You might feel like you got a windfall from returning all those Christmas gifts you didn't want, but you'll generate yourself some bad juju if you pocket the money.
Putting it back into circulation will not only clear your conscience, but it will also stimulate the economy. It's up to us hunters and anglers to get this country back on track. So in that spirit, we bring you an abbreviated post-Christmas shopping guide.
THERMAL UNDERWEAR
With a full month of duck season and two full months of archery deer and turkey season left, you'll enjoy your abundant time afield more if you stay warm. There is no substitute for thermal underwear.
Many sportsmen swear by Under Armour thermal wear. Most professional bass fishermen use it, and they're on the water in the coldest, nastiest weather. Under Armour is extremely light, and it reportedly holds heat in cold weather, but also wicks away excess heat, so your internal thermostat doesn't go crazy trying to compensate for wild temperature swings. You can get a complete set of uppers and lowers for under $100.
Duck hunters constantly struggle against the combined effect waders and gravity have on undergarments. Waders constantly pull against the hips, so every move you make tugs your undergarments downward.
A union suit - a one-piece undergarment - solves this dilemma. It's very warm, and since the pressure points are on your shoulders and not your hips, it resists gravity. I recently bought a Carhartt union suit and am very pleased with it.
Union suits are hard to find. The only place I've found them in central Arkansas is at the Farmer's Co-op in Benton for about $40. You can also order them online through outdoors retailers.
TURKEY BROADHEADS
One of my goals for 2009 is to bag a turkey with archery tackle, and for that, I need a high-quality broadhead designed specifically for turkey hunting. Unlike deer-hunting broadheads, which are pointed and designed for penetration, turkey broadheads are propeller-shaped, with the blades radiating from the point at 90-degree angles. The cutting diameter
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is 3 to 3/2 inches. Their purpose is to decapitate a turkey.
There are many, including the Magnus Bullhead. They come in two weights, 100 gr. (3-inch diam-1
eter) and 120-gr. (3/2-inch diameter). They also come with three replacement blades. You can find turkey broadheads at any good archery shop or any sporting goods retailer with a dedicated archery department. A set of three costs about $40.
HITCH SAFE
Car keys, canoes and shuttle vehicles are a mixture for disaster. Leaving the key to a shuttle vehicle in the tailpipe or under the bumper invites theft, and it's a rare canoeist who hasn't lost his keys in a river. But a new device ensures you'll never get stranded again. It's called the Hitch Safe, a small metal combination safe that attaches to your vehicle's hitch mount.
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The interior bay is 3/2 inches
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long, 2 inches deep and 1/4 inches wide. It's big enough for a small set of keys, driver's license and a few credit cards. Two stainless steel pegs secure the safe to the hitch mount, and it mounts flush
to the lip. The only way a thief or vandal can get that puppy off is with a torch. Setting and changing the combination is a cinch. It also comes with a hard plastic cover that conceals it from curious eyes.
The Hitch Safe costs $69.95 and is available at Lake Country RV in Bentonville and Performance Exhaust in Memphis. You can get it online at www.padlocks4less. com. An online coupon will get you a $10 discount and free shipping. For more information, visit www.hitchsafe.com.
BALL COMPASS
Even if you know your neck of the woods like the back of your hand, it's imprudent to go afield without a compass. You don't necessarily need a compass for advanced orienteering, just something simple to point you in the right direction if you get turned around. For this, many hunters use a ball compass with an integral safety pin that attaches to a coat or hunting vest. I recommend the Brunton ball compass. It has a bright orange display that's easy to see in low light, and it's a bargain at $7.
I got mine at Mack's Prairie Wings in Stuttgart, but you can find ball compasses at many other sporting goods stores for a comparable price. I prefer the Brunton's orange face and black/white characters. Most others have black faces with white, green or red characters.
SELK BAG
Imagine a sleeping bag that you wear. The new Selk bag, from Lippi Outdoor Equipment, is a wearable mummy bag similar to a snowsuit. Just slip it on over your clothes, tighten the head covering, and the Selk 1 will keep you warm in temperatures down to 32 degrees. The Selk 2 is rated for 14 degrees. If you remain clothed and use a pack mattress, you'll keep warm in much colder temperatures. Zippers at the hand ends allow you to poke your hands out of the bag without having to exit the suit. This allows you to drink a hot beverage or handle a rifle.
The bag weighs less than 4 pounds and packs down to a very compact roll. It's great for overnight backcountry forays where it's important to minimize pack weight and bulk. If they made one in hunter orange, they could sell a ton of them to deer hunters like me who hunt from open-air ladder stands.
The Selk 1 costs $149, and the Selk 2 costs $229 from www. amazon.com.
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