Written By John VanDerLaan
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Many think hunters are hard people to find gifts for, but at Deer Hunting Guide, we think it's quite the opposite. There's inevitably a piece of gear your hunter doesn't have, something that will take their hunt to the next level. Plus, hunting opens up other hobbies like wildlife management and cooking, giving you even more options. Here are a full 35 of the best stocking stuffers for hunters.
Darn Tough Wool Hunting Socks - Under $40
This is one of those times you want to get socks in your stocking. Since hunters spend so much time sitting still, their feet get cold easily. In other words, the hunter in your life will be thrilled if Santa brings them a thick Merino wool sock.
These socks from Darn Tough are over-the-calf length, so they should fully insulate the foot within a boot. We love the extra heavy loop construction since it's tough and can handle hiking through the woods over multiple seasons.
They are still made in Vermont with wool from their family owned mill, and make great stocking stuffers for hunters.
Click here to see all of the hunting socks we have tested and reviewed.
Personalized Buck 110 Folding Knife - Under $100
Every hunter we know—us included, hint hint—is always looking for their next knife. More than a tool, a hunter's knife is an extension of his primal self and a symbol of his experience. As a hunter learns the craft, he learns what knife works best and comes to find one he prizes and trusts.
We promise, a knife is always a good gift for a hunter, and the Buck 110 is a top choice. The ebony and brass handle has a striking but sophisticated look, and it comes with a black leather sheath.
As for functionality, it has a S30V steel blade that's heat treated to stay sharp longer. The curve of the blade makes cutting smooth, so it's a powerful and versatile accessory for hunters of all types.
Click here for our full review of the Buck 110 Folding Hunter knife.
Zippo Heatbank Rechargeable Hand Warmers - Under $50
Heatbanks and hand warmers have always been go-tos for hunter gifts. It's something small that you can stuff in a stocking, but it's one of the most useful yet simple tools for a hunter. Deer hunting involves cold weather and little movement, so you need outside sources of warmth.
This heatbank in particular is extra useful because it doubles as a power bank. You can charge two different devices from it at once via USB cables, so you can have your smartphone ready to go at all times. It even has an integrated flashlight, so it cuts down on all the heavy accessories you have to carry around.
If you're just using it for warmth, it lasts up to nine hours and has six heat settings up to 120 degrees. One thing we really like is the ergonomic grip and dual heating surfaces. As a gift, it will even help the hunter in your life be more successful since warm, agile fingers are essential for an accurate shot.
HotHands Hand Warmers - Under $30
HotHands are the standard when it comes to hand warmers. Trust us when we say the hunter in your life will recognize and appreciate them immediately. They're disposable and lightweight and less expensive than a rechargeable hand warmer like the Zippo heat bank. After all, this pack includes 40 pairs for under $30.
If your hunter isn't familiar with HotHands, let them know they can fit them in their gloves, pockets, just about anywhere, and get up to 10 hours of warmth without any added bulkiness or discomfort. They're easy to use. Just shake them to activate the heat. They make a great stocking stuffer for your favorite hunter.
Hunter Orange Safety Vest - Under $40
A blaze orange safety vest is the perfect stocking stuffer for hunters, and we'll tell you why. It isn't just practical, but it shows you really care about them—the most important aspect of a gift, in our opinion.
Okay, so this safety vest from Gamehide is one of the top gift ideas for your favorite hunter's stocking because it will keep them safe, but rest assured it is practical as well. This is especially true for duck or upland bird hunting because it has shell holders.
It's a good choice for deer hunters too, though, especially if they hunt various types of game. The large cargo pockets are nice for carrying accessories like rangefinders, hand warmers and even smartphones.
Folding Saw - Under $25
The folding saw is the too-often-overlooked cousin to the hunting knife. While a knife is obviously a great gift, your hunter may sometimes need the power of a serrated blade. For example, they might need to cut down brush around their ground blind, or trim some branches around their tree stand.
We like the folding saw from Outdoor Edge because it's affordable but versatile, making it an ideal stocking stuffer. The diamond-cut blade is more than capable of cutting through wood and bone, but it's compact and lightweight with a built-in clip for easy carrying. It doesn't just serve for hunting but camping and landscaping as well.
Gerbing Heated Wool Socks - Under $200
Wool socks and heat pads make great stocking stuffers, but why not just combine them? Heated wool socks are ideal for hunters that hunt the late season in cold climates. They provide more consistent and comfortable heat to the entire foot.
If you like this gift idea, we recommend the Gerbing model. It has three different heat modes, which lets the hunter calibrate to a comfortable temperature with overheating and causing sweating, which could create odor and scare away game.
The microwire design is also really comfortable. We prefer it to other designs that can feel a bit awkward when you're walking.
Click here to see all of the heated hunting socks that we have tested and reviewed.
Not a hunter yourself? It can be hard to navigate all the various accessories hunters use, much less those they already have, alternatives they have, etc. Make things easy on yourself and them and just get them a gift card. It's still more thoughtful than cash since it shows you know they love hunting and will appreciate the ability to get the gear they want or need.
Since the merger of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's, there's arguably no better one-stop shop for hunters. Just about anything they could want for hunting is there, and they may even find something they didn't realize they needed.
SITKA Core Lightweight Balaclava - Under $50
A novice hunting mistake is going it without the right headgear. The next stage is just wearing any old beanie or the hood of your jacket which doesn't keep you warm enough or provide extra hunting features. You can help the hunter in your life take it to the next level with a dedicated hunting balaclava. That means features like:
- Full coverage
- Camo
- Waterproofing
- Extra warmth and insulation
For that, we recommend the SITKA Core Lightweight Balaclava. It's made to be comfortable and well fitting while keeping the hunter warm without overheating. The balaclava can be rolled up to work as a hat, so if they start to feel too warm, they can fold it up to let off excess heat. The best part, though, is definitely the Gore-Tex waterproof layer combined with the warm and soft inner Berber fleece.
Sitka Gear is one of our favorite hunting clothing brands on the market today.
PepperMate Pepper Mill - Under $40
At Deer Hunting Guide, one of the reasons we love hunting so much is that it leads to so many enjoyable peripheral hobbies. For instance, most hunters eventually become master butchers, chefs and grillers, learning how to cook venison in the most delectable ways for family and friends. Consequently, meat-cooking items make great stocking stuffers for hunters.
A pepper mill is a good choice in particular because it's inexpensive and often overlooked but a simple item that adds flavor and fun to grilling. Pepper slowly loses its flavor after the corns are ground, so freshly grinding it gives a gourmet edge to whatever you're cooking. This is true for other spices too like cumin and coriander and even salt.
As a stocking stuffer, the PepperMate Pepper Mill is our go-to because it's small and compact, inexpensive, and super easy to use. Our favorite feature is the adjustable grinder that lets you change how fine the grounds are. You can get large salt chunks for steaks or fine pepper for marinating.
Get your hunter the PepperMate Pepper Mill to use while perfecting his next recipe.
Turkey Call - Under $50
Deer hunting season is wrapping up by the time Christmas comes around, but there's still the spring turkey season to come. If the hunter in your life is a bit down about the end of the deer season, perk them up with turkey gear.
A turkey call specifically is always a good choice and sure to provoke a smile on Christmas morning as they try it out. A call greatly improves their chances of taking a gobbler, and it's also fun to use in the field and practice with.
This Primos set is a complete starter pack for new turkey hunters or those who haven't used calls before. There's a mouth call, a wooden striker, a slate call and a box call. The box call is easy to use and mimics a male turkey's gobble while the others can mimic other turkey sounds to lure in quarries.
Deer Call - Under $30
A deer call is a good gift not only because it works well in the field but because it takes some practice and is therefore a fun activity that adds to the hobby of hunting. Aside from learning their way around the call itself, the hunter in your life can use trial and error while hunting to figure out which calls work best to bring in mature bucks.
The Extinguisher deer call is really cool because it comes with a free mobile app. The app has educational resources to engage the hunter so they can learn about deer sounds and how to call deer successfully, always a rewarding experience. Plus, the call itself is adjustable to mimic various types of deer and has an antifreeze design, so it continues to work in cold weather.
Duck Call - Under $50
