By making a list, checking it twice, sportsmen can have fun like Santa Catalogs bring a little warmth to holiday season

Growing up in a small Aroostook county village during the 1950s and enduring harsh winters where darkness descended at 4 p.m. made for some long confining evenings for a kid. During late November and early December, evenings became much more enjoyable, exciting even, and passed more quickly thanks to the arrival of several annual Christmas catalogs.

The Christmas “Wish Books” contained a vast section of toys and games with many old favorites and an array of brand new must-haves for every boy and girl. It would be dark by the time we arrived home each evening and the big old house would be chilly because the coal in the furnace had slowly burned down during the day with no one to tend it. Mom would light the gas oven and leave the door open. I would pull a big kitchen chair up close, rest my legs on the oven door, and huddle up with a wish book until it was time for supper. What wonderful and exciting toys those colorful pages displayed for a youngster awaiting Christmas.

I’m older now and things have changed – well, a few things have changed. I still get just as excited about Christmas and can’t wait to open the next present and see what’s inside. I curl up in an easy chair in front of a blazing fireplace many evenings with my pile of wish books and a notepad. See, I’ve become more efficient with age. The names on my current Christmas catalogs have changed, however; they include L.L. Bean, Lands’ End, Herters, Dunn’s, Cabelas, Orvis, and an array of other fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation suppliers with all the new and improved toys for big boys. It’s enough to bring a tear to a grown man’s eye and give a warm feeling all over.

Gift buyers trying to select just the right present for that special sportsman can find the selection a bit overwhelming, and since not everyone supplies a wish list, perhaps I can offer a few suggestions. Since a new bass boat, pickup truck, or 4-wheeler is a bit over most budgets, and let’s face it, guys, we haven’t been that good this year, let’s explore a few other items in various price ranges. Keep in mind that certain special big-ticket items such as a new shotgun, a special fly rod, or a canoe require personal supervision and are best left to the individual outdoorsman to select. Money, on the other hand, wraps easily and offers that seasonal green coloring to the tree and decorations.

Options in the $25 and less price range include a subscription to a favorite outdoor magazine. There are dozens of magazines pertaining to every outdoor activity, and they are full of info on possible adventures, new gear, and plenty of “how to” advice. Hardcover books on a special sport or hobby are always appreciated. Informative texts are good, but I personally become more enthused reading stories about a favorite activity in famous, exotic regions.

Many past classics on fishing or hunting, some over a century old, are presently being reprinted. For example, Atlantic salmon anglers will thoroughly enjoy reading about the flies, equipment, and methods of fishing famous rivers throughout the world during a time when catching a dozen fish a day was common. A wild game cookbook full of fish and game recipes is a great idea as well. Books are gifts that continue giving year after year, and not only to the recipient, but also to many family members.

For stocking stuffers, how about wrapping up a box of rifle or shotgun shells, a lapel compass, or a goose, duck, crow, turkey, or deer call. A new fly box with a dozen dry flies, some tandem trolling streamers, or a few salmon flies always brings a smile. Bass anglers will appreciate a care package of plugs, lures, plastic worms, spinner baits, and a spool of top-grade line for a spinning or bait casting reel. Leader material and a neoprene reel cover are always good bets for fly casters.

If your outdoorsman always carries a camera, buy him a few rolls of film. The new high speed Kodak Gold film guarantees excellent pictures in most light and motion conditions. If he never has a camera along, buy a couple of the small disposable 35 mm models to keep in the truck, boat, or hunting or fishing vest. An enlargement of a favorite photo taken on a special outing will always bring a smile and is great for a wall in the office or den.

In the $25 to $50 range, consider purchasing a hunting or fishing license or a combination license for the new year. Plenty of top-rate videos are available to purchase on a myriad of cast and blast outings with great footage that can be watched again and again, and then exchanged with friends. Hours of entertainment can be enjoyed with several computer games that take the user hunting and fishing. Trophy Bass I & II, Trophy Rivers, and several versions of Big Game Hunter and Duck Hunter, as well as a dozen other variations and upgrades, allow sportsmen to pass winter hours with realistic audio and video fly fishing, duck shooting, and big game hunting. It’s almost like being there.

New items outdoorsmen never seem to have enough of are knives and flashlights. Durable penlights, floodlights, and lanterns with batteries and accessories should be in each truck, boat, snowmobile, 4-wheeler, and knapsack. A unique and useful type of light for dozens of outdoor situations is a headlamp. Small, compact headlamps leave hands free to carry items in both hands, paddle a boat in the dark, clean fish at dusk, or repair a motor, gun, or fishing rod just before dawn. Headlamps can be bought with recharger, diffuse and concentrated light bulbs, and totally waterproof casing for less than $40.

Folding multipurpose tools in small belt sheaths have taken the place of Swiss army knives over the last few years. They are even available in key chain sizes. Several dependable makes and styles boast more than a dozen tools that can be essential in a multitude of outdoor situations. Full-size tools run $50 to $75.

If that special sportsman has been a really good boy this year and you’re thinking of spending big bucks on a present, here are a trio of items in the $200-$400 range. A handheld Global Positioning System is the most elaborate computerized compass you’ve ever seen. The satellite linkup allows the owner to pinpoint where he is or guides him where he needs to be within a few feet. It’s complicated to explain, yet easy to use, and has many outdoor uses for camping, hunting, fishing, and traveling, and offers the family an added assurance of the owner’s safety.

Shooters should love amazing new rangefinders by Nikon called the Laser 400 and 800. Camouflage- colored, water resistant, and small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the 400 can measure distance within half a yard out to 400 yards. Its 8-power eyepiece, wide field of vision, and digital technology allow continuous tracking ability of moving targets, and it weighs only 7 ounces. While we’re on the subject of sighting things, a set of small binoculars with precision optics is indispensable to avid outdoorsmen. For spotting game, bird watching, or checking terrain, a set of lightweight 12×25 Bushnell Legend 4 Prism binoculars fit the bill. Full waterproofing and non-slip rubber armoring help them last a lifetime.

If you’re still not sure what to buy for a favorite outdoorsman, a gift certificate to a local sporting goods store or outdoor mail order catalog assures the recipient of getting something he really wants and needs. There’s still a bit of child in all of us big boys and girls at Christmas time, and we love to open presents that we can use for a favorite sport. The big day is only a couple of weeks away, so pull your favorite chair up to the stove, fireplace, or radiator, cozy up with a handful of wish books and enjoy. At this time of year, often it’s not just the gift that means a lot, but more so the prospect of using it on future outings in the upcoming season far beyond the snow and cold. Here’s hoping Santa finds just the right gift to put under your tree.