With Christmas fast approaching, if you find yourself reading this article I am willing to bet you fit in one of 2 categories. You either have a difficult person in your life to buy for or you are being harassed by someone for a wish list because you’re the difficult person to buy for. Regardless of what camp you may fall into, we are here to help.
Our list of the top 10 hunting and outdoors gifts for 2023 has something for every pursuit. Whether you are at a loss for where to start, or trying to spend the last $20 of your gift budget, our list of Christmas gift ideas for 2023 is sure to have something for everyone.
#1 Ocoopa Hand Warmers
Best Gift for the Late Season Hunter
Make classic handwarmers a thing of the past with this genius piece of hunting tech. Ocoopa Hand Warmers are worth their weight in gold as the temperature drops during those mid to late season hunts. These rechargeable hand warmers attach together with magnets, perfectly suited for a muff style hand warmer, or easily separate to be used in the pockets of your jacket. With 4 different heat settings, the manufacturer boasts an 8 hour battery life on the lowest setting. I have not had such luck as an 8 hour battery life but they are more than capable of getting you through a 4 hour hunt. The last thing to note on this item; they double as a 5000mAh power bank to charge your phone, headphones, or whatever else you may have with you at deer camp.
Coming in at $60, these Ocoopa Hand Warmers may seem like a high price point, but trust me, the consistent heat these things are able to produce, far outmatches the classic air activated pouches you buy from Canadian Tire.
#2 Silky Gomboy Saw
Best Gift for the Tree Stand Hunter
This is one of those items that you never knew you needed until you have one. This hand held saw manufacturer based out of Japan has a long history of making high quality blades. While perhaps you already have a hand saw in your kit bag, every hunter needs a Silky Saw. Although there are many options, we at CanHunt recommend anything out of the Gomboy line. These folding saws represent their #1 selling product worldwide. Complemented with a precision blade, an ergonomic grip, and a plastic case, the name does nothing but justice to the product as it cuts through limbs or small tree trunks with ease. We cannot reiterate enough how valuable these are for any hunter to have in their kit or in their vehicle.
Need this saw ASAP? Order from amazon for quick shipping.
#3 Tactacam Cellular Trail Camera
Best Gift for the Big Game Hunter
If you or someone in your household hunts, you know there is nothing more exciting than checking the SD card and seeing that years’ target buck. The only thing better is seeing it in real time with today’s most popular cellular trail camera, the Tactacam Reveal. Earlier in 2023 we produced some content on The History of Trail Cameras and more specifically a video on our YouTube channel with a comprehensive explanation of the Tactacam Reveal Cell Camera for Canadians. So rather than rehashing that here all over again, you can read our article here or watch our YouTube video here. All that to say, for the price you cannot beat the Tactacam Reveal cameras and should be a welcome upgrade for any hunter looking to dabble in the cell cam realm.
As our video outlines, the cheapest place to find this will be at Cabela’s with it regularly going on sale and the option of free shipping with minimum purchase amount.
#4 SD Card Reader
Best Gift for the New Hunter
For those who don’t have the luxury of quality cell signal in their hunting spot, or already have an army of cameras in the woods, an SD card reader is a welcome addition to the arsenal. Being able to check your SD card in the field from your phone and download the photos all right there prevents the need of swapping out those easy to lose cards every time. These aren’t new to the world of hunting but if a hunter doesn’t have one of these on hand, they are behind the times. And for the price, why not have multiple because they are definitely an easy one to forget or lose.
With a ton of options out there, we at CanHunt recommend this all-in-one option that works on all your devices.
#5 iHunter App
Best Gift for the Techie Hunter
Want a cheap gift idea that is perfect no matter what hunting pursuit you are on? The iHunter App is a made in Canada app, built from the ground up for Canadian hunters. With a variety of base maps and overlays, hunters can set waypoints, draw and measure features on the map, as well as track your position and routes in the backwoods. Some favourite features of ours here at CanHunt include the ability to look up the hunting seasons for different species and the option of an additional public land subscription. These features make this the perfect app for scouting, finding properties in the off season, or marking your tree stand location in the fall.
Available for nearly every province and territory in Canada, on both Android and Apple, this app only costs $5 +tax. We recommend gifting an app store gift card for the user’s device to go towards the app.
#6 Ridge Runner Outdoors Small Game Skinner
Best Gift for the Small Game Hunter
If you are buying for the hunter who has everything, chances are they do not have one of these. The Ridge Runner Outdoors Small Game Skinner is the perfect tool for processing anything from small game to turkeys. With 2 sizes available you can take one on the road or have one as a permanent fixture at home or camp. No more messy tailgates, just slip your harvest in this device for easy processing and leave your hands free for skinning.
With limited availability the only place I have been able to find this product in Canada is Ontario Archery Supply.
#7 Adventure Trail Gear Chest Rig
Best Gift for the Gear Junkie Hunter
Keep your gear close at hand with a quality made chest rig. While this piece of kit is not new to the hunting world, this will be the only Canadian made version you can find. Adventure Trail Gear is a veteran owned business based in Canada with everything handcrafted in Canada. A chest rig bridges the gap from a backpack on those light hunts or short strolls from the truck. With enough room to fit your binos or whatever other gear you need to have handy (ie. mags, ammo, knives, hunting license, etc.), this new product from Adventure Trail Gear will be sure to suit your needs. And if you or the hunter in your life already have a chest rig, you are bound to find another gift idea within their long line of outdoor and overland product offerings.
Available through their website or at select distributors in Ontario and Alberta.
#8 PVS Custom Game Call
Best Gift for the Waterfowl Hunter
Definitely one of the most unique products you can get for someone is a custom game call. Turkey, waterfowl, or even whitetail, PVS, out of our nation’s capital, has a game call for you. With loads of different material combinations to choose from, some combinations of which are unique to PVS, you are guaranteed to find something that catches your eye. Want to make your call even more personal? Make sure to reach out to them and ask for some custom engraving with the hunter’s initials or lucky number carved into the call. One of our favourites here at CanHunt is the No. 8 Deer Grunt Call. Not only does it look awesome, but sounds even better.
If something from PVS is calling you, be sure to use Promo Code: CANHUNT15 to get 15% off your order.
#9 Catch and Cook Seasoning & Coating
Best Gift for the Wild Game Chef
This one is for the wild game cook in the house. If you frequent fishing content on YouTube and haven’t heard of our hometown heroes Jay Siemens or Josh McFaddin you must be living under a rock. These two have come together to bring us the Catch & Cook brand. Their offerings include a variety of coatings and seasonings made specifically for your outdoor harvest. We cannot recommend these enough as an addition to the kitchen, and why not support one of our favourite Canadian outdoor content creators while you are at it.
The easiest place to find this gift is from their website with their full line of products. But keep your eyes peeled because we have also found their products at Cabela’s and even Princess Auto.
#10 Dragonfly Wingman Clip
Best Gift for the All Around Outdoorsman
And last but certainly not least, anyone who has been watching this season of Dragon’s Den here in Canada will be familiar with this pick. While you may get some looks, the joke will be on them because this product keeps you free from those pesky deer and horse flies. A Dragonfly Wingman Clip is perfect for anyone that enjoys the outdoors and wants a solution to the bug problem. Acting like a scarecrow for these biting bugs, the Dragonfly Wingman Clip can attach to a hat, a backpack, or even a dog collar. Who knew the solution could be so simple and so much better for you than traditional bug repellants.
These can be found at your local Canadian Tire or HERE on Amazon as a single, double, or 4 pack.
How I made my picks
Every hunter by nature is at least a bit of a gear junkie. I am no exception. In fact I am probably one of the worst. But with that comes a good understanding of what products are on the market and what the trends and favourites are among Canadian hunters. With this list I placed an emphasis on both the needs of Canadian hunters and supporting Canadian vendors. While not everything is Canadian sourced, the reality is that is a difficult feat in the hunting industry these days. I hope that you find this list useful in your search for the perfect gift this Christmas.
CanHunt 