It’s hard to believe another year is winding down, and in 10 days the jolly head elf with his snow-white beard and cherry-red suit will be making his annual rounds. Santa will harness his team of all-weather reindeer to a sleigh full of gifts on Christmas Eve and make deliveries to all the good little boys and girls. Since most sportsmen tend to be kids at heart, despite their size and age, many of us are expecting a Yuletide visit as well, and hopefully a few outdoor-oriented gifts under the tree.

Just in case Saint Nick isn’t able to provide all of the presents on every wish list, the family will have to pick up the slack. With the wide array of outdoor items to choose from, and since most sportsmen already own a closet, garage, and attic full of gear, choosing just the right gift can be difficult.

Ladies, if you’re in a fog about what to put under the tree for a father, hubby, son, brother, boyfriend or favorite uncle, I’ve got some ideas. Guys, if you think buying jewelry is tough, try picking just the right present for that outdoor wife, girlfriend, mother or sister.

First, a few simple rules regarding buying sporting goods. If a requested item seems to be a duplicate of a gift received a year or two ago, buy it anyway; it’s the new, improved version and certainly far better than the antique presently in use.

When a piece of clothing, equipment, tackle, gadget, gear, or accessory works to perfection and performs beyond expectations, buy two, because next year it won’t be available anymore.

Finally, and most importantly, comments such as the following are totally counterproductive and weigh heavily on the Christmas spirit:

. “Don’t you already have a dozen fishing rods?”

. “I thought you owned one gun of every caliber made.”

. “How many flies can one person use?”

. “Didn’t you just buy one of those last year?”

Virtual sports

Maine winters are long, cold and tedious, and with so few hunting and fishing opportunities, cabin fever can become a problem. Computer games offer a wonderful outlet for the hunters and anglers. Deer hunters can track a trophy buck, waterfowlers can set out decoys, call birds and pass shoot on ponds and rivers, and fishermen can wade or float for trout and salmon. Or they can visit Africa for dangerous game, Canada for Caribou or Atlantic salmon, or Montana for mule deer, elk, turkey and bear.

New games by such sporting goods specialists as Cabela’s offer amazing graphics, interactive gun and weapon selection, realistic shooting situations with active video game footage, and multiple geographic site selections with the chance to use calls, scents, blinds, optics and many other tools utilized for real-life outings. Video hunting success can be very challenging and great for gunners of all ages.

Big Game Hunter 6, Ultimate Deer Hunt, and 4X4 Off Road games by Cabela’s, Duck Hunter Pro by Ducks Unlimited, and Trophy Rivers by Sierra are priced from $10-$30. Having friends over to participate in multi-player fishing tournaments and vying to see who can down the most or largest game animals is great fun. It’s kept me from many a stir-crazy weekend during stormy weather.

Book ’em, Danno

Another entertaining method of ignoring cold weather is to read. Magazine subscriptions are great, inexpensive gifts and there’s something for every outdoor interest from canoeing to photography, fly tying to dog training and bird watching to rod building. Periodicals can help with a hobby or mentally transport a sportsman to far away woods and waters via words and photos.

A good book on a favorite subject lasts longer and provides more information and enjoyment than any magazine article. On my personal Christmas list is “The Gun Digest,” a yearly big book full of photos and info on all current firearms, new product reports, cartridge ballistics, optics and reloading gear. Dozens of interesting articles for shooters and hunters as well as product, service, and manufacturer references are included. This is the complete gun book.

Bird dog owners will love the new book “Hunting Dogs,” a coffee table book which is a photographic tribute to the best of breeds. A personal favorite which I highly recommend to all regional whitetail enthusiasts is “Legendary Deer Camps,” a compilation of stories and photos of traditional camps and hunts from then ’til now.

If your local bookstore can’t get these titles for you, contact Krause Publications in Iola, Wis., at 888-457-2873. Krause carries a vast array of hard- and soft-cover titles regarding all sorts of hunting, fishing, and a wide range of other outdoor sports. The books mentioned range from $14-$45.

Guiding light

One item an outdoorsman can never have enough of, or have right at their fingertips when it’s actually needed, is a flashlight. I own everything from a key chain light to a 2 million candlepower rechargeable spotlight especially for navigating by boat around the ocean in the dark. Most sports have half a dozen lights kicking around the house, pack basket, truck and camp, from mini AAA size to multiple D-cell units the size of a small baseball bat, but if they don’t own a headlamp, they’re really missing out.

Headlamps are lightweight, compact and very portable. They use adjustable elastic straps to comfortably fit over the head and can be switched between a wide diffuse light beam to a long-range narrow beam. Most are fully waterproof, a great feature since outdoorsmen spend a lot of time in the rain, snow, sleet, or on the water. Headlamps allow the wearer to have both hands free to operate a boat, set out decoys, climb or descend a tree stand, unhook a fish, and many other difficult and occasionally treacherous feats in full darkness.

Numerous companies make diverse styles of headlamps with an array of features at prices ranging from $25 to $75. The new kid on the block this year is Cabela’s DPS (dual power source) rechargeable lamp at $40. Dual bulbs, a super bright halogen and a diffuse long-lasting Krypton, can be alternated to match the situation with the click of a switch. The DPS has a spot to flood full zoom lens, a regular AA and a rechargeable battery pack, an AC charger, and both bulbs. For hands-free work inside or out in poor to no light, this headlamp is so ideal Santa could use one.

Candid camera

If that special someone has been especially good this past year and deserves a terrific present, look into buying them a Highlander trail camera. These units are a great asset for moose, bear and deer hunters scouting an area and checking the size of animals using the trails. Even nonhunters who enjoy photography or bird and game watching will find many uses for one of these setups.

Highland Photo Scout cameras are easily attached to any tree, use a laser-aiming sight to pinpoint the photo location, and use an infrared beam that, when broken, activates the motor driven camera. There are even digital models available which require no flash unit, yet can take great photos in complete darkness which can then be transferred right to your computer for inspection and printing if desired.

Camera units are in a waterproof, airtight, and lockable camouflage case and operate on four AA batteries. Date and time of day can be automatically printed on each photo, and features such as selectable time delay between photos, event timers, walk-test mode and magnetic deactivation are standard. Excellent results can be obtained at ranges out to 60 feet. Simple to operate and an exciting tool or toy for sportsmen, Highlander trail cameras range from $230 to $375.

Stocking stuffers

If your budget is a bit strained or you’re just looking for stocking stuffers, the options are unlimited. A hunting or fishing license for the new year is always a great idea. A multi-tool or folding belt saw are great for hunters, and anglers always appreciate a few new bass plugs, streamers, or dry flies.

Chemical hand warmers, electric socks, or an insulated facemask offer extra comfort to cold weather sportsmen. How about a new set of clippers, floating fly box, retractable net harness, or a couple of rolls of leader for the family fisherman? Shooters always need ammunition, and how about a few targets and maybe even a gun rest for sighting in that favorite firearm.

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached at graves@umpi.maine.edu