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You are here: Home / Capital P / Fashion Friday: The gift guide for the outdoorsman edition

Fashion Friday: The gift guide for the outdoorsman edition

December 11, 2009 ·

I hate to start this post off with a tale of tragedy and sorrow, but I think you need to know that P typed this entire list on Wednesday night and, when he went to save it, our internet connection went out and he lost pretty much the entire thing.  Then he vowed that he would never go near the blog again and perhaps said a few words that aren’t fit for children.  Or really anyone with a good sense of hearing.

But he jumped back on the horse that threw him and completed it late last night because he knew I really wanted him to do it.  It’s like we are living out our very own version of The Gift of the Magi, except I don’t know that I would ever cut off all my hair and sell it for a wig.

I’m just being honest.

Anyway, here are P’s gift suggestions.  I think you’ll see that he did a great job of finding items at every price point.  You’ll also find my commentary in green (I was going to use red but the links are all in red and it was very confusing.) throughout the post because apparently I cannot shut up even when I have a guest poster.

Hello ladies.  Have you ever casually suggested something, sort of hypothetically agree something would work or be a good idea and next thing you know you’ve embarked upon unfamiliar territory?  Welcome to my now.  A couple of weeks ago I casually mentioned to Melanie that it would be cool for me to write a post on things you could get the outdoorsman in your life for Christmas…and here we are.

Of course I jumped on the suggestion only because I wanted to help y’all out.  Plus, it’s a post that I don’t have to write. I’m like a a modern day Tom Sawyer.

And my mind is not for rent.  But my blog totally is.

I also want to emphasize, in case the FTC is listening, that these are all things that P happens to really like. We haven’t been compensated in any way.

As ya’ll know from Big’s (I always dreamed that my husband would refer to me as Big.) past posts I love to hunt and fish…it’s my happy place. (I thought I was his happy place.) After doing this for the last 33 years I have discovered there are a few things you do not want to be afield with out. (I want to incorporate the word “afield” into my daily vocabulary.) I have also discovered some commercial products that just make the outdoors more enjoyable; things you could surprise your sportsman with that will make his day (not that the plaid robe I got a couple years ago wasn’t great…holy crap).  So here we go.

(That plaid robe was lovely.  And so was the matching ascot.)

1. Flashlight

I like the Surefire Flashlights. Light where there isn’t any is a good thing.  I like a dual-powered flashlight so if you’re looking for something in a bag or the truck you have useable light but not blinding white wash.  The flip side is if you are someplace you’ve never been, you have lots of light to find your way.

I’m not really allowed to touch P’s flashlights because he thinks I don’t put things back where they belong.  Which is true, but I like to think it adds a touch of mystery to our marriage.

2. A good knife

My friend Dean gave me a knife by Outdoor Edge and I love it.  Outdoor Edge makes a great product that will last.  Another great knife that you can get for a steal is the Kershaw Blackhorse II.  It was my first real knife, got it when I was 12 and I cleaned two deer with it last weekend.

3. Leupold scope

Leupold makes great scopes for every budget, from the Rifleman to the VX-3.

4. Backpack

I like the Camelback because it’s also a hydration pack.  Bigger is better and make sure it has the M.O.L.L.E. system.

It’s like he’s speaking a foreign language. I’ve lived my whole life without knowledge of the M.O.L.L.E. system.

5. Headlamp

You want one that’s LED with different power settings.

I love when P wears his headlamp because I can make Coalminer’s Daughter references.  “I just want the dadgum bedroom in the back of the house!”

6. Binoculars

Minox HG 8.5 x 43 BR ASPH. They’re an extremely high end glass at a mid-range price for a great pair of binoculars.

P told me that a good hunter can’t compromise on his optics.  He actually compared it to how I feel about a good pair of jeans which means he knows my love language.

7. Rangefinder

For the long range shooter, you want the Leica CRF 1200 Rangemaster. For a bowhunter or the more budget conscious, the Bushnell Sport 600 Yardage Pro is a great option.

8. Hunting Clothes

Different types of hunting require different types of clothing, but one thing all good hunting clothes should have in common is that they are waterproof and windproof. Cabela’s sells a great line of clothing that is described as Windshear or Dry-Plus. You also can’t go wrong with anything Gore-Tex.

9. Knife Sharpener

V-Sharp Classic by Warthog. It’s hands down the easiest and best sharpener I’ve ever owned.

I wish I would have used it before I nearly cut my finger off slicing that tomato the other night.  Also, I’d like to attest that this would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys sharp knives.  Anytime P pulls out this sharpener in a group full of men, they gather around it like he has just discovered fire.

10. Duck Commanders Cap

After the hunt is over, you need a good cap to look good for the picture. At least that’s what Melanie tells me. I like this DC olive green distressed one.

I think if a person is going to spend four months out of every year hunting, then the least they can do is take some pictures so their family doesn’t forget what they look like.

And while we’re on the subject of Duck Commanders, I have to let you know that after I wrote about them a few weeks ago that I actually received an email from one of their wives.  I cannot even express my joy.  In the three years that I’ve been writing this blog, nothing has ever legitimized it more for P than when I told him I’d gotten an email from the Duck Commanders.

Oh, and Duck Commanders is up for a Golden Moose Award, which is apparently like the Academy Awards for hunting shows.  You should totally go vote for them because they are a bright shining star in the sea of the outdoor television genre.

I’m going to quit talking and mixing metaphors now.

A few other miscellaneous items that might make good gifts or stocking stuffers are batteries, knife sheaths, holsters for flashlights, SmartWool socks, or gun cases.

This list is pretty heavy on Cabela’s stuff.  I have bought from them for years and have always been treated well. (He is such a good customer that we receive their hard bound catalog every year.  I don’t really want to think about what that means.) Their brand name stuff is good quality and they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee or you get your money back (It’s true.  He sent back a five-year-old raincoat and they replaced it free of charge.  You can guarantee that Anthropologie wouldn’t do that.), plus they have a lot of really good deals right now just in time for Christmas.

I hope this list saves a few of you from going down the dreaded path of the flannel plaid robe.

I’ll be back Monday for the Nester’s Christmas Tour of Homes, plus I’ll have another giveaway going on.

It’s just non-stop fun.

Y’all have a great Friday.

**Edited to add that P said he’ll check the comments for questions and answer them there.  He is a full-service blogger.

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Comments

  1. Chelsea

    December 11, 2009 at 2:43 am

    I’m suddenly very grateful that my husband is an avid INdoorsman, considering the prices on that gift idea list! If your clothing budget is half of P’s Cabela’s budget, you must have a fabulous wardrobe. : )

  2. Krista

    December 11, 2009 at 3:15 am

    I’m not married, but when that day comes, I hope I find a man who’s my P to your, um, Melanie. You know! 🙂 This totally made me lol life

  3. Cauphy p

    December 11, 2009 at 4:16 am

    Whoowee Mama, if my flashlights cost $109. I wouldn’t let anyone touch ’em either! =)

  4. Traci

    December 11, 2009 at 5:52 am

    That was so much fun! I love how P is so passionate about hunting and the products he uses. The whole list and commentary cracked me up. Glad he didn’t give up and got right back on that horse 🙂

  5. k&c's mom

    December 11, 2009 at 6:33 am

    I wish we could ask P questions. My brother-in-law wants a Maglight. No problemo! Until I go to Lowe’s and discover there are 1000 different kinds that vary in size by at least a foot. My motto is: If I have to ask more than one question at the store, it is out of my league.

  6. Jamie

    December 11, 2009 at 6:34 am

    My husband also loves Kershaw knives and Surefire flaslights are ALL OVER our house…and in all three cars. I think he and P could be best friends.

  7. Bettina

    December 11, 2009 at 6:40 am

    I just sent a link for your blog to my sister asking her to tell me if there’s anything on that list that my brother-in-law doesn’t have. Can you believe he gave up a week of hunting at Thanksgiving this year so they could go to Jamaica to get married? That’s true love for a hunter.

  8. Monica

    December 11, 2009 at 6:50 am

    Melanie, bring your fam to Michigan! We’ll send the guys to Cabela’s while the girls hit The Somerset Collection! They can have their live salmon creek inside the store and 450,00 (exxageration?) sq ft of hunting/fishing. We will be valet parked near Neiman Marcus and skip through Juicy, Louis V, and FAO Schwarz. We can lunch at PF Changs while the men dine at the Cabela-teria.
    I think it’s awesome that P threw out the man list! Now we need Caroline’s!

  9. rhonda

    December 11, 2009 at 6:54 am

    Sadly, I pretty much knew EXACTLY what he was talking about. Ahhh… the life of a hunter’s wife. The hard back copy? They REALLY REALLY like you.

  10. Cre

    December 11, 2009 at 7:19 am

    I read this to my Hunter! LOL. I have to agree…I am looking forward to January when it’s OVER for us. He’s not a big turkey hunter so there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

    Hunter has become obsessed with the Duck Commander too! lol. But my boys (4 and 2) recognize Michael Waddell instantly…what does that mean?

  11. Kristi

    December 11, 2009 at 7:40 am

    OH, that was so fun…Melanie, your comments made me LOL (as my girls would text). So, P, my guy is a manly man too-mighty hunter, one I hardly see this time of year due to the big call of the wild, but instead of more hunting gear, I bought him a blu-ray player. I thought it might make him a bit more comfortable at the deer lease. What do you think?

    We always sing the “Hallelujah” chorus to my man when we get to visit a real, live Cabellas and the front doors open. He could spend days in that store.

  12. Jennifer

    December 11, 2009 at 7:46 am

    I wish my husband was a hunter, I actually encourage him everyday of our marriage to become one! I guess you cold say I would not mind the few weekends of time apart!! I love the movie Coal Miners Daughter, one of my favorite quotes is “Yeah, I’m sick, I’m gunnah have a baby!”

  13. Katie

    December 11, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Hi Big Mama! I was just dying laughing reading this post. I am a long time reader, but this one hit home. My husband is a hunter and owns many of the things on P’s list…but, my favorite part is the Cabela’s hard bound book. We also get one every year and he places them on our bookshelves as if we should be “proud”. I tried to throw one away last year, and he said, “No, those are collector’s items”. Get real. Ha. AND…every day I think he says something to me like, “Where did you put my knife? Where did you put my broadheads? Etc.” If I wanted arrows laying around my house for my 10 month old, that would be a different story, but put things away already! Great post!

  14. Amanda @ Serenity Now

    December 11, 2009 at 7:59 am

    I am just so happpy to read this and know that my husband isn’t crazy b/c he has asked for and/or received some of these items in the past. He has a Surefire flashlight and I always thought it was odd that he seemed so protective of it. I guess I know why now.

    And I am also happy to see that batteries ARE a viable stocking stuffer option. He mentioned it once a few weeks ago and I was like, “Really?! Batteries???”

    Is it insane that I recognized the Leupold brand?

    This is like some strange, foreign man language. Thank you, Big Mama and P for offering a translation. 🙂

    I still think that P and my hubs could be long-lost cousins. Does P think that ammo is a suitable stocking stuffer? If so, then that solidifies it….

    🙂

    Thanks for posting today, P! 🙂

  15. [email protected]

    December 11, 2009 at 8:20 am

    Well that was a fun and frightening tour of the male mind. It seems as though Coach has begun reading your blog as he has developed a man-crush on P. He now watches Ted Nugent’s Spirit of the Wild and various other hunting shows, yet the man does not own a gun.

  16. Big Mama

    December 11, 2009 at 8:32 am

    KC,
    I’m not a fan of the Maglight because of there size and the beam is not as clear as the Surefire. Plus a Surefire is brighter at about 1:100 of the size. If he wants a ML it’s probably because it can be used as a club…so bigger is better!

    Amanda,
    It is written “nothing says I love you like a box of ammo…or 12”

    P

  17. beckypdj

    December 11, 2009 at 8:52 am

    My husband has a lot of stuff on that list. He’s obsessed with flashlights, thinks he needs one in every room of the house.

    This was a GREAT post. Started my a.m. with a chuckle. Thanks

  18. Kelley

    December 11, 2009 at 8:53 am

    This post is…THE BEST!

    My fiance is a hunter & target shooter (and like P, we also have a gun safe–the personally scares me, but I deal with it) and he too gets the “fancy” Cabella’s catalog! Here in MN, we have 3 Cabella’s and he has never found something there he didn’t like. However, I never know where to begin when looking at gifts for him because he likes specific things.

    This list has done just that.

    Please thank P for the suggestions because now I have got my finace’s birthday covered (it falls in January)!

  19. Marla Taviano

    December 11, 2009 at 9:01 am

    Gabe went hunting with his dad last weekend for the second time in his life. He has now taken to watching (and DVRing) hunting shows. There’s supposedly some Christmas Special on tonight at 8pm.

    I’ll have to point him to this delightful post.

  20. Sheila

    December 11, 2009 at 9:03 am

    Thanks!! I bookmarked this post to keep for ideas for my dad. Now if you fish, could you post some ideas for that as well? 🙂 It’s never enough, is it?

  21. Sharon

    December 11, 2009 at 9:10 am

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now I have all 5 hunters in my life covered!!!

  22. Deidre

    December 11, 2009 at 9:11 am

    My husband is not an outdoorsman, but that post was so riveting, I had to read every last word – ha! Good stuff.

    Now, I’m going to go kiss my husband and be thankful he doesn’t hunt 🙂

  23. PinesLakeRedhead

    December 11, 2009 at 9:15 am

    I really could have used some gift ideas for the saltwater fisherman. But I think the kids will get a kick out of the LED headlamps. That should make their nighttime (when the should be sleeping) Nerf gun fights all that more fun!

  24. Musings of a Housewife

    December 11, 2009 at 9:20 am

    This totally cracks me up. P sounds like my husband does about home improvement products.

  25. Becky

    December 11, 2009 at 9:23 am

    Been married to an outdoorsman for 34 years and 2 of our 3 sons are also rabid (not avid)about it. The operators at Cabelas and I are on a first name basis at Christmas time. We also get the big, bound catalogue and I have even ordered a few items for myself. Check it out, Big Mama!

  26. Laura

    December 11, 2009 at 9:38 am

    I just wanted to say how much fun it was to read this post! You two are very entertaining, and although I wouldn’t buy hunting gear if my life depended on it, I did enjoy reading all about it. Thanks!

    Laura

  27. Amanda

    December 11, 2009 at 9:38 am

    Loved this post! I always crack up at Big Mama’s random comments about hunting thrown into her daily posts. It’s nice to be reminded to find the humor in not seeing your husband for a quarter of the year 🙂 I also take comfort in knowing that I am not the only one that feels like I need to set up the guest bedroom for the ever-present Uncle Ted! 🙂

  28. Kim

    December 11, 2009 at 9:42 am

    Being the daughter, sister and wife of avid hunters/fishers/what new thing can we find to hunt today men I believe that we own almost everything on that list. I have not heard of Duck Commanders though. I think I’ll keep it as my little secret 🙂 My hubby did lose his favorite knife last month so I may grab one of P’s suggestions for a stocking stuffer. And the Cabela’s hard bound book? We get at least 2 a year and they are always perched at the bedside or beside the toilet 🙂 Can’t possibly read it too many times I guess.
    Enjoyed the post and the commentary on the post. Sounds a little bit like our house 🙂

  29. Michelle

    December 11, 2009 at 9:43 am

    All suggestions duly noted!

    I nominate the next Big Boo Cast to have P as a guest!

  30. Rena

    December 11, 2009 at 9:46 am

    Completely entertaining!

    Helpful, I’m sure, for those who hunt or those who are married to those who hunt.

    Not me. Well, my first husband would apply but that’s another story.

    Let’s just say, back in the day I longed for his Aunt’s plaque to hang on my wall which read:
    We interrupt this marriage to bring you…
    The Hunting Season.

    I’m trying really hard to think of a question for P because I just don’t want to feel left out.

    Okay, I think I’ve got it.

    P, yesterday I found a dead squirrel on the back porch. Do you have any idea how he died? Don’t hunters know this stuff? After I sent my husband a text informing him: OMG dead squirrel on the back porch, he replied: do not let Dexter get it. Dexter is our Golden Retriever.

    So I let him inside. Then my husband came home for lunch. So I asked him if he would get the dead squirrel. To which he replied: I thought you got it.

    I thought he knew me.

    I’m thinking if Dexter should not be allowed to get the dead squirrel, then some awful fate must’ve fallen upon the squirrel. I’m curious. No one has answered my question.

    Which leads me to another question: is it ever okay to give someone a dead squirrel as a gift? I’m just sayin’. The ex hunts. Save him the trouble. My two oldest daughters could save a few dollars.

    All I’m sayin’.

  31. alice

    December 11, 2009 at 9:49 am

    One hundred and nine dollars for a freaking FLASHLIGHT? Does P know how much lipstick could be bought for that amount? My husband is getting nowhere near this list…

  32. emily

    December 11, 2009 at 9:53 am

    just wanted to say thanks! my husband said he wanted a “good” pocket knife and i had no idea where to look!

  33. Dara

    December 11, 2009 at 9:57 am

    So funny!! When the Cabela’s in the Ft Worth area opened, my dad insisted that we go as a family. My brother and I were 24 and 21, respectively. My parents came to Dallas to have lunch w/ me the other day, and my dad left his credit card. When I went to pick it up the manager at Pappasito’s couldn’t understand why a young girl like me would have a Cabela’s Club black Visa. Ha! Lastly, since my dad gave me a Cabela’s club visa in college so he could get points, I still get the catalogs. Apparently they sell Uggs?? You better believe I innocently asked, “Dad, do you have enough points to get these for me??” Done and done. Merry Christmas to me!

  34. Kathleen

    December 11, 2009 at 9:58 am

    THANK YOU. My husband is very much the outdoorsman and I was trying to think of something else to buy him! I made the leap and purchased a firearm for him for his birthday (ha, never thought I would ever say I did that?!) and had no idea what I could do for Christmas. This helps big time

  35. elz

    December 11, 2009 at 9:58 am

    Melanie and P, you have done the world of hunting wives a huge service today. Thanks! I never knew that Cabela’s sent regular catalogs, I thought all their catalogs were hard cover. Now I am worried.

    P, do you have any ideas specifically for reloading? My husband does that once hunting season is over. Thanks

  36. Sarah

    December 11, 2009 at 10:05 am

    Melanie(or should I say Big?),I think you have perfectly described Outdoorsman P to us in all your post through out the years. He is just like you’ve been telling us. But one thing I can’t understand:you had absolutely NO commentary to add about Hunting Clothes. Does that mean you think they’re fine or they’re so bad you don’t even want to go there?! 😉 P,I think you forgot mention the appropriate attire/gear need for little Caroline hunters-in-training! Will that be your next guest post? Thanks for popping by and being a full-service blogger;I hope you’ll do it again soon! 🙂

    I do have to have admit-the commentary was my favorite part! 🙂

  37. Omom

    December 11, 2009 at 10:17 am

    This was not only useful ( I have an avid outdoorsman and have saved alot of these for future use) but so funny! The nonstop green comments, priceless!

  38. Mel

    December 11, 2009 at 10:21 am

    Oh, this post was too funny! I thought you were joking about the hard cover catalog.

    P, Rangefinder? Cheater.

    Although my husband grew up with a hunting dad, he doesn’t hunt. He did take up archery and shot at targets. I even took up archery before we had kids. My arrows had pink and purple vanes (plastic feathers) on them. The guys at the hunting store made fun of me for having a child’s size bow.

  39. rrmama

    December 11, 2009 at 10:35 am

    P, Melanie, AKA Big, has taught you well! Great job FSB…Full Service Blogger! Thanks for the ideas, and have a great weekend.

  40. wanda

    December 11, 2009 at 10:37 am

    Great post, ya’ll!

    My guys (Hubby and son) really enjoy the outdoor lifestyle as well.
    It’s fun to see them loving and admiring all things “manbeast”!

    We like to go to Bass Pro as a “fun” family outting! Yea…we’re party people!

  41. Lauren Kelly

    December 11, 2009 at 10:38 am

    Good job P….!!!!!! 🙂

  42. Hilary

    December 11, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Great post Melanie & P. You 2 make a great team.

    We have the same flashlight rules over here.

    I did use the LED headlight once to find a pacifier way under the seat of my SUV.

    My hubby is a fan of the game camera, so he can yell at the TV after a day of hunting & no game! It also entertains my children.

  43. Brickhouse

    December 11, 2009 at 10:48 am

    Tell P that I forwarded his list to alot of people to avoid the plaid robe gift.

    I remember the THICK nicely, bound Cabela’s catalog. It’s a pretty good marketing tool because when a man gets that thing in the mail telling them that they ARE a special customer, then they gotta order MORE.

    I like their ski stuff too, for those non-hunters, whoever they are.

  44. Amy Crafton

    December 11, 2009 at 10:50 am

    Thank you Melanie. My dad is an avid hunter and this will come in handy!

  45. Kelly

    December 11, 2009 at 10:51 am

    I now what the prior commentor means by kids recognizing the hosts of the hunting shows they watch with their fathers. We live in the same area as Bill Jordan and Michael Waddell and occasionally see them around town. You would have thought the boys(ages 11 and 7) had just seen a rock star at Dicks Sporting Goods. Well, I guess he is for them.

  46. Sheri

    December 11, 2009 at 10:59 am

    Thanks, P! I’m kind of liking that flashlight for myself! And that knife sharpener is very interesting. I’m in NW Indiana and there’s a Cabela’s a couple of towns over. My dad could spend days there. The driveway approaching the store (the street to turn on is even named Cabela Drive) is very long and I feel as though I’m approaching something majestic like the Taj Mahal whenever I go there. Thanks again for the suggestions!

  47. abby

    December 11, 2009 at 11:14 am

    What a good husband! I loved the commentary too. Pretty much I had no clue of what any of those items were, but I still clicked on every single link just because I was so impressed by P posting:) (Although I have been to Cabelas and it’s pretty fantastic even if I’ve never touched a gun in my life…it’s like going to the zoo…except they’re dead! hehe.)

    I guess my hubby will have to live with Old Navy pj pants and slippers for Christmas…

  48. Tracey

    December 11, 2009 at 11:29 am

    I laughed so hard when I saw #1 on the list. I had just happened to open up my husband’s “wish list” that he created on Amazon to find the same flashlights on there just a few minutes before reading this post.
    I guess men are all alike.
    Thanks for the tips!

  49. Karen

    December 11, 2009 at 11:35 am

    Great post! Y’all are so dadgum funny! P, thanks for visiting with us.

  50. Kelly

    December 11, 2009 at 11:36 am

    Well I don’t know jack about any of this. My husband is definitely not a hunter! But, this post was awesome! I think more P posts should definitely be in the works!

  51. Amy

    December 11, 2009 at 11:42 am

    Oh this was awesome. Thank you P for the great ideas….I have gone the flannel robe route before…and now J just wants me to give him money….which is a problem since I’m a stay-at-home mom with no income on the side. I shall print and refer to this list now.
    Thank you BigMama for your sidebar commentary. Excellent.
    Have a good Friday!
    Amy

  52. Jennifer H

    December 11, 2009 at 11:54 am

    My husband is also and avid hunter (which is tough in California) and a frequent shopper of Cabela’s. We also get the hard bound catalog every year. When it comes in I tell my husband his bible has arrived. Thanks P for the advice. I do need a whindshear turtle-neck for my husband who lost his, and Cabela’s is apparently out in his size. Hopefully I can get one when we take a trip to the Nevada store in January.

  53. Pam

    December 11, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    The headlamp…..my husband just bought
    one for running our yellow lab after dark…where we live that’s roughly 5PM in the winter….I can’t wait to use the coalminer’s daughter ref.
    God Bless, Pam, South Bend

  54. Kathryn

    December 11, 2009 at 12:04 pm

    Great list! The flashlight will serve double duty – blinding intruders and suitors making advances at my 15 year old daughter.
    A question for the two of you..
    P can you recommend a gun for personal defense; small enough to carry concealed, yet easy for a woman to handle? I currently have a Taurus 38 revolver, and my husband has a Browning High Power 9mm. As it stands now he takes my gun if he is carrying, and since I cannot pull back the slide my only hope of defending myself is to hit the intruder with the butt of the gun.

    Melanie,
    Do you have any suggestions for stylishly carrying a concealed firearm? While convenient and practical the fanny pack is not high on the list of fashion dos. A holster perhaps, but then how do you disguise the bulge? Or do you bedazzle it and call it a trendy new accessory?

  55. Vicki

    December 11, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    I aven’t had this good a rip snorting laugh in like, forever!!!!!! This is the best post you’ve done.

  56. griswold fun

    December 11, 2009 at 12:42 pm

    Awesomeness! P – you are a great husband for doing this!

  57. Amy

    December 11, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    Great post, P! My husband is a big outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman kind of guy so I can appreciate everything you said as well as everything your wife had to say 🙂

    So, if you’re answering questions…Can you recommend a decent bow for deer hunting (maybe something at Cabela’s since we have one close by)? My husband is using an old bow, and apparently bow technology has changed a lot in the past 5 years or something like that and he feels left out and wants a new bow. I’d like to surprise him with one, but of course haven’t the faintest idea. So, is there something good you could recommend?

  58. Tai

    December 11, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    I wish I could say that I understood absolutely nothing in that post, but that would be a lie. We own pretty much all of it, and what we don’t it is on his “list” too. I just got him a Suunto watch thingy (it does a lot of stuff I have no clue what it means) for his 30th bday this month. I had to call his bff (do guys say bff??) to get the right one. I love him for all his outdoorsy-ness (is that a word?) though. I would not want a man whose hands are softer than mine 😉

    We get the hardbound Cabela’s book as well. I am putting my foot down on the Cabela points though. They are mine this time!! Hello Frye Boots 🙂

  59. Jane Russell

    December 11, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    P. your suggestions were the best. I am going to keep them for all year shopping for all the men in the family. Please keep posting “must haves” for men.

  60. Jane Russell

    December 11, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    P. your suggestions were the best. I am going to keep them for all year shopping for all the men in the family. Please keep posting “must haves” for men.

  61. Trina

    December 11, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    P, you did a terrific job on this guest post. Thank you for leading us into unfamiliar territory!

  62. Sue Speir

    December 11, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    Dang! I never knew you could spend over $100 on a flashlight!!

    Great post! Thank you P! And Melanie, your comments made me laugh out loud. Coalminer’s Daughter? Love that movie – especially when she says Doo, all you do is growl like a big ole baaar!

    My husband is a fisherman, not a hunter, but our 24 year old son has suddenly become passionate about deer hunting. So this really was great. I have already done most of my shopping for him, but I thought he would love the Outdoor Edge knife.

    **Question for P** Is there an advantage to the orange handle on the knife? I guess it is so you can find it in the dim light if it fell on the ground. I just am not an orange person, but I guess it is not about personal tastes. Thanks so much for being a full service blogger!

  63. Rebecca

    December 11, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    i live with a full-time hunter. he has ALL of the said items so you see why i’m still stumped. are there any cool new things for duck or deer hunting that is a must have or even just really cool to have? HELP!!!!

  64. Jennifer

    December 11, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    This list is amazing! Thank you so much for all the suggestions P!

  65. Amy R

    December 11, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    P

    That is why I own a mag light and keep it next to my bed…it really does make a good club…not as affective as a shot gun but for this city girl it is all I can handle…

    Amy

  66. Married to an Aussie in OK

    December 11, 2009 at 3:07 pm

    ROFL @ the knife sharpener commentary! My dad has the same phenomenon! He pulls his out during a holiday dinner (why he does this is still a conundrum, but apparently it is tradition) and his brothers gather from the four winds of the acreage. It’s fascinating.

  67. charles

    December 11, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    Gifts for outdoor guys? We’ve got another great guide at Elevation Outdoors: http://www.elevationoutdoors.com/index.php/eat-play-sleep/

  68. Lee

    December 11, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    Melanie: I read your blog often; I’ll not miss a Fashion Friday! I’m proud to admit I’m a big Aggie fan and wearing my Texas A&M hoodie as I type! Whoop! On over to P: Great blog and so appreciated by many. My husband’s (we’ll call Big Daddy … he’s 6’7″) happy place is on his BassCat out on most any lake (no Melanie, his happy place is not me either … tear). Our garage is like a mini-Academy store. I have NO idea what to get him “fishing related” for Christmas. What can I possibly get for the fisherman that has it all? Thanks for any suggestion(s). You two keep bloggin’ and I’ll keep reading! ~ Lee

  69. Shannon

    December 11, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    Nice! Just what I needed.

    Couple questions, if you make it down this far, P 🙂

    My husband, Ryan, feels he needs something that tells him how to shoot(?) the bow based on how far away the animal is. Does he need a scope or a rangefinder? And is there one that would also work for rifle AND bow (he does not discriminate, but happily hunts with either)

    Also, we live WAY up north in SDakota. He would like a pair of really warm boots that are warm enough to snowmobile in (I guess they need to be especially warm if he’s not walking about like he is when he’s hunting pheasants) Do you have any suggestions in that arena?

    Thanks so much!

  70. Cydney

    December 11, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    P it is great to hear from you. I love the ideas although my husband is an Assistant Police Chief and these days has very little time for hunting, but some of the items I think he might like anyway.

    Merry Christmas!

  71. Charla

    December 11, 2009 at 5:03 pm

    My favorite Coal Miner’s Daughter quote is “Stop a-growlin, Dew. You sound like a big ole bear.” Except it sounds like “bar” with her accent.

    That had nothing to do with the list, just thought I would share! 🙂

  72. Melissa P

    December 11, 2009 at 5:15 pm

    This was a great list. I came over from Jolynne at Musings of a Housewife. My husband is a hunter and my boys are starting. We spend way too much money and time at cabelas. Great post.

  73. Jill

    December 11, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    Hmm! Big P might just have helped me out with a gift for my dad. My husband is more of a computer nerd, so it doesn’t sound like P can help with that right now, though if he keeps blogging regularly he’ll be on that bandwagon too ;0

  74. Tasha

    December 11, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    That was great!Thanks capital P!My husband is not really the hunting type but my dad definately is.This post will come in very handy.You are almost as witty and funny as “BIG”.

  75. Mary R Snyder

    December 11, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    Okay P. this list sounds strangely like my hubs, V’s list. And he, too is a faithful Cabella’s customer.

    And Melanie, V doesn’t allow me to touch the flashlights either…. and what is up with that knife sharpening thing. Guys we’ve landed and WALKED on the Moon, what’s the big deal about a sharp knife?

    Loved, loved loved the post. P, my hubs is getting a Fall Guy Descender this year. Apparently this is a self recovery apparatus that will save his fanny if he falls out of that tree stand… and don’t get me started on the tree stand thing.

    Thanks again!

  76. Janessa

    December 11, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    Does P have any indoor nerdy friends that could help the rest of us out? If I bought my husband a flashlight and smart wool socks he’d sit outside in the dark on his computer just to make use of them.

  77. k&c's mom

    December 11, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    OMG: the men in the family who have NEVER read a blog are loving P’s post around here. P may have a future in this bloggy world. Is BigDaddy taken as a blog name? Just saying.

  78. jenna

    December 11, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    Thanks P!!! I actually got some Duck commander Gear for my husband from reading your blog..I had no Idea you could buy that stuff online!!! By the way have you been able to find the new duck commander “fear the Beard” DVD?? My husband worships the duck commander and is even growing a beard…he wants it and I can’t find it anywhere!! They are even out of stock on Duck commander!!

    Hating Beards,
    Jenna

  79. Molly

    December 11, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    Sadly, I can relate to everything P has spoken of on his list. I’m single, but I have a father, and twin brothers that love, love, love to hunt and fish.(They explained that their passion for hunting and fishing is akin to my passion for Vera Bradley. The lightbulb came on at that point.)Please thank P, because I have now found and purchased my brothers Christmas gift, from none other than the Duck Commanders. I think a poster that says “Arise, Kill, Eat” has a festive ring to it, no? So, thank you P! You have just made me the best sister in the entire world!

  80. Becky

    December 11, 2009 at 9:53 pm

    What a great team you two are! I will try to get my hunting hubby to read because after Flashlight, I was totally bored.

  81. Quirky

    December 12, 2009 at 12:45 am

    No one in my family hunts, but I’m an avid hiker, and as I was going down the list, I was like, “Hey! I have a Camelbak with PAL/MOLLE!” and “Hey! I have several pairs of smartwool socks!” and “Hey! I was just looking for a new pair of binoculars!”. Of course, I’d also like a new plaid robe, so maybe we’re not as alike as I thought. But good list there Mister P.

  82. Ashleigh (Heart and Home)

    December 12, 2009 at 2:19 am

    I’m proud to report that (completely girlie, non-hunting me) gave my gun-loving guy a Leupold scope for his Remington 700 Ultra Mag on our first Christmas together six years ago. It also resulted in the first and only time I’ve ever overdrawn my bank account and bounced a few checks, but let’s not go there, mmkay? His gift to me that year? A Remington 700 .223. So I guess you could say I knew what I was getting into early on in the relationship.

    Now I’m sure that if Caroline has her own pink rifle, Melanie has to have her own gun… what is it??

  83. votemom

    December 12, 2009 at 10:09 am

    ok, so i didn’t think i was getting my husband a warthog knife sharpener, but apparently i just did.

  84. Teresa

    December 12, 2009 at 10:45 am

    We went to Cabelas VIP Christmas party this year in Hazelwood. They certainly throw a nice shopping party. Drinks, food, and employee pricing. We got a gun. If my husband wasn’t out getting a haircut, I could tell you what kind, other than big expensive handgun. Enjoyed your post. I tell my husband you would like P. You too are kindred spirits.

  85. Patti

    December 12, 2009 at 10:59 am

    My husband loves it when one of the kids gets his Surefire and leaves it turned on AND turned upside down on a flat surface so that its blinding illumination is hidden all day long thus extinguishing the very expensive special Surefire battery within. Then when he needs the Surefire in order to, for example, blind a possum in our backyard, it (the battery, not the possum) is dead.

  86. Jacque

    December 12, 2009 at 11:31 am

    My husband would love everything on the list. We also receive the Cabela’s hardbound catalog. My husband has them all lined up like they are encylopedias or something.

  87. Teresa

    December 12, 2009 at 11:38 am

    As a mis-placed Texan living in Montana, I can totally relate. We moved to Montana 19 years ago…my husband thinks he’s died and gone to hunting heaven. He got a big horn sheep this year, the highlight of his year. My daughter graduating from law school and getting married was the highlight of mine. Slightly duifferent priorities.
    We also get the hard bound book…and the archery book….and the hunting book…and the sale catalogs…and the bargain basement flyers….they could cut their costs in half if they didn’t send out so many darn books!!!

  88. barbara

    December 12, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    Loved, loved, loved the post. Commentary was perfect…like having a conversation with both of you…thanks for the great ideas…several family members are going to pitch in and get one of the pricier items…Thanks for the ideas and the hilarious comments…Come back and post anytime!!!!!

  89. Mrs

    December 12, 2009 at 6:28 pm

    Husband is NOT Hunter/Gatherer. Husband is Spender/Shopper.

  90. Mrs

    December 12, 2009 at 6:28 pm

    Meant to add, great post!

  91. Jennifer

    December 12, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    I have to say that this is one of the best blog posts I’ve ever read. On several levels. Seriously.

  92. Ashley

    December 13, 2009 at 12:24 am

    Too funny! I am not allowed to touch my husbands flashlights either:) My husband has a poster of the Duck Commander in his hunting closet. He is my husband’s idol! Just letting you know, if you ever toss one of the hardbound Cabella’s catalogs…prepare for heated dialogue with the spouse. Why do they need that catalogue? Everything is online! Just get on their website and shop!

  93. Courtney

    December 13, 2009 at 1:23 am

    OH MY WORD!!!! We have gotten the hard bound-collection of the entire year’s catalogs-Cabela’s catalog for the last 8 years! Britt has them sandwiched between 2 labrador bookends on the shelf in his office! He’s so proud of those things! I personally think it’s a billboard for “I spend waaay too much money on outdoor supplies!” And also, I wish they would make it a different color every year. We have a couple of years that are both burgundy. Messes up my whole color schematic to keep them chronological! You’d think a woman would’ve told those Cabela’s guys that. But to agree with loving Cabela’s customer service, B loves when he calls them, he gets a real. live. english is my native language. speaking person. A rarity in the world of customer service! Thanks P for your suggestions! I’m definitely checking them out! Oh, and I can’t touch the flashlight either!

  94. Melanie

    December 13, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    Nothing less than Capital advice from P.

    Thanks. I’ve got ideas for years for Daddy! He’s in the woods as I type.

  95. Julie From Inmates

    December 13, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    A big thanks to The Big P for all of his helpful advice. McDaddy will certainly thank him come Christmas morning. Now that’s a good man!!!

  96. cari

    December 14, 2009 at 12:28 am

    I think our husbands may have been seperated at birth. What is with men and their love of knives and flashlights? My husband is obsessed with the duck commander and i actually enjoy it to. lol! your reference to coal miners daughter made my day. I am still laughing!

  97. Kelly

    December 14, 2009 at 1:04 am

    I have a whole cabinet of videotaped hunting shows “Buckmasters”, I think, that my husband INSISTED on recording back in the day when he was one of those psychos, I mean avid hunters, who got up at 4 am in 20 degree weather to climb a tree and hunt for a deer to kill. And we used to get the big cabela’s catalog, too. They have good stuff. He hasn’t hunted in about 15 years and we still have all the clothes, boots, etc. I had to keep his hunting clothes in a special cabinet all by themselves and wash them in scent-free detergent. But, I have been looking for a really good flashlight so that when I have to go out to the dogpen in the dark I have a ray of light bigger than a pencil, so I’m totally checking out his flashlight recommendations.

  98. Anna

    December 14, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    I tell you- I hate to be stuck afield in Target without a warm Starbucks on a cold day. ha!

  99. Kristi

    December 14, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    P- thanks for the list! I bought my husband a Kershaw last year and he loved it. Up until the our neighbor, the cop, pointed out that the blade was over 3″ and therefore illegal here in Virginia.

    Whoops.

  100. Dane

    December 15, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Just a heads up that Kotula’s, Kotulas.com, a catalog for guys’ gifts, is offering free shipping on everything ordered for Christmas by December 16.

    Kotula’s offers goofy, unique, and useful gifts for guys, especially outdoorsmen, including Truck-mounted toilet seats and solar-powered backpacks.

  101. Heated Jacket | Heated Gloves | Heated Clothes

    January 3, 2010 at 1:48 am

    Hello, nice article full of useful and informative topics, I really could have used some gift ideas for the saltwater fisherman. But I think the kids will get a kick out of the LED headlamps. That should make their nighttime (when the should be sleeping) Nerf gun fights all that more fun!

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Melanie ShankleMy name is Melanie and, in some strange twist of fate, I’m also known as Big Mama because I started this blog in July of 2006 when my daughter, Caroline, was not quite three years old and I was in the process of convincing her that BIG girls use the potty and BIG girls don’t have pacifiers, thus she thought BIG was the highest compliment in the land and began referring to me as BIG MAMA.Read More

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Well, that was anti-climatic.

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Wow, Georgia! What a comeback!!

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