The Best Gifts for Deer Hunters (2024)

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These are the gifts that any deer hunter would be happy to see beneath the tree

The Best Gifts for Deer Hunters (2)

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Sure, your grandpa killed deer with nothing but his old .30-30, some flannel, and the skill of a veteran woodsman. But grandpa didn’t have all of today’s cool modern gear at his disposal. The best gifts for deer hunters include cellular trail cameras, heated socks, precision scopes, and countless other gizmos.

Some of this modern gear is frivolous. However, the best gifts for deer hunters will make time in the field more productive, or at least more comfortable. So if you’re shopping for a holiday gift to give that deer hunter who seems to already have it all, you’ve come to the right place. Below I’ve compiled a list of stocking stuffers and big-ticket items that any deer hunter would love to see beneath the Christmas tree—even grandpa.

Stocking Stuffers

Big Ticket Items

Stocking Stuffers

These simple gifts for deer hunters all cost less than $100 and have been reviewed by OL‘s gear testing team.

Hunters Safety System Lifeline

Hunters Safety System Lifeline

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Give the gift of safety this holiday season. This simple lifeline system is a great gift for any and every treestand hunter. It attaches above the stand and includes a sliding prussic knot. You simply clip your harness into the knot and then slide it up the line as you climb. Most treestand accidents happen while the hunter is climbing into or out of the stand. This system ensures that a fall won’t be life threatening.

Ocoopa Rechargeable Handwarmer

Ocoopa Rechargeable Handwarmer

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This clever rechargeable handwarmer was picked as a top option during a test of the best hand warmers. “The Ocoopa was impressively easy to use, making it the best multiple-use hand warmer in my test,” staff writer Laura Lancaster wrote. “Upon opening the box, I plugged in the hand warmer using the supplied cable. Once all three lights next to the power button were a steady blue, I unplugged it and turned it on. It immediately started warming up; in fact, this was the fastest warming product I tried.”

In testing, the Ocoopa ran for five hours, which should keep you warm for a full morning sit.

Woodhaven Ninja Intimidator

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Zach Ferenbaugh, from The Hunting Public crew, picked the Woodhaven Ninja Intimidator as his go-to call for drawing in big bucks on public lands (read our review of the best deer calls here).

“I’ve used a lot of calls over the years, but this is by far my favorite,” Ferenbaugh says. “I can be as subtle as I need, or I can crank up the volume if I need to grab a deer’s attention, even if he’s 100 yards away. If you look at our videos, this call is literally tied to my vest all season long.”

If Ferenbaugh trusts it, the deer hunter on your list will too.

Weston Rechargeable Heated Sock

Weston Rechargeable Heated Sock

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This is one pair of socks that people will actually be happy to get for Christmas—if they’re deer hunters. These socks are battery-powered and link to an app. You can set the temperature from 85℉-158℉ with a few swipes. The batteries will last for 10 hours on the lowest settings. Just make sure to take the battery out before you wash them. With these bad boys, there’s never a reason to hunt with cold feet again. (Read our full review of the best socks for hunting, here).

Smartwool Classic Merino Wool Base Layers

Smartwool Classic Merino Wool Base Layers

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There are a lot of companies that make great base layers for hunting, but it’s hard to beat Smartwool. This is their heaviest layer, and it’s made 100 percent from merino wool. That’s important because Merino wool is odor resistant. Plus, these layers aren’t skin-tight like spandex, which makes them more comfortable for sitting in a treestand (save the super-tight spandex for yoga class, thanks). If the deer hunter on your list is still wearing the old flannel long johns, help him out with a pair of these.

Big Ticket Items

These gear items are sure to bring joy on Christmas day—or before that, if you decide to just buy them for yourself.

Moultrie Mobile Edge Pro

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Give the gift of deer knowledge this year through the Edge Pro trail camera and Moultrie Mobile’s incredibly powerful app. I’ve reviewed a wide variety of cellular trail cameras and Moultrie has, by far, the most comprehensive app. Notably, Moultrie Mobile just released an a buck-movement prediction tool called Game Plan, which uses recent, local trail camera data, along with upcoming weather info to help calculate the best time to be in the stand. In other words, it pulls deer movement data collected from other users in your general area combined with local weather to make its predictions.

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The app also rolled out a new and improved mapping feature that allows you to view a variety of layers—including property lines and topo lines—and set more than 70 pin types on your hunting property map. I’ve run both the Edge Pro and standard Edge cameras on my hunting properties for two seasons and have found them to be functional and reliable. The data that I’m able to pull from them through the Moultrie Mobile app really has sharpened my hunting strategy.

Flambeau Boss Buck Deer Decoy

Flambeau Boss Buck Deer Decoy

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Using deer decoys is the trendy tactic these days, and for good reason: watching a rutting buck swagger in to run off a challenger (your decoy) is a rush. Flambeau makes a simple and realistic buck decoy that is much more affordable than the high-end, ultra-expensive decoys out there. It’s a collapsible and packable decoy, so you can hike it into spots, just make sure you always wear orange when transporting a deer decoy and never use a decoy during firearms season.

Benchmade Meatcrafter

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This is a serious knife for serious wild-game butchers. It’s designed essentially as a hybrid fillet knife/boning knife with a thin six-inch blade. The Meatcrafter shines when quartering, deboning, and butchering an animal—it’s not a skinning knife or a gutting knife.

The base model of this knife, the 15500 comes with CPM-154 (58-61 HRC) steel, and an orange Santoprene handle. The knife comes with a nice Kydex sheath. But this is just the beginning. You can upgrade the steel or handle material (the 15500OR-2 model comes with a carbon fiber handle and CPM-S45VN (60-62 HRC) steel and costs more than twice as much). You can also mix and match materials and colors to create your own custom Meatcrafter here.

Tethrd Skeletor

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The Skeletor won a great buy award in a review of the best climbing sticks for mobile hunting. Even though these sticks won a value award, they’re still a little pricey (as mobile hunting gear tends to be). But for the price you get some high-end features: DynaLite rope attachment method, folding double-step design, and the StickLoc pin system. Four aluminum sticks weigh 8 pounds 7 ounces.

Redneck Outfitter HD Bale Blind

Redneck Outfitter HD Bale Blind

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This roomy, comfortable blind blends in perfectly in farm country. The interior measures 72 inches long x 72 inches deep x 72 inches high, which is plenty of room for two or even three hunters. It includes six windows that slide open silently thanks to a clever rope system. The frame is powder-coated steel. My hunting buddy and I have been using this blind on a property in western Wisconsin for two seasons now, and we’ve killed a couple freezerfuls of deer out of it. We’ve left it out all winter, and it’s showing hardly any wear-and-tear. The blind is heavy (146 pounds) but I’m able to slide it into my truck bed by myself and transport it to new spots around the property without too much trouble. Tucked in next to a real bale or along a fenceline and the blind becomes invisible to deer.

Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Gen2 Range Finder

Leupold RX-1400i

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Knowing the distance from hunter to deer is critical, and this range finder does that and so much more. In fact, theOutdoor Lifetesting team wrote inbest range findersthat: “Despite spending an intensive week with this rangefinder, our test team can’t figure out how Leupold has packed so much technology and capability in a rangefinder that retails for under $200.” The range finder is great for archery hunters because it includes a feature that shows the height of the arrow’s path at middle distance to help a bowhunter know if anything will be in the way. It’s also, “a great choice for the multi-season hunter who isn’t shooting past about 500 yards with a rifle, which is most of us,” wroteOL’s gear editor Scott Einsmann.

Zeiss SFL 8×40 Binoculars

Zeiss SFL 8×40 Binoculars

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We realize this is one heck of a gift for the hunter in your life, but the Zeiss SFL binoculars are worth it.Outdoor Lifegear reviewers noted in thebest binoculars testthat the images delivered by these Zeiss binoculars are “every bit as sharp and vibrant as those of Zeiss’s other premium binoculars.” In fact, they earned the top resolution score during the optics test, even rated against binoculars with twice the price tag. This year, give the gift of good glass leading to more animals spotted and more successful hunts.

Primos Trigger Stick Apex

Primos Trigger Stick Apex

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Primos Trigger Sticks are well known for their versatility in the field and add stability when it matters most. The Trigger Stick Apex sets up fast and reaches 62 inches. TheOutdoor Lifegear team ranked it the best fast-deploy tripod rest in their review ofbest shooting rests, noting its rapid adjustability and ability to adapt to uneven ground. At just under $500, it’s not an inexpensive gift, but it’s also one that the open-country deer hunter in your life will appreciate and use for many years.

The Best Gifts for Deer Hunters (2024)

FAQs

What is a good gift for a deer hunter? ›

The best gifts for deer hunters include cellular trail cameras, heated socks, precision scopes, and countless other gizmos. Some of this modern gear is frivolous. However, the best gifts for deer hunters will make time in the field more productive, or at least more comfortable.

What do hunters need the most? ›

A high-quality knife is a timeless and practical gift for a deer hunter. From field dressing to other essential tasks, a sharp, durable knife is an indispensable tool.

What does every hunter need? ›

Hunting Gear: 8 Items Every Hunter Should Always Have In Their...
  • Head Lamp or Flashlight. A light source should be somewhat of a given, as our plans are known to change often as hunters. ...
  • Knives and a Knife Sharpener. ...
  • Binoculars or a Range Finder. ...
  • Rope. ...
  • Toilet Paper. ...
  • Snacks. ...
  • Scent Protector. ...
  • Navigation Tools.
Dec 7, 2023

What to get someone who hunts for Christmas? ›

Cabela's Heavy Duty Meat Grinder
  • Best Pants: Pahvant Pro Pant.
  • Best for the Western Hunter: Primal Scalpel Kill Kit.
  • Best $10 Gift: Duke Cannon Supply Co. ...
  • Best Gift Under $25: Anker Power Bank.
  • Best Gift for $50: WoodHaven Custom Calls Cluck 'n Purr Pot.
  • Best Gift for Around $100: Kuiu Gilla LS Hoodie.
May 21, 2024

What does a deer hunter need? ›

Gear for a Short Hunt

On a typical sit ranging from 3-4 hours in duration, Jeff uses his Sitka Incinerator Muff as his pack. A flashlight, grunt tube, bow hook, cell phone, and thin pair of gloves are all that make the cut. A pair of binoculars and a rangefinder stay strapped at his side.

What is the most common weapon for deer hunting? ›

The bolt-action rifle is undoubtedly the most popular choice among today's deer hunters.

What is the hunter's most important item? ›

#1.

The number one most important item of clothing for the hunter is the Blaze Orange. This bright orange color, often worn in a hat, vest, jacket, or all three, is as synonymous with hunting as camouflage is to the military.

What do hunters spend money on? ›

It should be no surprise that hunters spend plenty of money annually on more than just their hunting tags and licenses. Hunters regularly update and replace their gear, buy new firearms, and stock up on ammunition to be practiced with and hunted with.

What should every prepared hunter carry? ›

What Should Every Prepared Hunter Carry?
  • Personal Locator Beacon. ...
  • Knowledge. ...
  • First Aid Kit. ...
  • CAT Tourniquet. ...
  • Space Blanket. ...
  • Fire Makers. ...
  • Emergency Meds: Allergies are becoming more common and carrying an epipen and knowing how and when to use them can save a life. ...
  • Spare Headlamp With Extra Batteries.
Apr 12, 2022

What is the most important piece of hunting gear? ›

Without fail, every hunter should carry a knife. Some prefer fixed blades. Some prefer folding knives, and others carry multi-tools. From cleaning game, cutting rope, or notching hunting tags, a hunting knife is one of the most essential pieces of hunting gear you can have with you.

What should a hunter never shoot over? ›

Never shoot over a ridge. Only shoot when you have a safe range or shooting area, as well as a safe backstop or background. Do not shoot at an animal standing on a ridge top (a “skyline” shot) where you can't identify a safe background.

What's in your deer hunting pack? ›

Your gun, bow, backpack, quiver, extra clothes, and/or camera gear need a place to hang in the tree. Having an assortment of hooks and hangers will ensure you have enough to go around to make your life easier when hunting from a tree stand.

What is the most unwanted Christmas gift? ›

The most unwanted gifts people receive are diet plans, cufflinks and soap on a string. A poll of 2,000 adults found 75% receive up to seven presents each year which they'll never use — with friends, children and colleagues labeled as the worst present givers.

What to give a hunter for a birthday? ›

Or opt for something more functional, like a nice, new pair of monoculars, first aid kit, durable and stylish field boots with thermal socks, or a cookbook that'll instantly improve their at-home cooking skills. There's also plenty of gifts for men geared towards upping their hunting skills like a nifty archery target.

What is the symbolism of the deer hunter? ›

Where once the deer represented a challenge or a prize, it now embodies the innocence of his pre-war life that he can never get back. There is only the way things were, and the way things are, and by not shooting the deer, Mike is giving credence and recognition to the fact that he'll never be the same again.

What is the best stuff to attract bucks? ›

Proven Big Buck Attractants
  • Super Charged Scrape-Dripper.
  • Magnum Key-Wick High-Intensity Scent Dispenser.
  • ScrapeMaker 4-N-1 Tool.
  • True Talker OG Deer Call.
  • The Original Can Call.
  • Hot-Scrape Synthetic Estrus with Scent Reflex Technology.
  • Grave Digger Doe Estrus.
  • EverCalm Herd Scent.

What is a deer's favorite forage? ›

Deer love soybeans, but no single crop can meet all of a deer's year-round needs. Diversity is best, both in your food-plot options and in natural forages that occur outside food plots.

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