Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
LAST WEEK I mentioned the presentation I would be doing at Borders Books next month in conjunction with the release of the new anthology "Wild Places." Well, uh, there was a little problem with the date we'd picked for the presentation -- a slight conflict. It seems that date already had been picked for Super Bowl Sunday.
I, for one, will be busy in front of the television that day watching my beloved Steelers once again win a Super Bowl title and will not be at Borders Books.
The signing bash will be held in February and I will let you know the details in the weeks to come.
Now, to the important stuff.
I promised this week would be my annual gift giving bonanza complete with availability, shopping hours and prices. Normally, because I tend to put things off as long as I can, I can be seen rushing around town the Sunday before the column appears with notebook in hand jotting down terrific ideas for your sportsman or woman for Christmas.
Last Sunday, however, all I could be seen doing was reaching for another dose of Nyquil while desperately wringing my hands, wondering how all the Christmas shopping was going to get done because our daughter Katie had given me her cold.
So the best I can do this year is give the telephone number at Cabela's (1-800-237-4444) and some suggestions and leave the rest up to you.
Let's start with electronics. The best new toy you can buy your sportsman is a Magellan GPS unit. I'd pick the GPS 2000, retailing under $200. This unit shows your position in latitude/longitude, time, speed, compass, course, distance/time to destination and course error. No longer will you be late or get lost while hunting or fishing.
Another high-end item is a spotting scope. You can purchase one of the exclusive models made by either Leica or Swarovski with the best optics found in the $1,200 price range (ouch) or a mid-range spotting scope for $500-$600 from Nikon or Leupold that are very good. These scopes are the kind used by professional guides and hunters with deep pockets. For average hunters, Bausch & Lomb makes several good spotting scopes anywhere from $200 to $400.
From Casio comes a watch every sportsman should have. It has a digital compass that measures and displays direction in 16 directions to the closest degree (plus it detects any abnormal magnetic fields) and an altimeter with a range of 2,300 feet below sea level to 13,120 feet above, with a target alarm, target altitude graph display and change over between feet and meters -- not to mention the normal stuff, like telling time. It costs $199.99.
Locally, Big 5 usually carries them.
Duffel bags make good choices for outdoors gifts and Cabela's carries quite a few -- so do most local retailers. Cabela's Alaskan Guide Series of expedition ballistic cloth bags looks excellent. Prices range from $70 to $130 for the smallest to the largest of the duffels.
Goose hunters will appreciate the Benchmark foam blind. It's like a camouflaged sleeping bag that hunters can use to conceal themselves while stalking geese. Cabela's sitting goose blind is another idea that works instead of digging a pit or lying flat on the cold ground. Both cost $159.99.
Cabela's also carries a complete selection of air rifles. They can make great Christmas presents for anyone over the age of 16. Remember these guns are not toys. They can be dangerous. Accidents and even fatalities have occurred through the misuse of air guns. Beeman's new RX-1 fires .177 caliber pellets at velocities up to 1,125 fps. With a scope mounted, it would be a good gun to use for sophisticated target practice -- sophisticated because the price for gun alone is $460. You can get less power for less $$.
Clothing always makes a good gift. In addition to carrying wool shirts from Woolrich and Pendleton, and a top-notch chamois shirt under its own label, Cabela's carries a good microfleece shirt. It is made from polartec -- a 100-percent polyester fabric that is soft, warm and water and wind resistant.
Field pants would be a good choice for those who hunt birds in southern Nevada. Lined with flannel, these cotton duck pants are coated with 1,000 denier Cordura nylon to keep from picking up burrs, brambles, leaves and other prickly hitch hikers.
Cabela's upland clothing features jackets with shell loops and roomy cargo pockets and game bag. Upland pants are faced with waterproof nylon. Vests and caps to match also are available. They range in price from $70 for the jacket to $34.95 for the vest.
Columbia's Quad Parks have been so popular that other manufacturers are getting into the act. Woolrich makes a "system" parka with a detachable hood and liner jacket. Mossberg is also making waterfowl jackets. Cabela's systems parka is the least expensive at $239.
Hope this helps you get ready for Christmas. Now pass another round of Nyquil ...
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