Looking over my many and varied outdoor sporting equipment items, I can recall stories connected to almost everyone. Being a novice in many and a master of none, my diversity of different hunting and fishing sports has resulted in the accumulation of a lot of clothing items and gear.

Like most sportsmen, I choose all my outdoor gear. When it comes to hunting and fishing related equipment, no one knows what they want more than the sportsman does himself.

Browsing the sporting good stores, employees will often ask if they can help me find something. Usually I give them the completely honest answer of, “no not really, because I don’t know what I am looking for but will know it when I see it”.

For sportsmen, that right piece of camouflaged clothing, fishing rod or pair of boots, is not something they take lightly. It requires that look and feel that satisfies many senses. It must meet the acceptance of approval that comes from experience in the field. As a result, getting that right gift for a hunter or fisherman can be a bit of a task. Just ask any sportsman’s spouse. However, many items do not require that personal preference and would make great holiday gifts for even the most diehard stickler. The good part is that many of these will not break the bank as well.

Without a doubt, one of the top items that any sportsman would love to have is the lifetime hunting and fishing license that North Carolina offers. Of course, you should make sure they do not already have one. Broken down by age brackets and type, these licenses provid current state required hunting or fishing licenses for life.

Not only that, but the cost of the license goes into the “Wildlife Endowment Fund” and only the interest earned is used for wildlife programs. This equates into the recipient actually buying a license each year long after they are deceased. In addition, for only $5.00 more, the licenses may be personalized.

On the high end of the lifetime licenses, is the age twelve or older “Unified Sportsman” license for $675.00. This license covers all current state requirements including the “Coastal Recreational Fishing License”. On the low end is the age sixty-five or older “Lifetime Sportsman” license for only $15.00. This senior license would truly make a great gift for any older hunter or angler that does not already have one. There are several options and costs between these two as well.

Most sportsmen grew up reading the popular monthly magazine of the state’s wildlife agency known as “Wildlife in North Carolina. This award-winning magazine is full of entertaining and educational articles and features about the wildlife resources of our state. A one year subscription to the magazine is only $12.00 with a three year only $30.00.

Another great value in a truly quality product that would be appealing to any member of the outdoors is the three volume collection of the recently completed “Birding Trail” books. At only $10.00 each and free shipping, the books are available through the WRC’s Wild Store web site. With a book representing the Coastal, Piedmont and Mountain areas of the state, the Birding Trail books are a collection of the best public areas to not only bird watch but to enjoy the outdoors. Everything that one might need to know about these many locations is included.

The Wildlife Resources Commissions Wild Store, located at www.ncwildstore.com is a source to find some great deals on a variety of unique items. Currently, many of these items are available at a discount of fifty percent. Available items range from books and calendars to clothing and jewelry.

A project of the NC Wildlife Federation, the “NC Camo Coalition” is offering its membership a special holiday price on a charter fishing trip and a waterfowl hunt. The special price is only available to Camo Coalition members. Membership is free by going online to www.nccamo.org

The North Carolina Camouflage Coalition is a statewide electronic network of sportsmen and women that allows hunters and anglers to monitor and influence issues that affect hunting, fishing, and conservation on a local, state, and national level.

If you are still at a loss at what to get your favorite sportsman, you can always go with a gift card to his favorite outdoors store.

Tony Robinson can be reached at decoydoc@charter.net