Keep it local this Christmas
Keep it local this Christmas
Pennsylvania-based options for outdoors gift-giving
By Tyler Frantz
We are fortunate to live in a state where outdoor recreation has been made a priority. Without a doubt, hunting, fishing and outdoor sports are big business in the Keystone state, where hundreds of thousands of residents enjoy the natural wonders waiting beyond their doorsteps each year.
With such a strong sporting heritage present, most readers have at least one “lover of the outdoors” to shop for this holiday season. Thankfully, several local companies offer incredible outdoor products right here in our very own state. I encourage readers to consider supporting these Pennsylvania businesses when hunting for the perfect holiday gift, as this selection offers something for everyone.
Bow Creek Outdoors
Palmyra-based Bow Creek Outdoors offers innovative “no-vis” infrared trail cameras and wildlife mineral supplements. Paired together, they provide an ideal system for taking inventory of bucks that made it through the season, while replenishing essential nutrients to help them prepare for winter. Visit buckfuel.com.
Hornberger Custom Calls
Whether a conversation piece for mantel display, or a hardworking tool for bringing big toms in strutting, Austin Hornberger produces quality turkey calls that sound just as good as they look. Choose from one of Hornberger’s diverse supply of beautiful box or slate-style calls, or put in a custom order of your own choosing. Visit hornbergercustomcalls.com.
Carlyd Fishing “GenieJar”
Bait-fishermen will love this brand new patented invention called the GenieJar, which takes the minnow bucket concept to a whole new level with its inline floating basket and dual lid system. Anglers now have the option of transporting, maintaining and accessing live minnows conveniently at their fingertips without the mess or hassle. Visit carlydfishing.com.
PA fishing license
Again this year, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is offering holiday fishing license vouchers. With a new license year beginning January 1st, now is the perfect time to purchase a license, and the voucher system eliminates the need to know an angler’s unique CID number in advance. For multi-year license holders who already possess a license, consider the new brook trout design fishing button instead. Visit www.pa.wildlifelicense.com.
Gift subscriptions
A subscription to one of Pennsylvania’s most popular outdoors publications is a thoughtful gesture that will keep on giving throughout the year. Pennsylvania Outdoor News: bi-weekly (outdoornews.com/Pennsylvania), Pennsylvania Game News: monthly (penngamenews.com) and Pennsylvania Angler & Boater: bi-monthly (fishandboat.com) are all top-notch options, for which I have the privilege of contributing as both a writer and a subscriber.
Good reads
For those who like sitting down by the fire to a good book, consider Steve Sorenson’s “Growing up with Guns” (everydayhunter.com), a must-read for hunters and non-hunters alike, which received the 2015 Best Book Award from the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writer’s Association or “Ghost Brother: Outdoor Tales of the Supernatural” by Harry Guyer Jr., a different spin on the outdoor experience, which took second place honors from POWA (available on Amazon.com).
Club membership
Sportsmen’s clubs offer camaraderie with fellow outdoorsmen, competitive shooting events and open access to practice ranges for sighting in guns or bows and sharpening one’s shooting skills. They also often host educational events such as hunter-safety courses and youth field days. Membership to a local club would make a fine gift for any sportsman.
Custom fishing rod
Few gifts will impress like a custom fishing rod built by Elizabethtown’s Barry Weaver of Dreamweaver Custom Rods (dreamweaverrods.com), or Hershey’s Matt Dotts of CPR Custom Fishing Rods (rodtrader.net). Both men are avid fly anglers with years of creative rod building experience under their belts. Their work speaks for itself.
Hand-tied flies
Consider making it a complete fly-fishing combo with a custom fly assortment by Dean Myers, owner of Myflies.com. Myers isa talented tier with a passion for tying productive flies geared toward Pennsylvania’s various freestone and limestone streams. Not sure which flies to order? Myers offers gift certificates so your beloved fly angler can do the picking for you.
Bow accessories
Noise and vibration are constant battles for recreational archers and bowhunters alike. Two sure-fire products to reduce both issues are Hushpuk’s repositionable dampening disks (hushpuk.com) and the reliable Stokerized line of bow stabilizers (stokerized.com). I use both products and absolutely love them.
Guided upland hunt or fishing trip
For a fun family experience, try an upland bird hunt over dogs at Robesonia’s Pheasant Valley Farm (pheasantvalleyfarm.com) or Martz’s Gap View Hunting Preserve in Dalmatia (martzs.com), or tackle the mighty Susquehanna for bass or catfish with expert river fishing guide Rod Bates of Koinonia Guide Service (koinoniafishingguides.com).
It’s true, we are very fortunate to have many exciting outdoor adventures in which to partake in the Keystone state, but it’s even cooler to realize we have just as many Pennsylvania businesses to help make our outdoor experiences all the more enjoyable. Consider keeping it local this year. Happy gift hunting, and a very Merry Christmas to one and all!
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