Valentine’s Day is just a few days away and love is in the air. This year, my husband and I have challenged ourselves to give one another something that is both practical and says, “I love you.” As much as I appreciate traditional gifts, like flowers and chocolates, I don’t care to watch flowers wilt and die, and chocolates … well, I could sit down and eat the entire box. I would rather avoid the temptation.
With this challenge in mind, my husband asked, “What practical, thoughtful and loving gift do I buy for the outdoorsy woman in my life?” Here are a few items I know I would love to receive, as would most other gals I know.
Concealed-carry purse
What woman doesn’t want a new purse, especially one that offers the security of carrying a concealed weapon to keep her safe? The Concealed Carrie Aged Brown Leather Satchel is one for consideration. This distressed leather satchel is both classic and stylish. It offers a separate compartment to conceal a compact or sub-compact handgun; the satchel’s main compartment is lined with pockets and dividers to keep personal belongings organized. The bag can be carried by its 10-inch handles, or placed over your shoulder with its removable shoulder strap. The Aged Brown Leather Satchel, also available in black leather, can be purchased directly from Concealed Carrie and from a number of dealers nationwide. Click here to locate the dealer nearest you.
MSRP: $299
Photo courtesy of Concealed Carrie
Jewelry
I love a little bling – especially in these forms: earrings, rings or bracelets. Spent Rounds Designs manufactures beautiful, handcrafted jewelry from spent shells and bullet casings. I favor the .45 cal Speed Auto Earrings with crystal centers. These stylish earrings are fancy enough for the office, yet simple enough to wear with jeans and a t-shirt on the weekends. They also are the prefect representation of a gal’s shooting lifestyle. Purchase these earrings online through Spent Rounds Designs, or from a number of retail locations. Click here to find the dealer nearest you.
MSRP: $29.95
Photo courtesy of Spent Rounds Designs
A bouquet … of Victory Pink Arrows
Forget the long-stem roses and give your favorite archer a bouquet of Victory Archery’s VForce Pink arrows. These arrows boast unique pink graphics with white double-lock Bohning Blazer nocks and hot-pink-and-white vanes. The VForce Pink carbon arrows are available in .350, .400 and .500 spine with a straightness tolerance of .003, as well as in .600 spine with a straightness tolerance of .0006.
A portion of proceeds from the sale of all Victory Pink arrows goes directly to the National Breast Cancer Foundation through the Pink Arrow Project. VForce arrows are sold by the half- or full-dozen, and also are available as a crossbolt. Click here to find a dealer near you.
Remember, however, that presentation is everything! HerCamoShop.com offers a Victory Pink Arrow Bouquet, complete with lovely vase and custom greeting card to help woo your lady. It is too late to order the Victory Pink Arrow Bouquet in time to guarantee Valentine’s Day delivery, but it is never too early to think ahead to Mother’s Day, or an upcoming anniversary or birthday.
HerCamoShop.com Victory Pink Arrow Bouquet MSRP: $45.99 to $112.99, depending on quantity and specifications
Scent-free body products
Most women enjoy a basket of body products to indulge their senses. However, many outdoorswomen prefer scent-free body products. I know I don’t like to smell like raspberries or roses while I’m in my hunting blind. The complete line of scent-free, personal-care products from HerCamoShop.com is one of my favorites. I have been using these products for years and I love the way they make my skin and hair feel. The line includes shampoo, conditioner, lotion, hair gel, (scent-eliminating) body wash, hair spray and hair serum, all of which are available online from HerCamoShop.com.
MSRP: $4.99 to 14.99, depending on product and sizing
Shooting glasses
It is best to view life through rose-colored glasses, especially those made specifically for the shooting sports. The Rudy Project Airblast Shooting Glasses, available in both black or red and white frames, are made to provide perfect visual clarity to the serious shooter and hunter. Italian made, these quality frames and lenses are both comfortable and stylish. I had the pleasure of wearing them during last year’s bird-hunting season and can attest to their performance in the field. The glasses offer adjustable temples and nosepieces to help find the perfect fit, and are compatible with all forms of hearing protection, including earmuffs that are typically uncomfortable over most other eye wear. All Rudy Project glasses are made with quick-change lenses, and are available in multiple colors, as well as with a prescription. The Airblast Shooting Glasses can be purchased individually or in a kit including racing red, transparent and laser copper interchangeable lenses. The glasses can be purchased online directly from The Rudy Project, and from select dealers nationwide. Click here to find the dealer nearest you.
MSRP: $349.99 for the single pair or $399.99 for the kit
Shotgun
I am a romantic and believe in love at first sight, and Beretta’s new A400Xplor Action 28-gauge shotgun caught my attention. This well-balanced beauty weights in at only 5.5 pounds. It boasts Beretta’s unique Kick-Off recoil reduction system. WON columnist Mia Anstine comments that the A400 Xplor has very little recoil, “Basically, I didn’t feel it at all [while shooting].” The A400 Xplor Action also features an optional GunPod for maximum performance. The GunPod is a small electronic device located on the buttstock of the gun, that counts the total number of rounds fired, judges the outside air temperature while shooting and compares different ammunition. Although there is a lot to love about the A400 Xplor Action 28-gauge, one of Mia’s favorite features is its versatility. The shims in the stock can be easily reversed for a left-handed shooter. Click here to locate a dealer near you.
MSRP: $1,550
Photo courtesy of Mia Anstine
For him …
I have also given much thought and consideration to what I will give my husband this Valentine’s Day. I have struggled to find a gift that is both practical and a solid display of my undying love and affection. Admittedly, I’m tempted to take the easy way out and plan a date night of dinner and a movie; however, I realize our time is better spent together doing something we both enjoy. That is why I have arranged for date day at the shooting range. Nothing shows my husband how I feel more than spending time with him, blowing up a few clay targets in a round of trap or sporting clays. After all, the family that shoots together stays together, and lives happily … ever … after.
MSRP: Priceless
An experienced huntress, Michelle Whitney Bodenheimer has pursued big game, upland birds and waterfowl throughout North America and Africa. Although Michelle loves to hunt and shoot (both rifle and bow), her biggest passion in life is sharing her love for the outdoors with others. Michelle is the dedicated gear review columnist for Women’s Outdoor News, in a column called “Her Gear.” Michelle’s writings and photography also have been published in a number of outdoor journals, including On Target, Lady Angler, The Gun Dog Journal, The Shooting Channel and African Hunting Gazette. Michelle has been a repeat contributing guest on Outdoor GPS,a live hunting and fishing television program broadcast on Comcast SportsNet NW. When Michelle is not writing, she is serving her time as an outdoor educator. She is an active volunteer for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Outdoor Skills Program. Her primary responsibilities with ODFW are serving as a shotgunning coach and dog handler/guide for ODFW’s upland bird hunting clinics. Michelle also teaches regularly for Women in the Outdoors (WITO) and Becoming and Outdoors Woman (BOW) programs. She serves on the Pro Staff team for Cabela’s, as well as for the NW Ladies Hunt Camp, an educational outreach program hosted in conjunction with the NRA’s Women on Target Program and Extreme Desire TV, and is a member of the field staff for Próis Hunting and Field Apparel for Women. A current member of a number of national conservation organizations, Michelle is a life member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundations, as well as a life member of the National Rifle Association. She also served as a past director for the Southwest Washington chapter of Safari Club International. Take caution, however, if Michelle invites you along on a hunt. Having been stalked by a cougar and attacked by a cheetah, she tends to live life a bit on the wild side. View all posts by Michelle Whitney Bodenheimer
