‘Tis the Season! Not just Upland Season, but the Season of Giving has arrived! Christmas is here!
Ah. Christmas. That means the smell of pine in the house. Tamales warming in the pot. Liberal amounts of eggnog. Christmas Carols. Candy Canes. Gingerbread homes. Gifts.
If you are like me, you enjoy giving much more than receiving gifts! But if you are like me, you also can appreciate a thoughtful gift in return… especially one that you can use for bird hunting! Check this list out… maybe twice… and hopefully you have been nice! If coal is not in your immediate future, get some of these gift ideas to Santa ASAP!
If Santa isn’t easy to get to (or maybe you have been bad and need to bypass him), perhaps a subtle nudge to your significant other or family members will ensure that you are not disappointed come Christmas day (send them this link)! Here are my Top-Twelve gifts for Upland Hunters this Christmas!
1) Jim Matthews Custom Quail Call $60+
‘Jim Matthews’ is a name very recognizable in Southern California (and nationwide) within the upland hunting community! Jim possesses decades of quail hunting knowledge and has been passing his wealth of information unto generations of new hunters! He also makes some of the most beautifully crafted wooden quail calls I have ever seen! With various wood types, finishes and customization, no two calls are alike! From your basic “stick” calls to 3-in-1 combo calls for Valley, Gambels, Mountain and Bobwhite Quail, he has got you covered! These pieces that are both functional and beautiful. A call worthy of passing down as a family heirloom and a perfect gift for an upland hunter! Purchase HERE!
2) Filson Single Tin Chaps $110
Every serious upland hunter has heard of Filson and maybe even owns a few of their products! There are two reasons for that: Quality and Durability. Their motto – “Might as well have the best” comes from proven hard use in the Pacific North-West where Filson was born in the height of logging and prospecting. Hunters of the era also took notice of Filson’s superb quality and durability and adopted many of their garments for the field. Today, hunters still swear by Filson garments and accessories! These Filson Single-Tin Chaps are perfect for warmer weather, yet will stand up against most briars and thick brush that many of us upland hunters find ourselves in. A must have in the uplands! Purchase HERE!
3) Q5 Centerfire Upland Bird Vest $140+
Q5 Outdoor Products has been producing quality vests since 2011, with one thing in mind! Helping upland hunters customize vests to their personal needs! Instead of buying a mass produced vest that wasn’t quite designed for you, Q5 has created a system that allows upland hunters to essentially build their own vest based on length of hunts, body-types, and personal needs! The Q5 Centerfire Upland Bird Vest is a full-sized vest designed for longer back-country hunts for all those serious upland hunters who put in miles for their birds! Oh! And a portion of all sales goes to helping get kids outdoors! Awesome! Purchase HERE!
4) Quail Forever/Pheasants Forever Membership $35
Quail Forever and Pheasants Forever have been advocating for upland game and habitat since 1982! That means they are the guys out there saving our hunting heritage! Show your support… or better yet, gift a membership to show your support for these great organizations and be a part of a family that is working to keep upland game around for future generations! Memberships include swag and a quarterly magazine! Purchase HERE or HERE!
5) Sage & Braker Brush & Pick Tool Roll-Kit $31
I am a sucker for functional items that are also pleasing to the eyes. Sage & Braker’s Brush and Pick Tool Roll-Kit is just that! This wonderful kit comes in a rolled-up in a very durable waxed canvas and leather organizer. The kit contains both nylon/brass brushes and steel/brass ended picks. These kits are great for thorough cleanings and or assisting with repairs/(dis)assemblies. I find these tools essential for deep cleaning at the end of the season. Purchase HERE!
6) Kent Bismuth Shot Shells $29.99+
Kent offers some of the best premium ammunition in today’s market! Their Non-Toxic Bismuth line of ammo was a bit hard to get a hold not long ago and many upland hunters ended up with boxes of 10-shells in shot sizes that were geared towards waterfowl hunting. Well, rejoice, fellow upland hunters! Kent now offers an Upland Game specific Bismuth line in all your favorite shot sizes and in convenient 25-round boxes! Bismuth is non-toxic and is superior to steel shot (even lead) in many ways! For those of you wanting to stay away from steel but need a lead alternative (I am talking to YOU, California residents!), this is the ammo for you! Purchase HERE!
7) Hank Shaw’s “Pheasant, Quail, Cottontail” Recipe Book $28
Well, you just brought a vest full of quail home. Now what? Step away from the bacon and jalapenos and pick this book up! With over a hundred different recipes for upland and small game, Hank Shaw will have you rivaling Steve Rinella in the kitchen this holiday season! The book also contains methods for dressing, plucking and aging upland birds. And a portion of the sale goes to Quail Forever when you buy this book! I love to cook. And if you love cooking like I do, especially game birds, this book is a must! Purchase HERE!
8) Project Upland Magazine Subscription $34.99+
Project Upland has been producing great content and videos about the upland hunting lifestyle and now they are coming straight to your mailbox with a quarterly magazine! With articles by award-winning journalists and the eye-grabbing and classy images you have grown to love, these issues are surely to become coffee-table classics! Project Upland has never disappointed and they capture the true essence of upland hunting . This is the perfect gift for the discerning upland hunter that gives all year long! Purchase HERE!
9) McKenna Quinn Piper Long Sleeve Shirt $188
I didn’t forget you ladies… and neither did McKenna Quinn! Women have had to bum around in unflattering hunting clothing, designed for men, for decades! McKenna Quinn is ahead of the curve in the hunting industry and has designed functional upland hunting garments and accessories, for women specifically! Their Piper Long Sleeve shirts are elegant and complimentary, yet fully functional, qualities that many other companies are having a hard time balancing! The Piper Long Sleeve shirts come in a variety of prints and colors for the quality-minded upland hunting-lady! Purchase HERE!
10) Lathrop & Sons Mountain Hunter Boots $448+
I have looked high and low for a superior boot that is both comfortable and can put up with the terrain of south-western upland hunting. I found them. Lathrop & Sons has produced what I call, the Ferrari of boots! Handcrafted and built to tackle rough terrain, these boots will last a lifetime of hunting in the harshest environments, while protecting the most used and most important part of your body: YOUR FEET! With various options and customizable features, these are truly a premium-custom boot! Purchase HERE!
11) Ithaca 37 28 GA $1,145+
Ithaca Gun Company has created a true-scaled 28 gauge Model 37! For you sub-gauge lovers out there, the prefect pump is within reach! Light, nimble, and elegant, the infamous Model 37 design is one of the longest running and most reliable pump guns out there! With a bottom ejecting port, the Model 37 is the perfect gun for either left-handed or right-handed shooters. The made in the USA 28 gauge Model 37 comes in multiple barrel lengths, finishes and wood grades. Own one of the best shotguns ever made in America… and take her out hunting! Purchase HERE!
12) Beretta A400 “Upland” Shotgun $1,800
Admittedly, I am not a huge fan of auto-shotguns. But. If I were to ever own one. This would be it. This gun is gorgeous! I usually have a hard time saying that when it comes to semi-autos, but this gun has an elegance usually reserved for high-end double guns. And as any true and self-respecting upland gun, it has an actual wooden stock with superior ergonomics! The technologically advanced A400 Upland boasts superior accuracy with its self-cleaning and self regulating gas system. Only available in 12 gauge, the A400 also features Beretta’s “Kick-Off Plus” technology, which reduces felt recoil by 50%! This is a sleek gun that any upland hunter would appreciate! Purchase HERE!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope you all get a couple of upland hunting goodies under your tree!
God Bless & Happy Hunting!
– J.R.
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