeys and pheasants to whitetail and elk, the NRA WOT hunts are sure to be a favorite gift this Christmas.
If you are looking to give her the absolute ultimate experience, give the gift of learning. The NRA Women’s Wilderness Escape (WWE) is truly a one-of-a-kind adventure camp designed especially for women. WWE provides hands-on experiences such as archery, tactical rifle, muzzleloader, turkey hunting, survival skills and more. Unlike any other outdoor experience the WWE not only offers training from some of the best instructors in the country, the participants get the added bonus of learning these skills at one of the country’s premier shooting facilities, the NRA’s Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico. Be sure and stand under the mistletoe when she unwraps the ultimate gift from you and the NRA. To learn more about these programs visit the NRA at www.nrahq.org/women.
