By Lynn Burkhead, For The Herald Democrat

As arctic cold settles into the Texomaland area in preparation for this Christmas holiday weekend, it’s nearly all over for the 2022 shopping season leading up to the annual December holiday. Serving Pickle Jar

Meaning that time is up, and if you’ve still got a gift or two to buy for the outdoors enthusiast on your list, it’s down to Stocking Stuffer time.

With that, and in my best “12 Days of Christmas” holiday voice, here are a few last minute stocking stuffer suggestions before the big day arrives on Sunday.

Down Jacket — This might seem like a big ticket gift idea, but the Aerolite jacket I’m wearing as I type this is a lightweight down jacket from Sitka Gear that will literally stuff into the bottom of a stocking. I like the brown, tan, and green Optifade Subalpine camo pattern on this lightweight, packable jacket that’s perfect for a Texas hunter—look at Big O’s Archery or Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops down the road.

Wool socks — For some reason, we’re all trying to stay warm this weekend. And nothing starts a foundation of all-day warmth during a December arctic blow like merino wool socks. I like the Swiftwick socks I’ve been wearing this year, they’re some of the warmest, softest, and best in my opinion. Other great merino wool sock brands are available at various stores like Academy, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Scheel’s, and more.

Cooking Spices — If you’ve got a Traeger pellet smoker, a Big Green Egg, a Blackstone griddle, or a grill of some sort, odds are you’ll be cooking up burgers, steaks, chicken, venison, and more in 2023. A bottle of Matt Pittman’s Meat Church brand spices is a great stocking stuffer, including The Gospel all-purpose seasoning and the Holy Cow BBQ seasoning.

Fishing Stuff — Got a bass angler to buy for? You can never go wrong with a Strike King crankbait, topwater, or spinnerbait stuffed into a Christmas stocking. And fishing line to tie those lures on to a rod-and-reel too is a great idea too. Got a fly fisher on the list? Try spools of tippet material, packages of knotless leaders, an Orvis fly reel, or even something like the Simms Pro Nippers dropped into a stocking.

Ammo — The last couple of years, hunting ammo has been as hard to find as a warm spot this weekend. If you know what caliber hunting rifle someone on your gift list shoots at the deer lease, a box or two of bullets in the appropriate caliber is a great stocking idea. For the waterfowler, non-toxic shotshell loads in the shotgun gauge they shoot will be a hit too.

Knives — From a pocketknife to a hunting blade to a fishing filet knife, you can never go wrong dropping a new knife into a Christmas stocking. Knives of Alaska—made here in Denison, by the way—and Benchmade blades are favorites of many, but so are knives made by Buck, Schrade, Outdoor Edge, Havalon, and Case to name a few.

Other Ideas — For the deer hunter, perhaps a bottle of Tink’s 69 doe-in-estrous scent or a container of scentless laundry detergent by Dead Down Wind are good options. For the duck hunter, try a duck call made by Zink’s, RNT, or Sure-Shot Game Calls. For the bass angler, a clear Plano lure box that fits into a tackle bag will work just great. For the shotgunner or rifle hunter, a bottle of Hoppe’s No. 9 Gun Bore Cleaner or Rem Oil gun oil will work. For the bowhunter, try a new bow release, a new bow site, or some broadheads and field points from Big O’s Archery.

Still need a stocking stuffer idea? There’s always the gift card option, easy to buy possibilities that can be tucked away into a hunter or angler’s Christmas stocking. You can find these cards in varying dollar amounts to places like Academy, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Scheel’s, and Walmart to name a few.

Also, a gift certificate to a hunting guide like Dakota Stowers and North Texas Outfitters or a fishing guide like Bill Carey and the gang at Striper Xpress, will always be appreciated. There are a lot of other great hunting and fishing guides out there, just do an online Google search and you’ll find them.

And finally, don’t forget a subscription to an outdoors magazine as a stocking stuffer. For the deer hunter, try North American Whitetail. For the bowhunter, try Bowhunter and Petersen’s Bowhunting. For the big game hunter, there’s Petersen’s Hunting. If you know someone with a retriever or a bird dog, try Gun Dog. For the fly fisherman, there’s Fly Fisherman. For the bass enthusiast, there’s In-Fisherman, Bassmaster, and Game and Fish. And for those who like to read a good outdoors story, give Gray’s Sporting Journal a try.

Well, it’s about time to finish this stocking stuffer story idea up. The north wind is howling outside, old St. Nick is pulling on his big red coat, and the countdown to Christmas Eve’s annual sleigh ride is underway.

Good luck with your last minute shopping today and early on Christmas Eve. And Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones too!

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