Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

If you have a shooter on your list (even if it's YOU!), I've got some great ideas for gifts – from stocking stuffers to splurges. Some require that you know the exact gun, but others don't, so I'll separate those out for you. I can pretty much guarantee that anything on this list will please a person who enjoys shooting.

If You Know The Gun (Or At Least The Caliber)

Alien Gear Holster

You can't go wrong with Alien Gear – they have a variety of holsters for pocket, IWB, OWB, and every kind of carry you can think of. I love these things. They're running a holiday deal right now, too -- $40 off if you buy a Nightstick Light and any holster purchase of $79.88 or more. Even if you're not in the market for a gun light, you should check out their holsters. One of my absolute favorites is their Grip Tuck Universal Holster – it's under $45 and it's one of the most comfortable IWB holsters I've got, especially in the summer when the hard holsters tend to produce massive amounts of sweat. Check out all their gear at http://www.aliengearholsters.com.

ETS Speedloader

Put a mag in the speedloader til it gives a little click, pick up the rounds from the ammo tray (the tray inside the box the ammo comes in), turn the loader so the rounds are facing up, then just push them into the mag. My arthritic thumbs are very appreciative of these loaders, plus they are SO much faster. And at under $30, they're a steal. Use the code DAN and you'll get 15% off! Check them out at http://www.etsgroup.us. All you need to know is the caliber.

Don't Know The Gun Or Caliber? Gotcha Covered

WildEar'sSafEarz™

These amazing ready-fit earplugs are available with three distinct filter options: Shooter, Everyday, and Toggle. The Shooter filter reduces high-intensity sounds such as gunfire, while still allowing you to have face-to-face conversations and hear sounds around you. The Everyday filter turns down the volume (noise) without sacrificing listening quality (the sounds you want to hear – music, warning signals, speech, etc.).

The Everyday filter is ideal for lawn work, indoor or outdoor music concerts, and other activities with moderate noise.The suggested retail price is $44.50-$49.50. More information on SafEarz ready-fit hearing protection and the entire line of WildEar products is available at https://www.wildear.com/.

Garmin Bounce ™ Smartwatch for Kids

I remember losing my way once or twice while hunting, and it's not a great feeling for an adult, much less a kid. If you take your kids out hunting, shooting, hiking, etc., consider giving them a Bounce™ smartwatch for the holidays. You pair it to your phone so you can see where they are (uses LTE, not satellite), plus it has text and voice messaging. The watch is just under $150 and it does require a subscription plan which is $10/month or $100/year. Read more about it at http://www.garmin.com.

Grey Man Tactical UTV Dual Horizontal Gun Rack

A LOT of hunters use UTV's (or side-by-sides or whatever you want to call them) for hunting. They'll go over almost any road and you don't have to worry about scratching them up, so they're great hunting vehicles. However, it's tough to find a place to put your rifle or shotgun. Margie and I bought a double shotgun storage bag for our side by side, which is awesome, especially on dusty roads where you'd like to keep thirty pounds of dirt out of your gun. We got it on Amazon (just search for UTV Gun Storage Bag).

Grey Man Tactical has a system that allows for rapid deployment and it's a grid system so you can put other things on it too. It's powder-coated aluminum and comes with two Rifle Rack Rubber Clamps. It's definitely a splurge at just under $600, but it's a very cool system. Go to http://www.greymantactical.com to see it.

SnapSafe® In-Wall Safe

An in-wall safe is actually super easy to install and easy to hide – just like in the movies, you simply hang a picture over it. Or use a piano hinge on the frame of the picture so you can just swing it open. The SnapSafe® wall safes fit between your wall studs and even if they are discovered, the 16-guage steel body and 8-guage steel door will fend off a lot of would-be thieves. You can install them to open on either side, and the lock has audio and LED warnings when the battery is getting low. There's also a barrel key backup. They come in 22-inch or 44-inches tall and have removable shelves so you can arrange them to fit your needs. You can get the 22" model for $228.99 at http://www.snapsafe.com.

GoSun Solar

Margie and I just bought a GoSun cooler and seriously, it's the best thing we've bought ourselves in a long time. You can charge it up at home or with solar panels (we have one that folds out and becomes a table, also from GoSun), plus it plugs into the socket in your vehicle. We have an outlet in the back of the Jeep. It has two compartments and the smaller one can be used as a freezer. You can set the temps to suit yourself. No ice, no mess, no getting water in the butter or having meat leak into the melt water. Yuck. This thing is the nuts.

GoSun has a bunch of great solar-powered items – even a sink! The bundles are priced right, and you could end up with a camp/hunt trailer that's totally off-grid. Absolutely perfect for multi-day hunting trips. Check them out at http://www.gosun.co.

Gift Cards

A gift card isn't a cop-out. I don't know a single hunter or shooter who wouldn't appreciate a gift card to Cabelas, Bass Pro, Sportsman's Warehouse, etc. If you feel lame just giving a gift card, get creative. Get the Gatorz Ammo Can Case and put a gift card inside. Or use a small tackle box, or tuck it into the pocket of a flannel shirt. I personally loved it when Margie gave me a gift card inside a Stanley coffee mug. You get the idea!

Gift Membership

SnapSafe In-Wall Safe

A membership to a shooting range is a gift that keeps on giving all year round. There are some great ranges in Arizona – Shooters World and C2 Tactical come to mind right away. A Shooters World membership is $429 a year for a single, $649 for a family. If it's for a POST certified, credentialed peace officer, federal law enforcement, or active duty military it's $299/year. See them at http://www.azshootersworld.com.

At C2 Tactical the plans and prices vary by location, so check them out at http://www.c2tactical.com. The great thing about a membership is always having a place to practice just about any time you want, plus you usually get discounts on merchandise and classes. They are a tad pricey, but worth it if your shooter goes to the range a lot.

Have A Wonderful Holiday Season!

I hope this helps you figure out what to give the shooter in your life – have a wonderful holiday season and I'll see you outdoors!