Some ideas for unique Christmas gifts for that special outdoor person

Here's a Don Q hand-picked list of some unique items for Christmas for that special person in your life, who has at least one of every toy ever made.

Betcha, he or she does not have some of these items:

Alaska magazine

A one-year subscription.

This is a great gift for those folks who have already been to that unforgettable location in the Far North or for those folks who daydream about visiting Alaska in the future. Heck, with this subscription, they can visit Alaska every month of the year!

Go to Internet website: www.alaskamagazine.com. You can get a one-year subscription for $18, plus a free copy of the fabulous 2006 Alaska calendar.

Who knows, it might prompt that special person into visiting Alaska this coming summer, and they just might take you along!

Barbecue remote sensor

This is the ultimate toy!

With the remote sensor, the chef (AKA that special person) can be up to 100 feet away from the food cooking on the barbecue, and the sensor will alert him/her when it is cooked to the desired temperature.

So, he/she can be enjoying a cocktail with you, while not having to worry about over-cooking that medium-rare New York steak or Baby-Back Ribs.

Life is good with automation!

camera accessories

Undoubtedly they already have a digital camera, but chances are pretty good that they do not have a number of other "Goodies" such as: A couple of extra batteries, a couple of extra memory cards, a San Disk to download those photos into their computer or a very nice carrying case for the camera and its accessories.

With "Goodies" like those, they could do as Elaine did on her vacation trip to Alaska back in June. She came home with 796 photos of that nine-day vacation. Yep, 796!

Oh Oh! Come to think of it, this may not be a good idea, after all!

Inflatable life raft

For that person who likes to hike into backcountry lakes to fish for trout.

Just be sure that it is a three-person raft with more than one air compartment.

Do not get a one/two person raft or a raft that holds more than three persons because: The smaller ones are too small and the larger ones are too darn heavy to carry.

He/she will be amazed at how their fishing success in those lakes will dramatically improve when being able to fish areas that are unreachable from shore.

Lake Tahoe Fishing

How about treating him/her to a fishing trip at Lake Tahoe for Mackinaw (Lake) trout?

There are a number of excellent sport fishing guides, including these good friends of mine:

Joby Cefalu: Mile High Fishing Charters, Tahoe Keys Marina, South Lake Tahoe. (530) 541-5312.

Mickey Daniels: Mickey's Big Mack Charters, Carnelian Bay, North Lake Tahoe. (800) 877-1462.

Mike Nielsen: He has Tahoe Topliners, Sportsmen's, South Lake Tahoe. (530) 544-1526.

Gene St. Denis: He has Blue Ribbon Charters and Tahoe Trophy Trout, South Lake Tahoe. (530) 544-6552.

They all charge about the same amount (about $85 per person) and provide all of the necessary fishing equipment.

OSA membership

The Ormsby Sportsmen's Association (OSA) is a local organization for hunters and fishermen. If you were to buy a one-year membership in OSA, that special person would believe that you are being a very generous person at Christmas time.

Little would they know that OSA has the greatest dues in the world: $5 a year for adults or $2 for a youngster under 16.

A year-long gift for only $5!

For information, call President LaNora Clyde at 841-5758.

Pyramid Lake Fishing

If that special person has never fished out of a boat for Lahontan cutthroat trout at Pyramid Lake, this could be the perfect gift for him/her. Call George Molino of Pyramid Lake Charters at (775) 476-0555. He provides the boat and all of the fishing equipment.

All they need to provide is his/her tribal fishing permit, snacks, drinks and clothing for changing weather.

A half-day charter with a minimum of two persons is $85 per person. A full-day charter with a minimum of three persons is $135 per person.

Finally

Just be sure when they open that special gift at Christmas, that you are honest and tell them where you go the idea: Don Q.

Have fun shopping!

n Bet Your Favorite Pigeon

Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you what Little Donnie Q wants for Christmas.

If he grins and says, "All Don wants is his continued good health," he could be a close friend.

n Don Quilici is the Outdoors editor for the Nevada Appeal.