They say it’s better to give than receive, and that’s especially true when it comes to those awful gifts you receive every year from your mother-in-law or crazy uncle. We’ve been there. You’re not alone! We’ve seen the good, bad, and ugly on Christmas gifts.
So in the spirit of Christmas joy, we offer a look at some of the worst Christmas gifts a hunter could find under the tree this holiday season.
Old-School Long Johns
Long Johns are a classic Christmas gift for hunters. Countless hunters will receive these each year from well-meaning friends or family members. Just keep in mind, while Great-grandpa and his buddies may have worn the traditional cotton long johns while smoking cigarettes and driving deer in Northern Michigan back in the 60’s, these relics from an era long ago no longer hold up to today’s moisture-wicking standards.
*Bonus points if you get the red full-body suit with the built-in butt hatch.
The Super Cheap Knife
Aunt Marie found this in the “stocking stuffers” section at the local big box store and figured it would be perfect for the favorite hunter in her life. Guaranteed to not hold an edge for more than a minute or two, and quite likely to collapse on your knuckles while in use.
The Tacky Tee
Tacky t-shirts are pretty standard Christmas gifts in households across the country, but none make it more obvious that your friends or family think you’re a horrible hunter than when they give you this shirt. This one typically comes form the in-laws, or your least favorite cousin.
The Sh!T Kit
Most hunters I know don’t need a kit to take care of business in the woods, but for those who do, this may be the perfect option to stuff into a stocking this Christmas.
The kit comes with a plastic bag for the sporty hunter that’s interested in toting their turd from the woods.
The sensitive hunter will appreciate the included wet wipes with Aloe and Vitamin E.
SaniGirl
For the lady hunter, or man who squats to pee and uses a Sh!t Kit, there’s the SaniGirl. If you get this one for Christmas, you’ll receive a 10-pack of Pee Cup Funnels. They’re packaged flat, but pop open when you need them. It’s small in size and easily fits in a pocket. The spout fits inside a standard water bottle or container, for the lady that wants to package their potty.
Truck Hitch Toilet Seat
Tailgate gatherings are where good things happen. It’s the place where we hang out, eat grub, drink a cold drink, swap stories – and now, it’s the place where you can do your dirty work.
This could be a handy hunting camp option, if you wait until the tailgate party is over to use it.
The Cheap Ground Blind
A ground blind can be an incredible gift at Christmas, unless it’s that spring-steel ground blind that no hunter ever really asks for. It seems handy at first. Just throw it out there, and it pops into place. But it’s too tiny to actually shoot a bow out of, and you’ll typically find yourself mumbling bad things as you attempt to break it down, and fold it back up.
The Outdated HotHands
HotHands make our best of the best list every year when it comes to great gifts and stocking stuffers for hunters. However, be aware that some sneaky Gift-givers will attempt to re-gift a pack or two of HotHands that have far exceeded their shelf life. You know what I’m talking about! Those outdated HotHands that have become hard as a rock and are no longer of any use for warming any part of your body.
Camo Ski Mask
If you’ve hunted long enough, you probably have this mask down toward the bottom of your camo pile. It’s a classic gift given by a non-hunting friend or family member that thought they were hooking you up big time when they made the purchase. And honestly, if you can get past looking like a camo’d bank robber, this mask can be a lifesaver when you make that cold-weather commute on the ATV or boat. At that moment, you’ll be glad Aunt Mimi bought you the mask.
You asked for a YETI, You Got a Playmate
Back before there was YETI, there was Igloo. And most every hunter or outdoorsman had what we all knew as the Playmate. It was the go-to way of hauling a 6-pack of your favorite beverage or grub for deer camp or the duck blind. And while we now have the YETI Roadie, some folks still opt to take the cheaper route and give the Playmate. So if you’ve asked for a YETI this Christmas, be prepared to act excited in the event you actually open a Playmate instead.
Bass Pro Gift Card with $2.23 On It
You can’t go wrong with a Bass Pro Shops gift card, unless that gift card is a leftover with just a couple bucks on it. I vividly remember trying to redeem a gift card on a big pile of hunting gear, only to discover it just had $2.23 of credit on it. Thanks, Uncle Bobby.
The Canteen
When I started getting in to hunting and camping as a kid, I told some of my family members that I could use a good Nalgene water bottle for backpacking and hunting trips. Apparently, they relayed the message to the cousins at Christmas time, and I ended up with an old-school canteen.
The Ugly Hoodie Collection
Some people wear ugly sweaters at Christmas time, while others just give ugly hoodies as gifts. This one allows you to boldly share the fact that you are indeed a deer hunter. And in the event you forget your name while at full draw with your bow, you simply look down at your forearm for a quick reminder with this custom hoodie.
Another contender for the world’s worst hunting hoodie is this dandy. Proudly share with the world that you are among the biggest of rednecks on earth – and you like to drink way too early.
Yes, this is likely the most hideous of hoodies you can possibly receive for Christmas.
Regardless of the gifts you receive this year, we wish you the best as you celebrate the true reason for the season.
Merry Christmas from the Bowhunting.com crew!
(Check out a recap of the best and worst gifts for Christmas on the podcast below.)
