Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of November 28, 2013

Grouse Hollow Journal for the week of November 28, 2013 by Greg Koelker

With all of the hub bub of deer hunting and turkey day and an early deadline at the paper, and even a request by some “fans” to put out my Wish List/Gift Giving Guide for the Outdoors Type (aka ODT) before Black Friday, I managed to get this year's edition ready early. Ho! Ho! Ho! etc.

My first idea came to mind this morning when I saw the forecast for opening weekend of the gun deer hunt.  The watchword for Saturday was going to be “woolies!” I have some Under Armor and it is amazing. That brand or most any of the base layer brands of outdoor under wear would be a good gift for your ODT.  $80 up to $300.  If you have an ODT who spends a lot of time on stand or ice fishing, a pair of insulated boot covers might be good; they are sort of like an insulated vest for the feet starting around $50 a pair.  Wet boots also make for cold feet, so an electric boot dryer for quick overnight boot drying is a good gift, starting around $20.  You can also help your ODT keep his or her feet warm and comfortable at home or in the car with a pair of lined Crocs.  (I am wearing mine right now.) I got my pair of lined Crocs for wearing in the house, but I have worn them to several football games and to school when I sub - when it wasn’t raining or snowing anyway - and they were great.  Off-Road Crocs and most any Crocs are awesome foot gear too with good arch support, comfort, and they are easy on and off.  $21 and up online at 6PM.com.  I have been wearing the same three pairs of Dura Built wool socks (not all at the same time) when I have been outside for the last three months.  El got them for me at Farm and Fleet and they are comfortable, warm, and THEY ARE MADE IN THE USA!  They or other American made wool socks can be had for under $8 up to a bunch a pair.

Speaking of the deer hunt, a sharp knife comes in handy many times.  I guess most ODTs would prefer to pick out their own knife, but I can personally recommend the serrated Cutco hunting knife.  I love mine; I have field dressed and/or help skin four deer this season already with mine. It does cost $140 or so, but they are made in the USA too. If your ODT already has a good knife, perhaps an electric knife sharpener.   El and I use our Chefs Choice sharpener often.  They start around $60.    

I think a good camo back pack or fanny pack would be handy for most ODTs.  You can get one for $50 (and up).  I also think a binocular or camera chest harness might be nice. You ODT can carry their field glasses or camera on their chest and pick them up without having them dangling in front or banging around in their pocket. Cabela's has an American made one for $17.99 with free shipping. Maybe you'd like to spend some quality time with your ODT during the hunting season; how about a two-person tree stand?  You might get invited along or maybe your ODT will have to take one of the kids with him/her, so you can have some time off.  $160 or so.  A good tree stand harness is a great idea to show you care. Mine cost around $100, but they range from $75 and up.  I also saw a tree stand lifeline that is designed to make climbing in and out of a tree stand safer for sale for under $30.  My brother, Del loves his deer sled. A plastic deer sled and rope and pulley deer hoist is a good idea to save your hunter’s back.  The sled can be pulled by the hunter or his pals or a four-wheeler and the hoist can do the work of hanging the deer.  The sleds start around $30 and the hoist anywhere from $20 with a gambrel hook to $150 for an electric hoist.  A nice stocking stuffer might be an LED headlamp.  I use mine all the time walking in and out of the woods, tracking deer at night, and even working on the car under tight places. They start around $20.  The folks at Badgerland Pheasant Farm near Westby can set up a bird hunt for your ODT.  Corky tells me that weekend hunts require the purchase of 4 birds and weekdays just 2.  At $ 17.93 a bird this seems like a great deal to me, considering they have a great place to hunt, the guarantee of game is out there, and all the scratch birds your dog (or theirs if you need to hire one) can put put up are included, and of course the hunt club is warm and you get to visit with Corky and Gerry. Give ‘em a call for a gift certificate.  (It will be a good gift for the family hunting dog too. The last time Scout and El and I went, we put up a dozen birds and Scout was quivering with excitement for two days!) My wish list includes a Go Pro action camera for recording our hunting, fishing, and other adventures.  They cost plenty at over $300, but they are quality and tough and record excellent video, pictures, and audio.  My sons use them in Colorado for ski and snowboard and biking and hunting videos. There are also all kinds of accessories and attachments you can get for them including an attachment for mounting on a compound bow or gun. For that matter, get your ODT a decent pocket camera and tell them to use it. They will never regret having pictures of the hunt. Of course flannel shirts, sweaters, and jeans are good gifts. One last really good idea. Get your ODT a leather bound journal to start recording the highlights (and low lights) of their outdoor experiences and life.

Finally, unless you have explicit directions, don’t buy what I think are epically personal outdoor items like puppies, boots, firearms, hats, ATVs, trucks, or boats.  Give a gift certificate or let them pick it out.   Of course, all of these are always appreciated.  I want to thank you for buying American made gifts when you can, and while I mentioned several big name retailers, consider buying close to home too.

Until next time, get out - El and I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving - Go Packers! Oh yeah, on Black Friday, remember I take a XXL long in flannel shirts, size 12 boots, and really enjoy videos, books and gift certificates! I got this last musing from mountain man Mark's mom-in-law Dawn, who said she saw it on Facebook:  As I get ready for the deer season, I can’t help thinking how deer hunting and dating are alike. First of all, both take a huge amount of preparation to get ready. Then you have to figure out where you are going to go, the right place where one is likely to come along. If you are too selective and wait too long for just the right one to come along, you’ll likely go home with nothing. If you should take a shot and miss, you cry to your friends ad nauseum about the perfect one that got away. If you do get one, that’s when the work really begins! Finally, at some point you decide that you’re just too old for all of this and just stay home by the fire and think of days gone by… hmmm. . .

Enjoy.