You've got less than one month before Christmas, and if you are stymied in trying to buy a gift for that special outdoor person in your life, here are some Don Q gift ideas.
Pick one (or more!) and you can make 2006 a truly special Christmas for that individual.
Alaska magazine
One of my all-time favorite annual suggestions and Christmas gifts: A one-year subscription to Alaska magazine.
This is an awesome gift for either those folks who have already been to that unforgettable location in the Far North or for those folks who daydream about visiting Alaska and have never been there.
Heck, with this subscription, anyone can visit Alaska every month of the year!
Just go to www.alaskamagazine.com. Once there, you can get him/her (plus yourself!) a one-year subscription for $18 each, plus a free copy of the 2007 Alaska calendar.
For customer service information, call 1-800-288-5892.
CALIF. LICENSE
How about a 2007 California Non-Resident Annual Fishing License, complete with a Second Rod Stamp?
This will set you back more than $100, but it is well worth the cost for a whole year of sport fishing in the Golden State.
Heck, you spend that much (or more!)when you go to a fancy dinner house, and you are hungry the next morning. Its true!
You can buy those California licenses and stamps at any number of different locations in this general area. I always purchase mine at Dave Kirby's Woodfords General Store in Woodfords, Calif. (530-694-2930). Much closer to home, you can also buy them at the Angler's Edge in Gardnerville (782-4734).
JIM SNOOK
Jim Snook is a world-famous artist from Oregon, and he offers a wide selection of hilarious cartoon items, ranging from books to calendars to posters to art prints.
Any one of them is a hilarious work of art and would make an ideal Christmas gift, which will attract attention.
I guarantee that one of Snook's works will be the centerpiece of a conversation whether it is located in a den, office, front room, etc. In fact, I've got one of his autographed cartoons hanging over my desk at home.
To order or for information, call Snook at (800) 232-0210.
Mule deer prints
Buy one or both of two, absolutely mind-boggling, prints of state-record buck mule deer.
One is called "The Dirty Dozen" and the other is "The Magnificent Seven."
The prints are available at www.kingsoutdoorworld.com.
Each of the prints is 36 inches by 11 3/4 inches and costs $19.95 (plus shipping).
If that special person is a serious deer hunter, he/she will not be able to resist either one or both on one of their walls.
For ordering information, call 1-800-447-6897.
OSA membership
The Ormsby Sportsmen's Association (OSA) is an 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.
Little would they know that OSA has the greatest dues in the world: Only $5 a year for adults or $2 for a youngster under 16.
A year-long gift for only $5!
Geez, how in the world can you beat that kind of a bargain?
For information, call OSA President LaNora Clyde at 841-5758.
Pyramid lake Fishing
Another annual suggestion: If that special person has never fished for Lahontan cutthroat trout at Pyramid Lake, this could be the perfect gift.
Just contact George Molino of Pyramid Lake Charters at the Pyramid Lake Store on the Pyramid Lake Highway.
George provides the boat and all of the fishing equipment. All the angler needs is his/her tribal fishing permit, snacks and clothing for changing weather.
A four hour charter with a minimum of two persons is $100 per person. A six hour charter with a minimum of three persons is $150 per person.
For information, call (775) 476-0555 or go to website www.fishpyramid.com.
Finally
Just be sure that when they open that special gift package at Christmas, you remember to tell them where you go the idea.
-- 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, "I can tell you that Don does not want any more fishing lures," he could be a relative or close friend.
-- Don Quilici is the Outdoors editor for the Nevada Appeal.