Since your eyeballs are glued to another of my fine columns, and the latest outdoor news, I’ll wager there’s a hunter, fisherman or camper on your gift list.
That’s assuming they’ve been nice, not naughty, cat butlers and maids this year.
Consider yourself lucky.
There’s no easier person on the planet to buy for than a human who loves the great outdoors. Not only that, you won’t have to fork over an arm, a leg and a paw.
I, Santa Boat Dock, am here to help with your shopping needs by oft ering these great, reasonably priced gift ideas.
Any fur-deprived twolegged who tromps around the outdoors in the winter could use a multipack of disposable hand warmers.
Open the packet, take out a hand warmer and shake, shake, shake it. See? They’re fun already.
Slide this puppy into a coat pocket. Stick a chilly hand inside, clutch the hand warmer and there’s heat when you need it.
A packet of 10 hand warmers will set you back about 10 bucks.
The cat butler goes through hand warmers like he’s trying to heat the house with them. They go nicely with his electric socks.
That’s right. Electric socks.
His pals laugh, but they work like a charm. The topof each sock has a pouch on the outside of the calf that holds a D-sized battery.
Electric socks don’t really heat your feet. They’re just warm enough to keep your tootsies from getting cold.
Otherwise your feet would sweat. We know how fragrant that can be. And it might short out the socks.
My manservant says the only down side is, his electric socks eat up a battery in about six hours.
Maybe it’s his fragrance.
A pair of electric socks will thin your wallet by about $25.
It’s easy to please the angler on your shopping list. March in to your favorite fishing store and ask the clerk to fix you up with a nice assortment of lures almost guaranteed to catch the big ones at Beaver Lake or other favorite waterway.
Tell the sales person how much you want to spend and let them put together a nice selection. They’ll know the hot colors and what sizes work best for crappie,black bass, walleye, you name it.
Avoid live worms and crickets.
Stuff the lures in a gift bag and you’re done. Time for eggnog.
Show me the campers on your list and I’ll bet my windup mouse they’ve got a camp stove or lantern that runs on 16-ounce propane cylinders.
These tent-toting nomads can never have enough cylinders. A family pancake breakfast at the campsite eats fuel as fast as the kids scarf down bacon.
A cylinder’s shelf life is forever, so they store well until the next expedition.
A two-pack of propane cylinders will set you back - gasp - fi ve bucks.
Another handy-dandy Boat Dock outdoor gift idea is thepistol-grip lighter. These are great for lighting that propane camp stove or a campfire. At home they’re perfect for lighting a barbecue grill, fi replace or candles.
Just pull the trigger and the flame at the end of the barrel makes it easy to light anything. No more burnt fingers flicking your Bic or holding a match forever.
At $4 per lighter, grab two.
While you’re shopping, don’t forget your cat. A nice tin of salmon or crab meat is a holiday feast for us that will keep you in our good graces.
BOAT DOCK IS FELINE OUTDOORS COLUMNIST FOR NWA MEDIA.
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Outdoor, Pages 8 on 11/29/2012