If you find yourself, once again trying to choose that perfect gift for your sportsman dad, maybe this column will help. Here’s some ideas that are sure to put a smile on his face this Father’s Day!
AN ELECTRIC SMOKER - For many years, I’ve used my Smokin Tex electric smoker to prepare everything from venison jerky to pork chops for the evening meal. Smoking meats with these smokers is a fool proof way of cooking. The principle is simple: Small amounts of wood is placed in the smoke box which slides over the heating element, meat is placed on the racks, the door closed, thermostat set to the desired temperature and the smoker does all the work! I cook large cuts of meat such as briskets or pork shoulders all night and wake up to the most tender, flavorful BBQ one can imagine. The Model 1100 handles just over 20 pounds of meat and the 1400 smokes just over 30 pounds. For more information, go online to www.smokintex.com.
THE ELIMINATOR - If Dad owns land or is on a hunting lease, chances are good that he has one or more corn feeders to attract game. At around $19 per hundred pounds, feeding corn has become a bit costly. He probably looses a great deal of grain to squirrels, raccoons and crows instead of the deer and hogs it’s intended to attract. The Eliminator will pay for itself in a matter of weeks. It attaches to the shaft of the feeder motor and seals off access to corn in the barrel. The unit works on centrifugal force. While in the ‘at rest’ position, access to the feed is completely shut off. When the feeder motor comes on and the shaft begins spinning, centrifugal force causes the unit to open and allow corn to flow. When the motor shuts off, it goes back into the ‘at rest’ position and seals access to the feed. Go online to www.ultramaticfeeders.com and watch the video on The Eliminator.
SHOES FOR THE OUTDOORS - Check out the World Wide Sportsman outdoor shoe at Bass Pro Shops. I’ve found these shoes ideal for outdoor wear. They are great for fishing and boating but also serve double duty as a comfortable and cooler substitute for Tennis Shoes. See them at www.basspro.com.
UMBRELLA FOR YOUR BOAT - A few years ago, Leon Woodall began marketing his ‘E-Z MOUNT UMBRELLA HOLDER’ and the units have become very popular. The mount attaches to the lower portion of your boat’s seat in about fifteen minutes and is made to fit most beach or golf umbrellas. The shade provided by the umbrella will not only keep you and your guests cooler but also protects your skin from the sun. Locate the mount by visiting www.umbrellaezmount.com
OUTDOOR COOKING SUPPLIES - If your dad enjoys outdoor cooking, consider giving him a gift certificate to Frisco Spices www.friscospices.com. The company offers just about everything for the outdoor cook. Make sure and check out the Au Jus sauce used for canning venison. For the past few years I’ve canned venison to enjoy on fishing and hunting trips. The Au Jus sauce makes the canned venison taste much like roast beef, only better!
A NEW BOAT - NO, I’m not referring to one of those $40,000 rigs. If your Dad enjoys fishing and hunting the backwaters (or open waters on calm days), invite you to go to www.nucanoe.com and check out this excellent line of small boats. I’ve used mine for several years to access duck blinds, catch fish and paddle game out of the backcountry via creeks. The boats are unsinkable and are somewhat of a hybrid craft, with the best attributes of the canoe and kayak.
LIGHT FOR NIGHT HUNTING HOGS/PREDATORS - Check out the Hawglite www.hawglite.com for hunting hogs or predators at night. The light comes with red, green and white lens and lights up the night with 80 lumens. The Hawglite screws into the stabilizer threads of a compound bow or can be attached to a rifle with an adaptor.
Zip-Vac - For freezing fish or game or, just about anything else. I’ve been using my Zip-Vac for the past few months and have found a new way to freeze fish. Rather than freezing fillets in water, which takes up a tremendous amount of freezer space, I now use my Zip-Vac vacuum pump to remove the air from the triple wall freezer bags.
FISHING TRIP WITH A GOOD GUIDE - Regardless of ol’ dad’s fishing skills, chances are good he would enjoy a fishing trip with a good guide for his favorite species. During my past quarter-century as an outdoors writer, I’ve had the opportunity to fish with a great many guides for just about every species of fish in the
CATFISH UPDATE - The channel catfish spawn is still underway. Look for the fish in water 3-4 feet deep, around just about any kind of cover such as brush, rocks or logs. A good smelly punch bait works great, but worms or freshly caught shad are also top baits. Keep baits a few inches up from bottom and use a floater, preferably an elongated one. You will lose far fewer fish if you learn to watch the floater, when it tips onto its side, a catfish has grabbed the bait and moved it toward the surface, set the hook with a quick snap of the wrist. Smaller, #6 or #8 treble hooks work best for catching channel catfish during the spawn.