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A selection of spoons for walleyes and other favorite fish through the ice are sure to be appreciated in a sportsman’s Christmas stocking. Simonson Photo.

By Nick Simonson

The holiday shopping season is underway, and while a number of big-ticket items such as new ice augers, shotguns, and other fishing and hunting must haves top the list of anglers and hunters, its those little items that bring a gleam to any sportsman’s eye when they empty their stocking on Christmas morning.  With a target price range of $20 to $30, these little gifts are perfect for that hunter or angler on your list and will keep them well stocked for their favorite seasons.

Spoon Selection

With early ice already upon us, sporting good stores’ shelves are loaded with lures, line, and other gear for ice fishing.  Now is the best time to pick up a selection of ice spoons for a favorite angler who loves hardwater.  Models like the Northland Buck Shot Rattle Spoon are perennial favorites and come in a wide selection of colors to add some sparkle to a sportsman’s stocking.  Sizes in 1/8-ounce are ideal for perch, while those 1/4-ounce spoons will trigger walleye.  Anything bigger than that would be best for pike.  Pick up an array in both natural colors like blue and silver, or something a little brighter like clown, firetiger, or glow red to give your favorite angler a bunch of options.  Typically around $4 to $5, and in multi-spoon packs at a discount, it is easy to put a few together for a perfect present.

A Clean Christmas

With firearms deer season over and the final month of uplanding ticking away, hunters will be looking to clean and store their favorite firearms right around the holidays.  A great stocking stuffer for any shooter is a Bore Snake, designed to be pulled through the barrel of a favorite gun, providing a quick scrubbing and cleaning to remove shotgun shell residue and prevent pitting.  Available in 12- and 20-gauge models for shotguns and in a variety of calibers for rifles, a Bore Snake is a must have for any hunter and at $13 each is an affordable way to clean and preserve firearms.

Additionally, once clean, a shotgun can be stashed in a silicone-treated gun sock and placed in storage for safe keeping in the off-season.  These fabric coverings limit gun exposure to the elements and help keep moisture away from the shiny blued surface of any gun, also providing extra protection in case guns get jostled in a safe.  For around $5 per sock, these protectors are a great investment that every gun owner can use.

A Season of Light

Finally, anyone who spends any time outdoors – particularly in the long dark stretches of winter – could use a headlamp.  Whether walking the dog, running in the pre-dawn darkness, setting tip-ups ahead of sunrise or coming in from a late season archery hunt in the evening, a headlamp guides the way.  In a variety of models with varying light outputs, configurations, and power sources, there are headlamps for every budget and every application.  Typically at $5 to $15, many good headlamp options are available and allow for multiples to be given as gifts to be placed in tackle boxes, hunting packs, or even the glove compartment.

When in doubt, for the hunter or angler on any list, including Santa’s good kid list, these small items make a big impact with those who love the outdoors.  Help stock a tackle box, keep firearms clean and safe, and light the way no matter the season with these gifts and others as the holidays get into full swing.