Best Stocking Stuffers for Hunters

Ah, my kingdom for a bow hook, I was thinking.

During the last week of the Pennsylvania archery season, I chose a stand I rarely used except during the whitetail rut. And since I hadn't used the stand since hanging it, I'd forgotten that key little piece of equipment that can make an afternoon infinitely more enjoyable. A simple thing like a bow hook can make an afternoon much more comfortable.

As I had before, I resolved to order a pack of them, planning to put some in trees with existing stands and carry more in my hunting backpack. And I got to thinking that bow hooks would make a perfect stocking stuffer for any hunter, whether they used bows or guns.

As I wiled away the hours in the stand, I made a mental list of perfect stocking stuffers for hunters, in addition to the bow hooks:

1. An assortment of rechargeable batteries and chargers. The battery on my rangefinder always seems to die during hunting season. I never think of replacing it until that happens and I find myself bleary-eyed in hunting season fatigue, standing in line at a big box store.

2. A hand-crank flashlight. Two seasons ago, I shot an awesome buck and called a friend to help on the blood trail, and hopefully, the recovery. I used a feature on my headlamp which allows me to widen the cast of light, and made steady progress on the trail. That is, until (you guessed it), I ran out of battery juice. My friend had brought a hand-crank flashlight. Admittedly, the noise can be a little annoying, until (you guessed it), you find that next spot of blood.

3. Hand-warmers. They are indispensable, invaluable and inexpensive. We hunters have a tendency to hoard them, saving them for the really cold days. With a huge supply, we'd splurge on comfort for our hands and feet.

4. A small thermos, dark-colored or camouflage, if possible. Why is it that the hotdog you eat while attending an outdoor sports game tastes so good? During the year, I occasionally eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; however, I find them delicious when I'm in a treestand. The same goes for coffee or hot chocolate. A warm drink is a treasure in the winter woods.

5. A field-dressing knife. You can never have too many. And they seem to be easy to lose!

6. A pair of ratcheting shears. I prefer these over limb saws for the smaller stuff. They are much quieter in use, and don't leave any evidence of disturbance, such as sawdust. Anyone who uses a climbing stand should keep these handy and they also are helpful in clearing shooting lanes for permanent stands.

These are just suggestions, but each item makes a great stocking stuffer for any hunter, archer or gun hunter, fur or fowl. This year, forego the boring, traditional stocking stuffers and target the hunters on your list.