HuntStand’s Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide

Admit it: You’ve been so busy chasing critters that now you’re scrambling to tackle your holiday gift list. We can keep that secret between us! But time is running out, so you’d better pull the trigger on those last-minute gifts. If you’re still shopping for your fellow hunters, here’s a collection of hand-picked, field-tested gift ideas from the HuntStand team. (Most of this stuff can still make it to your doorstep before Christmas, otherwise jump in your truck and hightail it to a local retailer!)

Josh Dahlke

Walker’s Disrupter Ear Buds

Hearing protection can be a real pain in the you-know-what. Muffs have their place, plugs can suffice, custom-molded products can break the bank, and electronic solutions can be hit or miss. The best all-around option I’ve found is in the Walker’s rechargeable Disrupter ear buds. In the field, they’re capable of blocking ear-shattering noise like gunshots, or on the flip side, they can amplify ambient sounds to make you a better predator. Disrupters connect wirelessly to your phone, so you can control all the settings through the Walker’s Link app. Plus, when you’re in the middle of a grueling all-day sit for whitetails, you can stream the HuntStand Podcast or watch a sultry reality TV series to kill some time. Not that I’ve ever done that.

Cyclops Poseidon Headlamp

A reliable headlamp is almost as important as a trusty hunting knife. (And when it comes time to use a hunting knife, odds are high you’ll need a headlamp to get to work.) If you spend enough time breathing in God’s fresh air, you’ll want a durable headlamp that doesn’t rely on throw-away batteries. The Poseidon from Cyclops is a rechargeable, weatherproof, heavy-duty lighting companion that’s easy to operate. It runs dim enough to look your buddy in the face at hunting camp and interrogate him about his shot, but bright enough to help him stay on the blood trail. It’s also detachable from the headband so you can use it as a traditional flashlight. And a strong magnet on one end can be pretty handy for hands-free illumination.

Will Cooper

TruGlo TX6 Rifle Scope

The TruGlo TX6 Scope has been an absolute game-changer in my hunting endeavors. Its crystal-clear optics and 6x magnification provide a sharp and vivid sight picture, allowing me to confidently take shots even in challenging conditions like I faced this year during the second rifle season in Colorado. The durable construction of the scope ensures it can withstand the rigors of the backcountry, making it an ideal companion for my elk hunts. The user-friendly controls and fast-focus eyepiece add to its appeal, ensuring quick target acquisition and a seamless shooting experience. With the TruGlo TX6 Scope, I feel a newfound confidence in my accuracy and clarity, making it an indispensable asset in my pursuit of a successful elk hunt.

SOG Ether FX Knife

The SOG Ether FX Knife isn’t just a tool; it’s my trusted companion on recent hunts. Its exceptional design and meticulous craftsmanship make it more than just a cutting tool — it’s a reliable sidekick in the field. The high-quality stainless-steel blade effortlessly maintains its sharp edge, handling everything from field dressing to game processing with ease. In wet and slippery conditions, the ergonomic handle ensure a secure grip — essential for managing large game. With a fixed-blade design instilling confidence in its strength and stability, this knife is versatile for various tasks. Toting it around is a breeze. The durable nylon sheath offers easy access while keeping the blade secure during transport.

Josh Honeycutt

Tenzing 2100 and Cinch Packs

As someone who self-films all of my hunts, and attempts to do so with a fair degree of quality, I have to pack a lot of gear afield. About half of that is hunting gear, and the other half is camera equipment. I need a lot of space to carry all of that. And I need my packs to be pretty durable, as I’m routinely cramming, stretching, poking, and conducting (unintentional) high-stress tests.

The Tenzing 2100 and Tenzing Cinch are two packs I oftentimes use in tandem. These allow me to carry all of my hunting and camera gear that I need for the day. The 2100 has 2,100 cubic inches of space, four major compartments, and 15 organization pockets. It weighs 1 lb. 8 oz. The Cinch offers an additional 500 cubic inches of space, four major compartments, five organization pockets, and even a hand-warming station. This duo provides all the space a day hunter needs.

HME Trail Camera 12-Volt Solar Auxiliary Power Pack

I run a pile of trail cameras — largely cellular models — so long-term battery life is crucial. To get multiple months out of a cell cam, it’s almost always necessary to have an external battery source. Enter the HME Trail Camera 12-Volt Solar Auxiliary Power Pack. This unit has extended the lives of my Stealth Cam cellular cameras greatly this season. I’ve been testing these in three different states, and they work phenomenally. It comes with a 12V 6Ah battery, amorphous silicon solar panel with 12V 40mA output, waterproof box with AC charger and 10-ft. cable, and more.

Melissa Bachman

Wildgame Innovations Trophy Tape

People are often interested in the scores of their bucks, but it can be a little intimidating if you haven’t scored a deer in the past. Recently, I tested the Trophy Tape and was super impressed with the ease of use. I’ve scored tons of bucks the “traditional” way, but this makes it so fast —  and no need for adding everything up afterwards and trying to decide the best way to add up the fractions. The directions are clear on the package and in under 5 minutes you can have your buck scored. When you do the last measurement for the spread, the tape will show your final score.

Not only is it a great way to score your buck fast, but it also helps you learn the scoring process so you can better field judge deer on the hoof. This is one of those finds that is a great stocking stuffer for the hunter in your family, but you’ll also want to ensure you get one for yourself.

Evolved Deer Cane Block and Deer Co-Cain Liquid

I absolutely love creating setups that eattract deer into my location. We often use water holes, rub posts, and mock scrapes throughout the season to bring the deer in front of our stands and cameras. Another thing I’ve found incredible success with is to create instant mineral licks.

Deer love minerals, and anywhere I’ve put the Deer Co-Cain Liquid along with the Deer Cane Block the deer have eaten a hole right into the ground. It’s amazing to see the power of these mineral licks and how quickly deer begin using the location. I use these sites to inventory our bucks and keep the deer in our area. To prep a site, I just rip up the ground by hand, pull all the vegetation out and then pour a bottle of the Deer Co-Cain Liquid. Next, I place the Deer Cane block on top. We get deer hitting this location day after day.

Caleb Condit

Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter Folding Knife

This year, I picked up the Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter Folding Knife to add to my field dressing arsenal. It more than proved itself, caping out five deer so far. The tip shape is great and helps you not nick things you’d rather leave intact, while also being tough enough to cut through a sternum or separate a rib bone from the spine for some bone-in loin cuts. I’d like to say I only use it on hunts, but we all know the good knives get pulled out for other things as well.

Muddy Magnum Pro Harness

Another indispensable piece of gear that I wear most of the season is my Muddy Magnum Pro Harness. It’s comfortable for all-day sits, and more importantly, keeps me safe getting in and out of a tree with my hang-and-hunt setups. I like to stay mobile, so having a lineman’s belt for hanging sticks on each hunt is a big deal. Then, tethering onto the tree once everything is in place is simple. Safe connection to the tree saved by butt this season in a tree with very thick bark. I had a hang-on step kick out and the lineman’s belt pulled me into the tree, instead of falling to the ground. I was able to easily fix the issue and continue my hunt.

Jace Bauserman

Muddy Manifest 2.0 Cellular Trail Camera

I love trail cameras. I love the intel they provide. Plus, they’re extremely enjoyable to use. One of my 2023 go-to cameras was Muddy’s Manifest 2.0 Cellular Trail Camera. In Colorado, cell cam use is limited to before you hunt and after you tag out. Still, the information I gleaned from the budget-friendly, 16MP and 0.8-second trigger Manifest 2.0 cams proved invaluable this season. The easy-to-use inside interface and Quick Scan QR code setup is super convenient. Married with the Command App, setup is elementary.

I was also thrilled with the battery life, which has been exceptional, especially during the late season. The integrated Python lock latch adds an appreciated security element, and the images are clean and clear. Each shot is stamped with time, date, moon phase, and the camera name. I also tip my hat to the camera’s Burst Mode, which can be set to take between one and three images per trigger.

Avian-X HDR Jake

I’ve been an Avian-X decoy fan for years. From their waterfowl wonders to my favorite turkey go-to — the HDR Jake — Avian-X fakes get the job done. This past spring, I completed my second wild turkey Grand Slam, this one with a bow. Decoys were essential, and from Florida to Colorado to Virginia to Nebraska, toms and jakes couldn’t resist slipping in to beat on the HDR Jake. Slightly smaller than a real turkey, the quarter-strut posture combined with a subdominant feather signal adds realism. The true-to-life paint scheme and feather detail are unreal, and the durable blow-molded hard-sided design means maximum performance and durability season after season. Another cool feature is the removable head, which allows you to swap between aggressive and submissive head postures. Pair the HDR Jake with any Avian-X hen combo, and you’ll always be in the game.

Darron McDougal

Mathews LIFT 29.5

I shoot a new Mathews bow every year, so I get the opportunity to compare and contrast every new model with previous models. The Phase4 29 has been the quietest and most comfortable bow I’ve shot, but the new LIFT 29.5 beats it. I shoot a short draw length of 27.5 inches, and the LIFT 29.5 is the first bow that has gotten me into the 290-fps range — my 72.9-pound LIFT sends my 441-grain arrow at 295 fps.

The riser has been re-engineered and looks completely different than the one featured on the Phase4, and the yield between that and some other innovations is half of a pound of weight savings. That might not seem monumental, but it makes a difference when the bow is fully set up. It just feels better. The new SwitchWeight X Cam stacks draw weight evenly as the bow is drawn and ends with a smooth valley and solid back wall. Add to that the BridgeLock sight and stabilizer mounts and the Integrate rest mount, and this is one well-oiled machine that hits hard and accurately.

Hawk Helium Pro Hang-On

A roomy platform is a welcome treestand attribute for long sits in the whitetail woods, but that usually entails a lot of bulk and extra weight that is less than ideal for hang-and-hunt outings deep in a chunk of public land. But, Hawk’s Helium Pro Hang-On combines the best of lightweight aluminum construction with a roomy platform so that hunters don’t have to compromise.

The Helium Pro attaches solidly to trees, and the Tree Digger teeth bite into the bark to alleviate shifting and slippage. Hawk includes Teflon washers that eliminate squeaks and pops. Despite weighing a maneuverable 12 pounds, the Helium Pro can accommodate hunters weighing up to 300 pounds. A footrest is included, but I didn’t attach it to mine in order to further minimize bulk and weight. The memory foam seat cushion is more comfortable than most, and the stand is compatible with Hawk’s CRUZR Tree Bracket, which speeds and simplifies the treestand hanging and removal processes. A platform-leveling feature means you can hang on more trees while keeping your feet level for a more comfortable sit and more convenient and pleasant shooting experience when a big buck steps out.

Mark Kayser

Stealth Cam Connect Cellular Camera

Who does not need another trail camera or six? Christmas offers the ideal opportunity to surprise that someone special with a new trail camera and Stealth offers a super deal this holiday season. Stealth Cam’s Connect Cellular Camera has been reduced from $99.99 to $59.99. Why Stealth? They are dependable. Easy set up with the new Stealth Command Pro App gives even the most tech inexperienced a quick start to transmitting images. The Connect provides a 0.7-second trigger speed to never miss an image. See more details at Stealth for an affordable stocking stuffer.

I still rely on Stealth traditional SD card models, especially when I am monitoring non-cellular areas such as elk backcountry or deep whitetail hollows. The 7-year-old STC-G30 model has been knocked around in my backpack and abused by elk, deer, and bears, Nevertheless, it still captures vivid images to boost my confidence. That is what I require from a trail camera and what I come to expect from Stealth: dependability.

Silencer Central Banish 38

You must be quiet this Christmas season or Santa might hear the hullabaloo and bypass your chimney. The best way to tone it down is with a suppressor. Unless law forbids their use in a few restrictive areas, all my hunts included the hushed report of my rifle from a suppressor. They decrease decibels to levels OSHA notes as safe to be around without hearing protection. They reduce recoil so you can worry less about flinching and still see if your shot hit home. I watched my elk tumble down a slope this fall after the suppressed shot from my .300 Winchester magnum. Currently, I rely on the Silencer Central Banish 338, but my Christmas list includes two newer options.

The latest from Silencer Central is the Buck 30 by Banish. At 6.9 inches, it is comfortably compact, constructed of stainless steel and muffles calibers from .17 HMR to .300 Winchester magnum. If Santa cannot find the Buck 30, he is welcome to drop a Banish Backcountry into my stocking. This titanium suppressor measures 5.5 inches and only weighs 7.8 ounces. It handles calibers up to the mighty .300 Remington Ultra Magnum. Have Santa check out how easy it is to order through Silencer Central.

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