Once again I thought it might be helpful for you last minute Christmas shoppers if I offer a few suggested gifts for the outdoorsmen and women on your lists. So having been designated and certified by Santa himself an official outdoor gift advisory elf, Ho, Ho, Ho, here we go!
Ozone generators for the serious hunter have taken the hunting world by storm the past few years. Ozone is a naturally occurring gas found in earth’s atmosphere that helps clean the air we breathe. Ozone can also be commercially produced with machines called ozone generators. Ozone generators use high voltage electricity to create (03) molecules that are predatory oxidizing molecules that destroy any scent carrying molecules they contact, much like the oxidizing process of chlorine bleach. In short, ozone is an oxidant that destroys bacteria. After destroying bacteria molecules, the (03 ) molecules revert harmlessly back to oxygen (02). I read several testimonial articles written by serious deer hunters, one featured in Field and Stream that used a law enforcement drug dog to test the technology. They all agreed that while nothing will fool a critters nose forever, ozone technology does work to fool a critters nose for awhile.
There are several companies marketing hunting gear featuring ozone technology; today I happened to be at Heartland Outdoor just south of Hutchinson, and they carry the Scent Crusher brand. Scent Crusher offers several options; there is an actual closet to store hunting gear complete with ozone generator for $300, a large fiberglass tote with lid and generator also for $300, a smaller gear storage bag with generator for $200, a room plug in ozone generator good for 320 sq. feet for $150 and a nifty little generator station to cleanse boots, hats and gloves for $80. This technology is not cheap and is probably only sensible for serious hunters. Check out their website at www.scentcrusher.com.
Big round hay bales are a common denominator of the landscape these days most everywhere you look, and there commonality makes them excellent camouflage for deer, turkey, predator and waterfowl hunting. YouTube abounds with videos and ideas for making round bale hunting blinds. Muddy Outdoors offers The Bale Blind, a steel framework over which a denier fabric and burlap cover is stretched, making the blind appear very much like an actual hay bale. The blind has several different shooting windows that can be opened in different spots, making it ideal for waterfowl, as well as deer, predator and turkey hunting, or just wildlife watching or photography. The blind sells for $380 at Heartland, and can be viewed with their other products at www.gomuddy.com.
At Mud River Dog products, a company that specializes in hunting dog accessories and training products, their goal is Dirty Trucks, Lonely Wives and Happy Dogs. They make a really slick organizer that hangs over the back of a seat and provides 4 large Velcro pockets for gear and dog training supplies and 2 padded gun cases. Heartland has them for $100. See the rest of their products at www.mudriverdogproducts.com.
Now for some neat stocking stuffers; Hunter Safety System offers a 2-pack of pop-up hunter orange safety signs that state “Hunter In Area,” to warn passers-by or other hunters that you are hunting in the marked area. They’re highly reflective and also show up easily after dark. Check out their many products at www.huntersafetysystem.com. Ever Mark Sales has a line of durable plastic signs designed to mount on “T” fence posts. They’re available in “No Trespassing,” “No Hunting,” “Leased” and blanks so you can add your own wording; www.evermarksales.com.
And once again this year, ammo dealers have captured the Christmas spirit with special Christmas ammunition. CCI has bricks of 300 – .22 LR ammo with red and green bullets for $17 a brick. Not to be outdone, Winchester is offering 400 rounds of .22 LR shells in a specially made collectable wooden box for $29.
If you have just read this, “I have no idea what to buy my hunter(s) and outdoorsmen for Christmas” is no longer a viable excuse. Get out and check out these and the thousands of other gifts Heartland Outdoor has to offer this year. Merry Christmas from Steve and Joyce at Exploring Kansas Outdoors, and please keep Christ in your Christmas.
Steve can be contacted by email at [email protected].
