Another year has sped by, and with it, more great hunting, fishing, & photography adventures. Working full-time in the outdoor industry since 2001, I’ve been blessed to see and do many wonderful things. At the end of each year I like sharing notes about the top gear I’ve used. Other than blacktail deer hunting, the most asked question I receive is related to gear. So, if you’re looking for a piece of gear for yourself, or for someone else for the holidays, here are some items to consider.

I do a lot of shooting year-round with rifles, rimfires, and numerous shotguns. One of the biggest time-eaters for me is making and setting up targets. I’ve pieced together target stands that have served their purpose over the years, but when I tried the new HatPoint Target Stand (www.hatpointtarget.com), things changed. The HatPoint Target Stand is versatile and easy to set up. The framework allows for easy anchoring, be it with the provided spikes, or by placing rocks, wood, or sandbags on the frame when shooting on hard ground. Wooden slats can be placed in the frame that offers multiple target widths, but what I really like is HatPoint’s polymer slats that take errant pellets from heavy shotgun loads, without compromise. HatPoint Target Stands save time, and if you do a lot of shooting, are a great investment that will save money in the long run. This stand is also easy and quick to assemble and disassemble, making it ideal for the public land hunter/shooter to carry afield and keep things clean.

I’ve been digiscoping for years–using adaptors for cell phones to take photos and video through spotting scopes–but not until recently was I truly happy with my results, and all thanks to Novagrade (www.novagrade.com). Novagrade is designed, machined, and assembled in my home state of Oregon, and is the most durable, rugged, reliable digiscope adapter I’ve ever used. The technology applied in the Novagrade allows it to quickly fit any cell phone, and a range of available adapters will fit any spotting scope or binocular eyepiece. When in place, the Novagrade is so secure you can grab the device and lift up any spotting scope and tripod setup, and it won’t budge. Whether you’re looking to take your field judging of big game to another level, survey fields being used by waterfowl from a safe distance, or simply want to photograph and video wildlife, the Novagrade will help. Thanks to it’s sturdy design and solid framework, every shot you take will be rock-solid, optimizing the capability and clarity of what your cell phone is capable of doing.

If looking to maximize the efficiency of your rifle scope’s magnification dial, consider a throw lever. Popular with competition shooters and varmint hunters, quick zoom levers are also nice for hunters when looking through the scope at animals on the move. Scope dials are supposed to move slowly, requiring considerable force to budge them, at times. This is normal, for these moving parts must also keep the scope waterproof and prohibit dust from penetrating the scope. The challenge of efficiently operating scope dials comes when a quick, big range of movement is required. In order to more easily and quickly move my .22’s scope magnification dial while tree squirrel hunting, last fall I equipped it with a Switchview lever (www.switchviewusa.com). Soon, I put Switchview levers on nearly all of my rifle scopes, that’s how impressed I was with their performance. Made in the U.S.A, Switchview levers are easy to install and made to fit a multitude of rifle scopes.

Keeping my hunting gear organized, accessible, and dry, has always been a challenge. Certain backpacks work well in specific situations, and I don’t know how many dry bags I own, which also serve their purpose under the right circumstances. But throughout the many hunting season’s this year, I put Pelican’s new Ruck Case to the test, and loved it (www.pelican.com). The Ruck Case is a hard, sturdy case that accommodates storage for valuable accessories. Be it camera batteries, a cell phone, truck keys, or more, they’ll remain totally dry in the Ruck Case. There’s even a feature that securely holds a portable charger and cord for your cell phone, to keep it functioning all day long. I used my Pelican Ruck Case on multiple hunts throughout the Pacific Northwest this year, and around many places in remote Alaska. Be it in driving rains, thick mud, saltwater, on boats, bushplanes or ATVs, the contents in my Ruck Case were dry and in perfect condition, every time. Available in multiple sizes and colors, there’s a reason I’ll be getting more of these reliable storage boxes.

Last year I started using Stealth Cam’s new DS4K trail cameras (www.stealthcam.com). The quality of video this trail camera produced was unmatched, and I’ve been using trail camera’s for many years. Recently, Stealth Cam released their latest version of the DS4K, with an impressive upgrade. The new and improved DS4K shoots ultra 4K HD video and 32 megapixel images. It also features a 100-foot infrared range and new adjustable burst interval options. Personally, I learn a great deal about animal movement and behavior by capturing action on trail cameras set to video mode, not just pictures. Throughout this fall and winter I’ve been using the new DS4K exclusively in southeast Alaska’s rainforest. Here, heavy rain, intense fog, snow and freezing temperatures are the norm, yet this camera prevailed in every situation. It’s the best trail camera I’ve ever used, period, and I will be getting more, hopefully for Christmas.

Over the last couple summers and falls I’ve been using a wide selection of G.Loomis E6X salmon and steelhead rods in many parts of Alaska. I don’t know of a better quality rod for the money, out there. The precision construction of the entire E6X line is reflected in the sensitivity, durability and reliability of these rods, day in and day out. My son even landed a 32-pound chum on an 8’6” model, and handled that strong fish perfectly in fast water. I’ve caught all five salmon species on these rods using multiple approaches, and am sold on them. Whether looking for a specialized salmon and steelhead rod, or an all-around winner, check out the E6X line at www.gloomis.com.

If looking for a high performance, reliable gas can that won’t leak, drip or spill, the SureCan is it. The SureCan is the best gas can I’ve ever used, be it in a boat, with ATVs, lawnmowers, power sprayers and more. A flexible, rotating spout directs fuel into the receiving tank which results in no more tipping, slipping or spilling. In a gravity-fed manner, a thumb-activated trigger in front of the grip releases the flow of fuel. It self-vents, so airlock is nonexistent, meaning there’s no chugging and splashing. Fully depress the trigger for a fast flow, letting up will slow the flow. The specially constructed walls of the SureCan are so thick you can park a truck on it without damage. Available in 5 and 2+ gallon cans for gasoline, 5 gallon for diesel and 5 gallon for kerosene, the SureCan is approved in most states, including California. Learn more and see these, 100% made in the USA cans in action at www.surecanusa.com.

A versatile, quality pair of sunglasses is top priority for many lovers of the outdoors, be it for fishing, hunting, hiking, or camping. This year I put Costa’s Tuna Alley frames to the test in many settings. From the Gulf of Mexico to the West’s high desert, from southeast Alaska to the Aleutian Chain, and many places in between, and these glasses never let me down. Do to the range of water in which I fish, I chose the copper silver mirror 580 glass lenses. Not only are these lenses ideal in many water conditions, allowing me to effectively read the water and spot more fish, but they are incredibly durable and scratch resistant. The frames wrap around my eyes just enough to block unwanted light, yet aren’t so snug that fogging results. This design also makes the Tuna Alley ideal for hunting in dusty, windy situations, keeping debris out and preventing dry eyes. With a multitude of frame and lens options, Costa is a quality product you can trust (www.costadelmar.com).

When it comes to training my pudelpointers, bumpers are my most important tool. I use them almost every day, sometimes multiple times a day during my morning and evening training sessions. The key with bumpers is to use them as teaching tools and making sure you have the right one for the job. It’s a good idea to have white, black, black/white, and orange colored bumpers on-hand. White vinyl bumpers are ideal for use on cloudy days and when tossing them into dark colored habitat, be it water, fields, or the forest floor. Black vinyl bumpers are good on bright days and when tossing them on water with a silver reflection on the surface. Black and white colored vinyl bumpers offer contrast that can be picked up in a range of lighting conditions, which is what dogs key-in on. Remember, dogs are color blind and they can’t see orange. This is why I like orange canvas bumpers for specific training purposes. Adding a little scent to orange canvas bumpers makes them perfect for placing or tossing into a setting without the dog seeing where they end up. This requires the dog to use its nose to locate the bumper, rather than getting a line of sight on it being thrown. Be sure to work into the wind when training with scented bumpers. My canvas bumper of choice is made by Cabela’s (www.cabelas.com) who also offers of range of scents that can be applied to the bumper for training. You can also secure a bird wing to a bumper, for added scent detection. As for vinyl bumpers, I’ve been using Browning’s line for over a year and am very pleased with their performance (www.browninglifestyle.com) in the wide-range of conditions in which I’ve used them.

Another good gift for your dog is treats. You might want to put these under the tree on Christmas morning because their noses are strong and those gifts may get opened sooner rather than later. Be sureand get healthy treats made of quality ingredients. A chewy gambrel tendon and bully stick are great for cleaning a dog’s teeth and also keeps them from chewing on clothes, shoes, and furniture–a great gift for puppies. Training treats are also good to have on-hand, but make sure they are small and healthy. Recently I’ve been using freeze-dried lung and liver for treats when on the hunt. My dogs love the roasted beef lung tips made by Butcher’s Prime and I like them because they are lightweight and highly nutritious. I also rely on a variety of treats offered by NutriSource Pet Foods (www.nutrisourcepetfoods.com). These treats are small, nutrient-dense, and easy to carry afield. When giving my dogs treats, I don’t want something that takes time or is greasy to handle, which is why I depend on the aforementioned choices.

There you have it, some of the most applicable gear I’ve used, and will continue to use. As the direction changes in my outdoor career I’m hoping to offer more gear-related blog posts throughout the year that are adventure-specific. Good luck out there, and happy holidays!