Stumped For A Father’s Day Gift For Your Outdoorsman?

Here’s 25 Father’s Day gift ideas for the dad who has a penchant for enjoying the outdoors life.   Please note that while the links may show the product featured at a particular store, in most cases the product will likely be available at other sporting goods outlets (unless specifically indicated).

  • Zero-gravity Chaise Lounger.  Whether at home or at the lake, dad will be stretched out in comfort with one of these popular, relaxing chairs. (range from about $40 to $150+ depending on style and quality)
  • Leatherman Surge Multi Tool (~$90) or Gerber Suspension Multi Tool (~$40).  Perhaps two of the most popular multitools currently on the market.   Select based on price, but mostly on function because specific multitools will fulfill different needs by the user.
  • ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent.  Device uses a butane cartridge that heats a chemically treated repellent providing a bug-free area that lasts up to 12 hours. (about $25)
  • Leech Lake Filet Knife.  Considered by many to be the ultimate fishing filet knife, knife-maker Don Canney has been a regular at the Northwest Sportshow for many years.   Each knife is a work of art when compared to most machine stamped production knives sold on the market. (about $90)
  • Black&Decker 18–Volt Cordless Chain Saw.  Not intended for major wood cutting tasks, this nifty saw should prove very useful to the deer hunter who must clear brush away from his deer stand or shooting lane. (about $110)
  • The Gigantic Book of Hunting Stories.  A great hard-cover book filled with over 800 pages of classic hunting stories written by 100 legendary hunting writers. ($25 or less)
  • The Block 4 x4 Archery Target.  A four-sided archery target that allows the bowhunter to shoot an arrow using any tip — broadhead or field point.   Long-lasting with easier arrow removal for those extended practice sessions. (from $70 to $120 depending on size)
  • Flambeau Masters Series Buck Deer Decoy.  A realistic looking deer decoy preferred by many trophy whitetail deer hunters.  (about $150)
  • SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker.  A personal safety device for the sportsman that alerts authorities if help is needed.   Other mapping features allow user to keep in touch with friends and family. (unit costs about $100 to $150, but also requires an annual user subscription fee costing an additional $100 to $150, depending on subscription plan)
  • Flip Video-MinoHD (pocket camcorder).  Why let dad take boring still pictures of his next lunker fish or trophy deer when he can upload video directly to YouTube via this handy video recorder that fits neatly in a pocket. (about $209)
  • Pheasants Forever Father’s Day Membership Special.  Give a one-year gift membership to PF and dad will also receive a Les Kouba signed print. ($60)  Or consider a membership in some other conservation organization if pheasants don’t happen to be dad’s outdoor passion. 
  • Cabela’s Camp Light Kit. The ultimate kit to chase the darkness from camp life.   The small flashlight is especially impressive emitting 135 lumens on just two AA batteries.  (currently on special in retail stores for $49.99)
  • Shooting Passes To Favorite Archery/Gun Range.  Buy dad some sessions at his local shooting range ensuring he gets in enough pre-hunting season practice. (varies)
  • Northland Slurpies Jumbo Bass Kit.  Wide assortment of popular soft plastic baits for bass (other species available). ($30)
  • 45 Caliber Bullet Cuff Links.  Give dad a little bling for his next dress-up affair allowing him to make a bold statement about his shooting passion. ($85)
  • Cookshack Smokette II Electric Smoker Oven.  The ultimate in electric smoker ovens. (about $700)
  • Cabela’s Shore Side Cooker (no link).  Let dad enjoy a shore lunch with the deep fat frying ease of using disposable propane canisters with this compact cooker.  In-store item only. (about $50)
  • Electronic Hearing Protection for shooters.  Protects ears from harsh, loud noise while amplifying normal conversation-level sounds. (about $30 and up)
  • Primos Double Bull Dark Horse Ground Blind.  The perfect ground blind for both bowhunters and firearms hunters.  (about $400)
  • Humminbird ICE-45 Flasher.  This unit will have dad yearning once again for those frozen lakes found in Minnesota’s winter.  (about $400)
  • Cobra Power Inverter.  For those times when “out in the middle of nowhere” dad determines he needs to plug some device into an electrical outlet. (varies from about $40 on up, depending on size)
  • CamoCarpet (sold by Camoboy Carpet on eBay).  For the dad who can’t get enough camo in his life. (various products and price points)
  • Quantum Walleye Grade Baitcast Reel.  A baitcasting reel made especially with the walleye fisherman in mind. (about $100)
  • Eton FR150 Microlink Emergency Radio.  Great little tacklebox sized radio featuring AM/FM/Weather bands, plus other features.  Best of all, it never needs batteries. ($30)
  • Navionics HotMaps Explorer CD.  Computer mapping program featuring over 10,000 popular U.S. lakes for fishing.  Most popular MN/WI lakes are included.   Allows the fishermen to plan his fishing strategy at home on the computer before leaving for the lake. (about $20)

© 2009 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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Make A Commitment To Take A Kid Fishing

“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.”  ~Doug Larson

How important is it to take children fishing?   Well, important enough that this weekend the Minnesota DNR will let you do it for free.   That’s right, adults can fish for free on all Minnesota waters if they are accompanied by a child under the age of 16 (check regulations for complete details).

Sure, that’s a nice incentive to get a kid outdoors and introduce them to the wonderful experience known as fishing, but honestly it usually takes an adult making a commitment of precious time to allow this to happen.   These days families seem to have busier schedules than perhaps they did three or four decades ago — that’s simply a fact of life.   Nevertheless, it’s crucial to make it a priority to introduce a child to the excitement of fishing.   Whether the child is your own, a neighbor’s or even a niece or nephew…if you know a child close to your life that has never baited a hook or perhaps removed a perch, make a resolution to yourself that during the summer of 2009 that statement will change.DSC08623

When I think back to some of my earliest memories in life many seem to involve some aspect of fishing.   Moreover, my father died when I was only 10–years old and I can honestly say my fondest memories of him were the times we spent sitting on a river bank or in a boat fishing.   Come to think of it, those memories didn’t always involve catching fish…nope, instead they were created by simply sharing the experience together outdoors.

Sometimes it’s easy for us to forget that something as simple as spending an afternoon fishing with a child can be so critically important in their life.   Indeed, a child who develops an interest in fishing early in life will probably grow into an adult who better appreciates those pleasures throughout their lifetime.   On the other hand, a child who never gets the opportunity to fish as a youth will be more apt to grow into an adult wondering why fishing is such a great pastime enjoyed by so many of us.

Keep in mind, if someone took the time to introduce you to the outdoors you owe it to the next generation to share that same enthusiasm and knowledge.   Take a kid fishing…and pass it on. 

© 2009 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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Too Much Arrogance In Our Outdoor Community

I’ve got to get something off my chest.   In fact, today’s blog post is more of a gnawing pet peeve than perhaps anything else.   It’s about people who simply have an arrogance about them in such a way that it becomes a big turn off.   Let me explain what I mean.

For example, it’s about the outdoors writer who places themselves on such a high pedestal as an expert on any given outdoor subject that their writings become almost condescending to the reader.   Frankly, I can do without the braggert slant and when I begin reading something written in such a manner I quickly stop.   Honestly, I don’t care if you are the best turkey hunter east of the Mississippi River.   Instead, will you write the article in such a humble manner that I will draw those conclusions myself…I don’t need to read about you “tooting your own horn.”

Closely related to this example is the wildlife photographer.   In my profession I deal with many photographers purchasing images for various calendar projects.   Granted, there are many photogs who are real gems to deal with…but then there are others who think their work is second to none.   Now granted, there can be a fine line between arrogance and cocky confidence, but too many photogs step way over this line.   Truth is, when I have 12 images to purchase for a calendar project and 1,000s of potential images submitted by photographers looking to sell…well, one tends to sometimes base final selection decisions on the personality of the image owner.

Lately, another big gripe of mine has been the raw arrogance displayed by many tournament fishermen.   It seems some of the bass fishermen tend to be the worst.   Now I fully realize there are some real down-to-earth sincere types that do not fit the blanket statement I am making, but those folks are the rare exception.   In my opinion, too many amateur and pro tournament fishermen need to eat a healthy slice of humble pie before their next event.   This may come as a surprise to you…but I don’t worship your piscatorial prowess in the slightest.

I could go on with many other examples, but I will leave you with one more.   Is it just me, or do you find certain bowhunters to be a bit on the arrogant side?   Understand, I used to hunt with a bow but I no longer choose to do that.   Yet, I have some friends who would snub their nose at me if I shot a trophy deer with a firearm rather than taking it with a bow.   Is that fair?   Should my achievement be scrutinized with such a heavy bias toward one method and not another?   Fact is, in many instances this is exactly how it works out.

I suppose it’s not just in our outdoor culture where we’re going to experience this prevailing attitude of superiority.   You might say it’s simply a fact of life in a modern society.   True, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it pervading the outdoor world I so dearly cherish.   I guess as I grow older I also grow a bit more intolerant of situations like I have just described.   If your attitude about the outdoors tends toward being arrogant, don’t expect to earn a whole lot of respect from me.   Nope, not anymore.

© 2009 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.