Finding the best gifts for hunters in 2022 might seem hard at first — after all, it’s tough to choose a rifle, shotgun or bow for a hunter — but it turns out that finding hunting gifts is easier than you think. Why? There is all kinds of hunting gear that hunters need, use up, and want to try out, including stocking stuffers.
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Best Gift Ideas for Hunters: Our Guide
We take pride in our gift guides for hunters because we not only recommend a particular can’t-go-wrong hunting gift, we also tell you why our choices are cool gifts for hunters this year.
Meanwhile, what about experienced hunters? Finding gifts for hunters who have everything is easier than you think: Sometimes a hunter already has a piece of gear . . . but they could actually use an upgrade.
Here is just one example: I know a buddy who has an old backpack that he modified to use for hauling out elk quarters when he’s far off the beaten path. Problem is, it’s falling apart. Boom, there’s your opening for a great hunting gift — a versatile load-hauling backpack like the Mystery Ranch Sawtooth 45.
Tips for Choosing Hunting Gifts
There are other clues you can look for to find gifts for hunters. Has your hunter complained about binoculars? Have they fogged up, leading to missed opportunity? If you have a duck hunter, are new hunting waterproof boots in order? If you have a hunter who processes your wild game meat at home, say, making jerky, a new smoker could make the perfect gift.
Has your hunter missed a shot recently? If so, consider a rangefinder. Rangefinders are critical for bow hunters, of course, but they are especially great for new hunters who have a hard time judging distances.
What if your hunter is a woman? Most of the hunting gifts here still apply, of course, but not all the clothing comes in versions for women — but that’s starting to change across the outdoor industry. If you’re looking for hunting gifts for women, check out camo hunting clothing for women at Cabela’s — multiple manufacturers are now making some high-quality gear cut specifically for women hunters, including Sitka, which you can find at Sportsman’s Warehouse.
For more detail, let’s dive into our hunting gift recommendations for 2022.
55+ Best Gifts for Hunters 2022
To create our ultimate guide to hunting gifts this year, we combined the best gifts from our previous season hunting gift guides with our favorite hunting gear we tested this year. In addition, we took a look at reader interest among past guides, which we used to help us build this updated guide to tease out hot gifts for hunters heading into the holiday shopping season. Oh, one last note: We purposely avoided covering specific rifles, shotguns, bows and very expensive hunting gifts because these items are difficult to purchase for others. Instead, we focus on can’t-go-wrong gifts for hunters in more affordable price ranges.
1. PEAX Backcountry Duo Headlamp
The greatness of the new PEAX Backcountry Duo Headlamp starts with its powerful, forest-piercing 1,000-lumen white beam. Better yet, the red mode light — which maintains a hunter’s night vision and doesn’t spook animals — is the most powerful red light mode we’ve ever tested in hunting-focused headlamps. But wait, there’s more: The Backcountry Duo uses a high-capacity 3600 mAh rechargeable battery for long runtimes. Plus, the rugged aluminum case is waterproof. All off of these hunt-ready features propelled the Backcountry Duo to the #1 spot in our guide to the best hunting headlamps this year — and our #1 pick for the best hunting gifts for this year’s holiday season.
Alternative Option: The Petzl Tactikka +RGB Headlamp is an affordable, long-time headlamp favorite at Man Makes Fire due to its crystal clear light output and red, blue, and green light mode options.
2. KUIU Ridgepoint Fleece Henley
Wow, the new KUIU Ridgepoint Fleece Henley has transformed the classic henley with a modern, hunting-inspired look! Sure, it’s a legit outdoor-ready layer made by one of the best hunting apparel brands in the country, but the style is what really brings this one home: The subtle camo pattern speaks to us. This is the kind of shirt your hunter will wear out and about, not just at hunting camp or as a warm base layer while hunting. Better nab one of these right away because we’re pretty sure they’ll sell out quickly this holiday season.
3. Primos Bloodhunter HD Blood Trailing Light
For hunters who hunt in the late afternoon and early evening, a blood trailing light is critical for helping them locate downed animals in the dark, especially in rough country with thick cover. The Primos Bloodhunter HD Blood Trailing Light uses 600 lumen CREE XM LEDs with an optical filter that reduces select colors to help amplify the visibility of blood. This specialized flashlight is one of our top gifts for hunters again this year because most hunters want any edge they can get when tracking in the dark.
Editor’s Note: If the Bloodhunter HD is out of stock, try the Bloodhunter HD Headlamp or the compact Bloodhunter HD Pocket Light.
4. Walker’s Game Ear Razor Slim Electronic Muff
Ear protection is no joke for hunters. Walkers’s Game Ear Razor Slim Electronic Muffs protect your hearing by canceling out gun shots to safe decibel levels. Better yet, they amplify and allow you to hear non-harmful sounds. This means you can talk to another hunter before you shoot. If you’re hunting with new or young hunters, electronic earmuffs can help you communicate — even with a whisper — to ensure the new hunter takes a good shot. We’re big fans of these inexpensive and effective muffs.
Upgrade Option: Walker’s Digital HD Power Elite Game Ear can help improve hearing as well as protect your ears from muzzle blast.
5. myCharge Waterproof Power Bank
Many hunters are taking their smartphones hunting these days to use mapping and GPS apps on their phone during the hunt. A good waterproof battery pack like the myCharge Waterproof Power Bank will ensure they can recharge their phones or critical electronics in an emergency.
6. SOL Fire Lite Fuel Free Lighter
The SOL Fire Lite Fuel Free Lighter is a rechargeable dual-arc plasma lighter. Why plasma? Plasma fire starters are barely affected by wind or rain, making it easier to start a fire in tough conditions.
7. ALPS OutdoorZ Grand Slam Turkey Vest
If your turkey hunter needs a vest upgrade, you’ll be hard pressed to go wrong with the new ALPS OutdoorZ Grand Slam Turkey Vest. Originally created in partnership with the non-profit National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), the Grand Slam Turkey Vest features a “sit anywhere” kickstand backrest frame, along with a cushy foldaway seat. The kickstand backrest will let your hunter set up just about anywhere and remain still and comfortable for however long it takes to coax a tom in close. It’s fully adjustable, well-padded, has plenty of pockets for turkey hunting calls, shot shells, water, and snacks. Best yet, if your turkey hunter expects a run-and-gun day in the field, the kickstand is easily removable to drop weight and go light.
8. Therm-a-Rest Z Seat
The Therm-a-Rest Z Seat is our favorite ultrapackable seat cushion for hunting. Why do you need a lightweight seat? The cushion is nice, of course, but so often out in the woods any place to sit is wet or rocky. The Therm-a-Rest Z Seat keeps your backside dry and make sitting on rocks a heckuva lot more comfortable. It packs down small and weighs just 2 oz! We strap ours to the outside of our hunting packs to keep them handy, but they’re small enough to tuck inside, too — and they’re small enough to make them a great stocking stuffer gift for hunters.
9. Wildgame Innovations Trophy Tape
Most hunters don’t “score” their bucks because they don’t know how, rarely shoot a big buck, and/or don’t worry about scoring because hunting isn’t about the score. But scoring is a bit of information, and it’s a reference that describes how big a buck’s rack really is. Trophy Tape is a one-time use scoring system that lets even newbies accurately score their bucks. It’s great for hunting camp — or at home after the celebration.
10. The Rackulator
While the Trophy Tape above is a one-time use option, The Rackulator is an electronic wheel that can score more bucks and elk antlers than your hunter can shoot. It’s fast, handy, and surprisingly accurate.
11. Cabela’s GORE-TEX Infinium Windstopper Handmuff
The Cabela’s GORE-TEX Infinium Windstopper Handmuff is great for cold-weather hunters. If your hunter is sitting a cold tree stand, a good handcuff can keep hands warm and ready for the moment a whitetail deer moves in. If you add a handwarmer, the inside can get downright toasty!
Entry-Level Option: The Redhead Insulated Fleece Handmuff has a particularly good price-to-value ratio and is a great gift for young hunters.
12. Bushnell Equinox X650 Digital Night Vision Monocular
Night vision may be the most unnecessary hunting gift — but it’s also one of the coolest gifts for hunters, if only to get a look at whatever critter is making noise on the trail in the dark on their hike in before dawn . . . or messing around their hunting camp at night! The Bushnell Equinox X650 Digital Night Vision Monocular not only provides night vision out to 650 yards, it also records 1080p HD video and has a great price-to-value ratio for affordable night vision devices.
Shop B&H’s extensive selection of Night Vision Devices and get FREE shipping!
13. Scent Crusher Ozone Gear Bag
The bane of most hunters is scent. Deer, elk, and pretty much every other animal has a far better sniffer than humans, and they use their nose all day, every day. The Scent Crusher Ozone Gear Bag destroys odor-causing bacteria and actively removes scent-causing particles. Here is how it works: You place your hunting clothes inside the bag, set the timer and let the ozone producing module pump ozone into the bag. When it’s done, you pull the gear out, scent free. Pretty amazing, really. But it gets even better. A lot of times hunting clothing is only a little dusty or dirty . . . and doesn’t need to be fully washed in the washing machine for the next day’s hunt — but there is likely some human sweat and stink on the inside of those clothes, which a scent killer spray won’t reach. Instead of washing the hunting clothes, your hunter can dump them into the bag for a few minutes and they’ll come out fresh and ready for the next hunt. Amazing. Works great at hunting camp for those week-long hunts — your hunter can plug it into a standard vehicle 12v power port. One more great option here: The Scent Crusher The Trunk. It’s great for long-term storage as well as throwing in the back of a dirty pickup.
14. Scent Crusher Ozone Go Max
If the Scent Crusher Ozone Gear Bag is out of your price range, you can help eliminate the odors of that early morning bacon, egg and cheese biscuit smell that’s taking over the inside of the pickup and lingering on hunting clothes. The Scent Crusher Ozone Go Max plugs into your vehicle’s 12v outlet and kills odor on the way to your hunting location. If it works to eliminate scent that humans can smell, it most certainly cuts down on scent animals can smell. Oh, there’s one added side benefit: It can help freshen the inside of smelly vehicles on the way back from hunting camp. Or a fishing trip. Or the ski hill. Alternately, we like the Scent Crusher Room Clean Unit, but to use it inside of a pickup, you’ll need an inverter to power it.
Shop all ‘Scent Eliminators’ at Cabela’s and get free shipping on most orders over $50.
15. Camo Hunting Clothing
Hunters like camo. Pure and simple. Depending on what kind of hunting you’re doing, it might be an outright necessity. Shirts are always welcome and jackets are pretty safe hunting gifts. Jacket and pant combinations are excellent, too. As are pants alone. The bottom line, some hunters will wear camo everywhere while others will only wear camo in the field. Still, all hunters appreciate high-quality hunting clothes — even if they don’t spend money on themselves, which makes camo gear one of the best hunting gifts. Under Armour, it turns out, has some of the coolest camo patterns we’ve seen in years — try the UA Iso-Chill Brush Line Long-Sleeve T-shirt for an affordable camo layer that will also work as a sun shirt for fishing and water play come summer.
Bass Pro Shops offers one of the largest camo inventories, including a large SHE Outdoor section for women hunters. Of course, you can’t go wrong with high-end Sitka gear or KUIU.
16. Outdoor Edge ChowPal
Hunters frequently find themselves eating off the beaten path, and this doesn’t even include hunters who backpack into remote locations. We don’t know how many times we’ve found that someone in our hunting party didn’t have a spoon or fork — and sometimes no one planned ahead with plastic silverware, to great embarrassment, at hunting camp. Enter the Outdoor Edge ChowPal. Think of the ChowPal as a multi-tool for food, which it kind of is. You get a spoon, fork and knife, along with a built-in bottle opener and can opener. So that’s right, no need to repeatedly pound a screwdriver into the top of a can of chili — you can use the ChowPal’s can opener. And then use the spoon to eat it. At just 2.4 ounces, it’s light enough to throw in a hunting pack. Of course, the ChowPal makes a great stocking stuffer for hunters, too.
17. Cabela’s Camo Power Bank with LED Lantern
While the Cabela’s Camo Power Bank with LED Lantern isn’t waterproof, it is both a lightweight rechargeable battery and a lantern. The battery is a very competitive 10,050 mAh and the lantern is rated at a surprisingly bright 400 lumens. It’s a great value at full price and a no-brainer when it’s on sale.
18. Hardside Hydration Swig Rig
The new Hardside Hydration Swig Rig is a cool kit that lets your hunter turn popular Nalgene water bottles into hydration systems that work like hydration bladders. We like the functionality of hydration bladders — like the Camelbak Mil-Spec Antidote Reservoir — but they can sometimes leak inside your hunting pack. And no hunter likes water inside their hunting pack! The Hardside Hydration Swig Rig removes much of the risk, plus makes your hydration system easier to clean if you want to use flavor packs or electrolyte mixes. You can buy the Swig Rig with FREE Shipping from BlackOvis, in which case you would let your hunter use their own water bottle — or you could order one from Hardside Hydration which lets you add a water bottle to your order.
19. Talarik Sling Hook
One of the most annoying issues for hunters is dealing with gun slings and backpack straps — the gun sling has to fight for space on your shoulder and sometimes slides off. The Talarik Sling Hook attaches to your backpack shoulder strap and provides a ledge that keeps your gun sling in place. Most hunters don’t have this type of hunting accessory yet, so as long as your big game hunter wears a backpack, it’s a can’t-go-wrong hunting gift!
20. MOJO Outdoors Tail Chaser MAX Turkey Decoy
Turkeys have outstanding eyesight, but it’s possible to fool them if what they see is something they expect — like another turkey. The MOJO Outdoors Tail Chaser MAX Turkey Decoy makes it much easier for a turkey hunter to stay unseen or even move in for a better shot. One key benefit of this design is the ability to clamp it to a turkey hunter’s barrel to maintain cover, even when aiming at a monster tom!
21. Carhartt Men’s Arctic Wool Heavy Boot Socks
Hey, we know this isn’t the most creative hunting gift idea, but heck, the Carhartt Arctic Wool Heavy Boots Socks are damn fine hard-working socks — and gift givers seem to know how important a good pair of socks is to a hunter. There are other brands of wool socks that are also great — as long as you get at least 60% merino wool — but most every hunter we know appreciates Carhartt fit and durability for their boots. If you’re looking for a lighter boot sock for hunttlaring or hiking, the Darn Tough Merino Wool Hiker Boot Sock will last nearly forever. Basically, go with Carhartt for thick and warm and Darn Tough (read our Darn Tough review here) for the best all-around wool socks.
22. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener MK.2
The new and improved Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener MK.2 is the awesomest, easiest, fastest, most amazing knife sharpener we’ve ever seen for the price and value. It works great on most any hunting knife, any kitchen knife and many tools. It’s not hard to use. It’s fast. And there is very little risk that you’re going to screw up a knife using it because the Work Sharp system uses premium abrasive belts and guides that let you get the correct angles every time. It will even sharpen household tools like lawn mower blades, scissors and garden shears. Better yet, with the Work Sharp your hunter can sharpen all the knives in your kitchen — and that’s a win for everyone.
23. Cabela’s Hybrid Binocular Harness
Once a hunter uses binocular chest straps, they’ll always use a chest-strap system because they work so well. There are lots of binocular strap options, but most hunters can appreciate this straightforward Cabela’s version. It makes a great stocking stuffer for hunters, too. If it’s out of your price range for a stocking stuffer, try the simple-but-effective Allen Company version here. If your hunter hunts in wet or snowy weather or tackles truly brushy and wild terrain, they’ll need to tuck their binoculars into their jackets . . . or for an upgrade, scroll down to look at the bino packs with shoulder harnesses below.
24. KUIU Divide 1200 Day Pack
There are many great camo hunting day packs available these days, but there are very few high-quality hunter blaze orange hunting packs. We appreciate blaze orange hunting gear, particularly in high-traffic rifle-hunting areas — and always when hunting with young hunters. In fact, some states require young hunters to wear hunter orange clothing even when they don’t have the same requirements for adults. Enter the KUIU Divide 1200. This pack was designed and built-tough for adults but it’s small and light enough for young hunters. While the “divide” feature is aimed at hauling tripods for glassing sessions, you can also use it hauling shooting sticks. Of course, KUIU offers multiple color and camo options — as well as several larger daypacks, including the new Venture Divide 3000, which includes a pocketed (and removable) hip belt.
25. VersaDri Deluxe Boot Drier
The VersaDri Deluxe Boot Drier is the best on-the-go vehicle-based boot and glove drier. It plugs into your vehicle’s 12v auxiliary power sockets and blows warm air inside your wet gear to dry it quickly. It’s powerful and fast enough to get a hunter back in the action quickly. It even has a base that fits into most cup holders!
26. Millennium Tree Seat
The Millennium Tree Seat is a super comfortable, easy-to-use seat that a hunter can strap to a tree trunk. Lots of hunters will sit or stand on the edges of clearings, and the lightweight and packable Millennium Tree Seat lets them set the height they want for optimal comfort, visibility and readiness.
27. Vortex Diamondback HD 10×42 Binocular
If your hunter has a lousy pair of binoculars or none at all, binoculars can make a fantastic hunting gift. You have many choices. One of the best all-around options is a binocular that’s 10×42. This “size” of binocular has a great balance of magnification (10x) with the size of the objective lens (42mm) which leads to an “exit pupil” measurement that provides a lot of light. Higher quality binoculars produce clearer, brighter images — which usually equates to cost. We particularly like Vortex and Maven because these companies offer no-fault warranties, even on their entry-level binoculars. What do we mean? If you accidentally break your optics, they will replace them. Hard to beat that. Here are a few more can’t-go-wrong options, including the sweet Razor UHD if your budget goes that high:
- Bushnell H20 10×42 — best option when you’re on a tight budget
- Maven C.1 Binoculars — outstanding value with a forever warranty (C.1 vs B.1 review here)
- Maven B1.2 Binoculars — impressive quality — and customizable from Maven
- Vortex Razor UHD — Vortex’s best bino
- Swarovski SLC Binoculars — Swarovski is widely considered to produce the best binoculars in the world
28. Orange Aglow Safety Panels
A lot of hunting clothing is camo, but sometimes you want to make sure other hunters don’t make mistakes — especially when you’re hauling out antlers near dark. Enter the Orange Aglow Safety Panels. You can attach these panels to your backpack — or even stretch them between antlers. The high-visibility orange alerts other hunters like no other color.
29. L.L.Bean Zip Hunter’s Tote Bag
The great thing about the L.L.Bean Hunter’s Tote Bag series is the quality and the color. What hunter doesn’t appreciate camo? Either way, hunters have a lot of miscellaneous gear to pack around and keep track of, and a Hunter’s Tote makes a great gift for hunters because they’re unlikely to splurge on such a simple bag — no matter how useful it really is. It’s stout enough to handle several boxes of 12 gauge ammo or just cold-weather hunting gloves and hats. As for us, we always need a decent bag to help us get sandwiches and snacks and a thermos of hot coffee out to the pickup in the wee hours of the morning. We bet your hunter does, too.
Upgrade Alert: The best ultra-rugged tote is the YETI Camino 35 Carryall Tote Bag. It has internal organization and two handy interior zip pockets.
30. Outdoor Edge Butcher-Lite 8-Piece Processing Kit
The great thing about the Outdoor EdgeButcher-Lite 8-Piece Kit is that it has all the tools a hunter might need to process big game out in the field so it can be hauled to civilization in a backpack — or even just hauled up out of a steep canyon to get to an ATV. It comes with a light and easy-to-use sharpener, which is critical when you’re out in the field, but this affordable kit can help if your hunter processes and wraps meat at home, too. Most hunters can appreciate the great value packed into the Outdoor Edge Butcher-Lite 8-Piece Kit, which can go into their hunting pack, stay with the ATV or stay at hunting camp until it’s needed.
31. Badlands Bino XR Binocular and Rangefinder Case
The new Badlands Bino XR binocular and rangefinder case is one of the more expensive binocular case and shoulder harness systems available today — but if your hunter uses a rangefinder often, it’s a drool-worthy bino case. Here’s why: First, the rangefinder case in the bottom makes it easy to protect your rangefinder from the elements and also retrieve it for fast usage. Second, the magnetic bino case can be opened and closed with one hand, silently. Third, two external side pockets are great for a wind checker or your reeds for calling elk. It also has a built-in rain cover, another handy back pocket, and a super comfortable shoulder harness.
*Note: The Badlands Bino XR case ships FREE from Bass Pro Shops.
32. ALPS OutdoorZ Extreme Bino Harness X
If the Badlands Bino XR price point is out of your budget, we’re been impressed with the affordable ALPS OutdoorZ Extreme Bino Harness X. The harness is comfortable enough to get the job done all day and it’s totally adjustable. It also does a good job of holding the case close to your chest. There is a small side pocket that fits most wind checkers while the other side of the case has four lashing points for attaching other gear or a small case. A microfiber lens is included in the front zip pocket, too. A small bungee cord keeps the top flap down and lets the case open silently. The ALPS OutdoorZ Extreme Bino Harness offers the best price-to-value ratio we’ve seen for this type of bino case — and it’s durable.
Elk Alert: If you’re an elk fan, choose the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation version.
33. Midland GXT1050VP4 36-Mile Two-Way Radio Pack
Also known as “walkie talkies,” two-way radios let hunters communicate with each other over miles while out in the woods far away from cell phone towers. Not only can they make hunting together more effective, they are also great for safety, letting hunters know where each other are — or even call for help if a hunter gets lost or injured. This best-selling Midland set is priced right, boasts great coverage, automatically locks onto the local NOAA weather channel, has a vibration alert, lets you use privacy codes, has a “whisper” mode, comes with headsets, rechargeable battery packs, a car charger, plus they can run on AA batteries if you’re far off the grid. Plus, they come in Mossy Oak Camo!
34. DryGuy Force DX Boot Dryer
The old convection-style boot dryers are still going strong, slowly drying a pair of boots over many hours, which helps protect the boot from drying too fast and cracking. They are pretty good, but what’s better? A heated boot dryer that more actively blows warm air and dries your boots out much faster — but slow enough to avoid stressing the boot. In our view, a faster boot dryer is critical when you have more than one pair of boots to dry and you need to get back outside. Of course, the DryGuy Force DX Boot Dryer works with gloves and hats, plus it comes with two extension tubes for use with taller boots.
Portable Option: Check out the more portable DryGuy Force Dry Boot, Shoe and Glove Dryer.
35. Orvis Pro Series Hunting Vest
When you plan to cover some distance during your upland bird hunts and you plan to carry plenty of shotgun shells — and hopefully birds — it’s time to check out the Orvis Pro Series Hunting Vest. It has two water bottle pockets, which means you can pack enough water for you and your dog. Beyond its striking good looks, this new Orvis vest boasts a comfort-oriented strap system and slips in 220 square inches of blaze orange for visibility. Oh, one more thing: This type of strap-based vest is our go-to choice for hot early-season hunts. And when the temperature dips in the fall? You can easily layer underneath it.
Shop Orvis direct for more awesome hunting gear — and hunt clothes that blend style with excellent durability!
36. Gerber Vital Take-a-Part Shears
The Gerber Vital Take-a-Part Shears are very handy for small-game hunters to make cleaning birds and rabbits easier than ever. Plus, a good powerful set of shears are just handy to have around camp or even the BBQ back home.
37. Traeger Pro 575 Pellet Grill
Scouting, hunting, and hauling wild game home is just the beginning. Next it’s time to process Mother Nature’s healthiest meats . . . and a pellet grill is one of the easiest ways to make jerky and summer sausage. Better yet, you can smoke salmon, roast asparagus, and cook up some amazing elk burgers on a pellet grill. We have yet to meet anyone who hasn’t loved their Traeger pellet grill. Oh, one more thing: Traeger delivers! Still not convinced? Read our full Traeger Pro 575 Review for detail.
38. Black Rack Rattling Antlers
For most hunters in most places of the world, hunting for deer is hard, and getting a mature buck to show himself in daylight is either being in the right place at the right time . . . or getting right into the thick of his world and rattling as if two rival bucks are fighting it out in his territory. When it works, it’s an amazing experience. The way to do it is with a pair of antlers you have from a previous buck or sheds — but what if you don’t have either? Start with a synthetic rattle call system like the Black Rack Rattling Antlers, which come with an instructional video.
39. Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Rangefinder
The Leupold RX-1400i TBR/W Rangefinder is a feature-packed midrange rangefinder that works great for both bow and rifle hunters. It’s lightweight, ranges fast, and includes True Ballistic Ranging to help hunters make accurate shots on very steep ground — or from treestands. Our review unit performed flawlessly during our archery elk hunts this season, as well as in our early rifle season hunts.
Shop all rangefinders at Cabela’s and get FREE shipping on most orders over $50!
40. Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer Cooler
Any hunter can appreciate a hard-core cooler. Something tough, something big, something that’s insulated well enough to do its job. If that’s just keeping beer cold on a hot August scouting trip, that’s fine. But when it’s time to haul big game out of the woods in September, a good cooler can be the difference between a “gamey” steak and a fine meal. There are a lot of variables, of course, but we can almost guarantee your hunter will find a use for a high-quality cooler. If you want the best cold-to-cost ratio, the best cooler for your money, go with the Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer Cooler. It’s awesome — in all sizes and colors. As for YETI, all the YETI coolers are awesome, too — they just cost a bit more.
41. L.L.Bean Double L Upland Hunter’s Vest
Bird hunters need a good shooting vest, which gives you easy access to shotgun shells as well as a rear pocket for carrying birds. Heck, there’s more to it than that, though — while a shooting vest is utilitarian, it’s also part of the tradition, an element of a uniform, and that tradition alone makes it a great hunter gift. The L.L.Bean Double L Upland Hunter’s Vest has a classic design with updated pocketing. A good vest reminds a hunter to put on their game face and pay attention — something is going to take flight soon. We’ve known bird dogs that get excited when they see a shotgun, and the smartest ones recognize vests, too.
42. Caldwell Lead Sled 3 Rifle Rest
Rifle hunters need to be able to find the best round of ammunition for their particular rifle because different bullet types and sizes from different manufacturers perform differently. Unless your hunter is shooting hundreds of rounds a year, it’s hard to know exactly how well a particular round performs. A shooting sled holds a rifle very steady and will save your hunter a lot of time, as well as build confidence in particular rounds at particular distances. The Caldwell Lead Sled 3 — or any Caldwell Lead Sled version — is definitely one of the best hunter gifts for deer and elk rifle hunters.
43. TurtleSkin SnakeArmor Snake Gaiters
If your hunter hunts rattlesnake country, snake-proof gaiters might be worth their weight in gold — while most rattlesnake bites don’t result in death, some do, and nearly all result in massive health care bills. Most snake-proof gaiters are bulky and stiff, but the TurtleSkin SnakeArmor Snake Gaiters are more flexible, which means your hunter is far more likely to actually wear them. They’re made from a super-tight weave of high-strength ballistic fibers and polyester. While we like the TurtleSkin SnakeArmor Gaiters the best, we also like the affordable Crackshot Snake Bite Proof Guardz Gaiters.
44. Adventure Medical Kits Sportsman Series ‘Bighorn’ First-Aid Kit
When you get off the beaten path, there’s sticks and sharp rocks. A hunter is going to get cut, if not by the hazards of the woods then maybe by his own knife or a buddy’s while handling big game. It happens. Worse can happen, though, and a good first-aid kit will include a manual to help a hunting partner provide emergency medical care. Bottom line? A light first-aid kit should be in every hunter’s pack, and while we consider first-aid kits one of the most important hunter gifts ever, they’re just as important for camping and hiking, too. Our favorite hunting pack version for most hunters is the Bighorn version because of its overall contents, but any Sportsman Series kit from Adventure Medical Kits makes a great gift for any hunter.
45. Vortex Diamondback Riflescope
If your hunter has a high-quality scope already . . . it’s best to stay away from scopes. But many deer and elk hunters have cheap or really old scopes — and they would love any replacement that is a step up from what they have. Better scopes won’t fog at the wrong time, and they’ll deliver clearer, brighter images. You might have to ask a hunting buddy if you don’t know if your hunter needs a new scope, but it’s hard to go wrong the Vortex Diamondback line. If your hunter drops his rifle and breaks his Vortex scope, Vortex will replace it through its VIP unlimited lifetime warranty. It’s hard to beat a warranty like that, which is another reason why Vortex products make great hunting gifts. Get the 4-12 power version because it’s the most versatile option for most hunters.
46. Mechanix Wear MultiCam FastFit Tactical Glove
Finding the right best glove for any given moment in a day is wicked hard. The heavy cold-weather gloves are too hot when the day warms up while thin gloves threaten to delay shots due to numb fingers. And grip? Critical. A slipperyfleece or wool can make holding a rifle a constant challenge. The best hunter gift gloves have unencumbered trigger fingers but also grippy materials. Fortunately, it’s hard to go wrong with gloves as a hunter gift — hunters will choose different gloves for different tasks. We’re fans of the thoroughly inexpensive-yet-astoundingly excellent Mechanix Wear MultiCam FastFit Tactical Gloves — also try the Woodland Camo versions. They’re not cold-weather gloves, but most any hunter will find a use for them. Great stocking-stuffer pricing, too.
47. TACTACAM Reveal X Gen 2.0 Trail Camera
Animals move around a lot, but they also establish patterns. What about big bucks? It’s hard to know where they are when they move at night. Elk? Same thing. Especially in western states that have seen elk herds decimated by wolves, if you want to find where early and post-rut bulls are hanging out, a game camera is critical. We have some buddies who set up four cameras every year because the elk just aren’t in the same places every year. As for everything else, game camera owners get surprised with photos of bear, raccoons, foxes, cougars and other hunters. All good stuff. A game camera is one of the best hunter gifts ever invented! The new TACTACAM Reveal X Gen 2.0 works remotely on Verizon or AT&T cellular networks, letting your hunter receive updates from afar.
*Note: Our favorite non-cellular beginner trail camera is the Bushnell Spot On No Glow Trail Camera. It comes ready to go with batteries and a 16GB SD card.
48. Camo Crocs!
Crocs are very nearly a cult classic among hunters. After long days in boots . . . sometimes with wet feet . . . hunters like to wear soft and cushy Crocs around camp and at home. In fact, we’ve known some hunters to pack them along in case they need to wear them for a tough stalk where they need quiet footware — kid you not.
Shop Crocs.com for the best selection and size options for the whole family!
49. Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
The Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles are a popular entry-level trekking poles with a price-to-value ratio that’s hard to beat. Costco often sells a 2-pack version of these poles, but Amazon offers multiple color options, as well as a Mossy Oak camo version. What are the benefits of trekking poles for hunters? If you’re hunter is navigating steep ground, especially when hauling out big game in a backpack, trekking poles improve balance and traction for a safer, easier hunt. Trekking poles make great hunting gifts for Dads and older hunters — but all the cool backcountry kids are using trekking poles these days too.
Upgrade Option: PEAX Backcountry Z Sissy Stix are our favorite trekking poles by far because they’re ultralight, ultra-strong, and super compact. Read our full Sissy Stix review for more detail!
50. RHINO Blinds 3-Person Hunting Ground Blind
While some animals depend on their sense of smell, some have astounding eyesight and can spot the slightest unnatural movement. Good hunters will naturally use a bush or tree or clump of tall grass to break up their silhouettes and obscure themselves from sharp-eyed critters. A lightweight ground blind can extend the areas where a hunter can hunt, letting them set up near trails and natural funnels that don’t have cover for hunters. Odds are, your hunter knows a place where a blind would be handy, making a ground blind one of the more interesting hunter gifts available today.
51. Mud River Truck Seat Gun Case Organizer
One of the toughest challenges for busy modern-day hunters is keeping organized and ready to go. Enter the Mud River Truck Seat Gun Case Organizer. This handy system easily attaches behind the front seats of a pickup or SUV and gives your hunter padded compartments for their rifles or shotguns. The bottom pocket even detaches to turn into a field gun case. So handy.
52. Outdoor Edge Razor-Pro/Saw Combo
The Outdoor Edge Razor-Pro/Saw Combo blends the form factor of a traditional hunting knife with an interchangeable razor system for instant super sharpness. We’re big fans for the ease-of-use, plus appreciate the system for hunters who aren’t confident in their sharpening skills, especially out in the field. Oh, one more thing: The price-to-value ratio is fantastic here.
53. Mossy Oak Buttstock Rifle Shell Holder
Most hunters don’t end up in situations where they run out of ammo, but having a few extra rounds of ammunition handy is certainly a good plan. One of the simplest ways is with an ammo holder that slips over the butt stock of your rifle. They’re also available for your shotgun and make great stocking stuffers for hunters.
54. Arctic Zone Realtree Zipperless HardBody Cooler
Some pieces of gear are signifiers — items that remind a hunters who they are, what they care about. They have the power to turn a hunter’s mind away from the stresses of everyday life. A camo lunchbox cooler speaks of the great outdoors and reminds a hunter that it is a tool that enables adventure. Fill a camo cooler with sandwiches and suddenly the whole day opens up. Objects can bring meaning — even camo coolers. We kid you not. The Arctic Zone Realtree Zipperless HardBody Cooler uses a plastic interior with insulated foam and a lid that slips in to create the seal.
*Note: Want more size and color options? Check out the RTIC Soft Pack Cooler line.
55. Primos Cow Girl Elk Call
There are all sorts of different kinds of elk calls, including bugles, but every elk hunter ought to have a cow call. Even if you’re after bulls, well, bulls in rut will follow the cows. If you get into a situation where you need to cow talk, your hunter will appreciate the ability to chat it up. In addition, even if your elk hunter has reed calls already, most hunters like having an extra cow call or two so they can throw out different kinds of tones to sound like more than one cow elk.
56. Primos Revolver Deer Call
One of our hunting buddies with teenage boys was able to grunt back and forth with several bucks last year — a cool experience, for sure. While some hunters barely know how or when to grunt for whitetail, others have used smart calling tactics to lure big bucks into range . . . so do your deer hunter a favor and give them a new tool to try out. Plus, sometimes the grunt is the only thing that will turn a big buck your way — or stop him in his tracks to give you time to take a shot. Better yet, a grunt call is a good learning tool because it can help you understand buck vocalizations, which some hunters can learn to mimic without a call, which again, means a hunter might be able to can stop a walking buck while they have a rifle to their shoulder or their bow at full draw.
57. Primos ‘The Can’ Doe Deer Call
This deceptively simple can call produces estrus doe bleats that attracts bucks. It’s super easy to use — you just turn it over — and super effective, too. It makes a great stocking stuffer for young hunters — but even experienced hunters will appreciate its perfect calls and simplicity in action.
58. HIVIZ BirdBuster Fiber Optic Shotgun Sight
We’re not sure why, but we are more accurate bird hunters with fiber optic sights on our shotguns. In green. You can get orange or red or yellow, but for some reason we like the green best. Whatever color you choose, these sights provide a dirt-simple beacon that somehow makes it easier to find a pheasant in flight and line up your shot. We have not yet found a fellow hunter who didn’t appreciate them.
* Note: Looking for a turkey hunter gift? Try the HiViz TriViz Turkey/Deer model.
59. L.L.Bean Northwoods Rain Jacket
There aren’t very many waterproof ‘blaze orange’ rain jackets for hunters, but the L.L.Bean Northwoods Rain Jacket will help keep your hunter safe even when it’s raining. Great quality, great price.
60. Wildlife Research Scent Killer Gold Spray
One handy gift for whitetail deer hunters is an easy-to-use spray-based scent remover. There are a few good brands on the market, but we’ve had good luck with Wildlife Research Scent Killer Gold. When your hunters steps out of the pickup, they can give themselves a few sprays and maybe increase their chances of getting a shot when the wind turns against them. The idea is to reduce the downwind plume of human-related scent. Sometimes all you need is an extra second to make the shot.
61. Cabela’s Big Outdoorsman Lounger Chair
One of our hunting buddies hauled out a full-size lounge chair this year to elk camp, and we thought he had lost his mind . . . until one afternoon he was able to nab a power nap in the warm sunshine before the evening hunt. Envious? Oh yeah. The Cabela’s Big Outdoorsman is rugged and oversized with a weight rating of 400 lbs! You don’t have to wrap it up as a gift, but if you do, it’ll command attention.
Packable Option: If you like this gift idea but aren’t sure about the size, try far more packable the Bass Pro Shops Eclipse Quad Fold Zero-Gravity Lounge Chair.
62. L.L.Bean Henley Commando Sweater
If you’d like to amp up your hunter’s style, it’s hard to go wrong with a classic Commando Sweater. L.L.Bean’s ‘Henley’ version buttons at the top and elevates the cool factor. Made from 100% merino lambswool, it looks great everywhere. Better yet, L.L.Bean offers Regular and Tall versions to help you find the right fit.
63. Grundéns Deviation 6″ Ankle Boot
Like the popular fishing-focused Deck-Boss Ankle Boots found in our guide to the best gifts for outdoor lovers, the more rugged soles of the Grundéns Deviation 6″ Ankle Boot make this rubber boot ready for hunting camp and rougher terrain.
Grundéns Holiday Sale – Up to 60% Off Select Items! Offer valid 11/18 – 11/30
64. WeBoost Drive Reach
The WeBoost Drive Reach is a bit spendy, but how much is your peace of mind? If your hunters often hunt just out of normal cell phone service areas, the WeBoost Drive Reach can amplify weak signals and deliver service to your hunter. It works with all cellular service phones and carriers . . . but does it really work? It’s legit. We’ve gained bars of service in deep Idaho canyons and on remote Nevada mountains. (Read our full WeBoost review here for more detail.)
Gifts for Hunters Bonus: UCO Titan Stormproof Match Kit
If your hunter gets out into a bad situation with cold and stormy weather, you want him confident in his ability to stop and build a fire to survive. The alternative is to freak out, get lost, overheat with sweat trying to get back to the pickup, not making it and then dying of hyperthermia once the sweat starts freezing. An ability to start a fire is a confidence builder, and while most hunters won’t need to stop and build a fire, having the ability to build a fire can help keep a lost hunter calm in the face of adversity — and that’s the real life saver here.
Looking for Bowhunting Gifts?
Check out our more archery-specific Best Gifts for Bowhunters guide!
Heads-Up Alert: Catch-All Gear Bags at Cabela’s
These great little gear bags have plenty of pockets and are durable. They’re great for hunters, fishers and anyone who has miscellaneous gear to keep track of. Best yet, you can nab them for $12.99 — we bought several last year, and they’re a crazy good deal. Grab a couple before they’re gone!
Still Looking for Great Hunting Gifts?
Shop ‘hunting decoys’ at Bass Pro Shops and get FREE Shipping on most orders over $35.
Shop L.L.Bean hunting gear, ‘free shipping every day’ and the L.L.Bean legendary customer satisfaction guarantee.
Shop Orvis for high-quality waterfowl and upland bird hunting gear and gifts.
Shop Cabela’s for more specific hunting gift ideas:
- Archery Hunting Gifts
- Hunting Accessories
- Hunting Safety & Survival Gear
- Wild Game Food Processing
- Hunting Decoys
- Waterfowl Hunting Gear
- Trail Cameras and Feeders
