Shooting Times’ top 30 Christmas gift ideas for fieldsports fans
The best fieldsports-related gifts for Guns, stalkers and gamekeepers this festive season
Christmas is a happy time for lots of people round the world, but I’ve always thought that it’s happiest for those who love fieldsports. Some of my most joyous memories are of being out with a gun on Boxing Day and Christmas Eve.
I’ll always remember shooting a snipe on 24 December, over my Jack Russell terrier — I gave it to a friend, down the road, as a present. It is happy too because most of us love kit. From new hip flasks to new binos to new guns, sporting gifts are the best things to find under the tree. This year, I’m planning to gift myself a .243, after a happy trip to Finland where we were hunting moose. We ate some brilliant reindeer too, actually, and it doesn’t get much more Christmassy than that.
The Shooting Times Christmas gift guide
1. Crispi Highland Pro Boots
The Highland Pro features a Crispi walking boot surrounded by a Gore-Tex membrane to aid breathability. A built-in gaiter is sealed to the boot and has an external rubber rand to ensure durability and make this boot 100% waterproof. Due to popular demand, the boots are available in olive, exclusively in the UK.
- £450
- outwearltd.co.uk
Click here for our list of the best walking boots
2. HikMicro Alpex A50T riflescope
The HikMicro Alpex A50T Digital Day/Night Vision riflescope provides full-colour viewing by day and in twilight or low light. It switches to night vision in the dark, allowing you to find clear and detailed targets even in the darkest of nights.
- £799.99
- scottcountry.co.uk/alpex
Click here for our list of the best riflescopes
3. BASC membership
BASC looks after the interests of over 150,000 shooting enthusiasts. They support the sport you love and give you the highest level of insurance cover built into your membership. You can spread the cost of your individual BASC membership with 10 monthly instalments by direct debit for no extra charge.
- See full range of prices online
- basc.org.uk/join-basc
4. Rigby Leather Hip Flask
Enjoy a celebratory tipple or commiserate the ones that got away with this Rigby leather hip flask. The perfect accompaniment for any shoot day, this solid brass hip flask holds up to 135ml and comes in a handcrafted, hand-stitched top-grain leather holster, which adds charming patina with age.
- £300
- johnrigbyandco.com
5. Sasta Laavu Fleece
Finnish-based outfitter Sasta has been designing stalking clothing for decades. This highly technical, warm and breathable fleece jacket is made from recycled Polartec Thermal Pro material. Useful as a mid-layer or outer, it’s designed to handle the toughest weather conditions.
- £165
- outwearltd.co.uk
Click here for our list of the best fleece jackets and tops
6. In Search of One Last Song
In this beautiful and thought-provoking blend of nature and travel writing, Patrick Galbraith sets off across Britain to meet a remarkable group of people who are trying to save some of our most endangered birds. John Lewis-Stempel calls it “the best book on the countryside in years”.
- £13.99
- amazon.co.uk
Click here for list of the best fieldsports books
7. Spypoint Flex Trail Cam
With an incredible 33mp camera for high-definition photos and 1080p video capabilities for stunning video capture, this cellular trail camera is the first Spypoint device capable of sending videos taken on the device straight to the user’s smartphone.
- £249.95
- thomasjacks.co.uk
Click here for our list of the best trail cams for wildlife
8. Brandecosse Cervo Rosso
Designed for the country sportsman, the Cervo Rosso ensures your warmth, comfort and confidence no matter the conditions. Italian craftsmanship meets Scottish design, with full Sympatex lining, Vibram Teton outsoles and 2.6mm full-grain hydrophobic leather. These are the perfect boots for any Gun, gamekeeper, stalker or trainer.
- £349
- brandecosse.com
9. Argenteria Miracoli hip flask
New to the Beretta Gallery is this stunning hip flask created by Milan-based designers Argenteria Miracoli. The flask combines a glass bottle with hand-finished leather, topped off with silver embossing in pheasant, woodcock or boar designs.
- £450
- berettagallery.com
10. Deerhunter Flat Cap
This Deerhunter flat cap is great for days out walking in the countryside or working in the field. Lock in the heat and protect your head with the finest quilt-lined flat cap in the collection. Breathable, stretchable and machine-washable, it will be your flat cap of choice for the season.
- £54.99
- deerhunter.eu
11. Le Chameau Chasseur Leather-Lined Boot
The iconic Chasseur — a premium, handcrafted, leather-lined zip Wellington boot — is available in a choice of eight calf fittings for an almost bespoke feel. The boots feature a luxury leather lining with leather insole, and shock-absorbing, insulating, all-terrain outsole with reinforced shank for better arch support.
- £380
- lechameau.com
Click here for our list of the best shooting wellies
12. Alan Paine Ripon Silk Country Tie
Complete your outfit with a pure silk tie. It’s the perfect finishing touch and a country wardrobe staple, whether you’re in the field or heading out for a pub lunch. Packaged in a leather-look gift box, these luxurious silk ties make an excellent gift for the sporting man.
- £34.95
- alanpaine.co.uk
Click here for our list of the best shooting ties to wear when you’re out in the field
13. Shooting Times Subscription
The must-have gift on this list, now with a 33% discount. A three-month print subscription to Shooting Times costs less than a few boxes of cartridges. Michael Gove calls ST “a champion of practical conservationists and sustainability in fieldsports”. From driven and rough shooting to stalking and wildfowling, we’ve got it. Visit magazinesdirect.com to get your favourite weekly shooting magazine delivered to your door.
- Three-month subscription from £27.99
- magazinesdirect.com
14. Schoffel Ptarmigan Ultralight II
The Ptarmigan Ultralight II coat is 100% waterproof, windproof and highly breathable, with an upgraded 20K waterproof and 20K breathability fabric rating. The contemporary sport cut, with an underarm gusset for ultimate lift, makes this coat comfortable for shooting and long country walks.
- £349.95
- schoffelcountry.com
Click here for our list of the best shooting jackets, or here for our list of the best tweed shooting coats
15. KomodoPro
KomodoPro shooting glasses feature a unique voltaic (solar-powered) sensor to detect light. The lenses compensate automatically, allowing you to shoot into direct sunlight. Ballistically tested to ANSI Z87.1, polarised to UV400 and provided with prescription inserts, they are a must-have for game shooters.
- £224
- komodopro.com
16. Triggercam 2.1
Capture your best shots with the scope-mounted 4K 30fps TriggerCam 2.1, complete with 360-degree true sound recording. Live-stream to your mobile device via the app, and control the recording from your device. Record, save and view videos directly from your smartphone.
- £599.99
- highlandoutdoors.co.uk
17. Parker-Hale Hambledon luggage
With the growing popularity of the Parker-Hale luggage range, John Rothery Wholesale has launched an exciting new range called Hambledon, which is perfect for the shooting season. Each item is made with high-quality tweed, a part of British shooting heritage, with leather trim and brass fittings. This range expands into weekend holdalls,
a handy wash bag and a daily messenger bag.
- From £19.94 to £174.95
- bisley-uk.com
18. West London Shooting School lessons
The perfect gift for avid Shots as well as complete novices. A shooting lesson with one of West London’s renowned instructors can be used to perfect shooting technique and help correct any of those bad habits. One-hour lessons start from £140.
- See full range of prices online
- shootingschool.co.uk
19. CENS ProFlex DX5
The DX5 moulded ear defenders offer advanced hearing protection for all shooters. DX5 has you covered in any shooting environment with just a flick of a multi-switch, also allowing for easier than ever volume adjustments. Plus, the latest design features a mute function to cater for all shooting disciplines, be that on the hill or the range.
- From £699
- censdigital.com
Click here for our list of the best ear defenders for shooting
20. Zeiss SFL binoculars
Offering true-to-life colour reproduction and the highest level of detail thanks to their ultra-HD concept. The focus wheel enables fast and precise focusing, requiring only 1.4 turns from close focus to infinity, and the rugged magnesium housing enhances durability.
- 8×40: £1,500;
- 10×40: £1,600
- zeiss.co.uk/consumer-products
Click here for our list of the best binoculars for hunting
21. Wild and Game Christmas Hampers
Wild game specialist Wild And Game has launched its Christmas hampers for 2022. The hampers are designed to offer everything you need for a series of feasts throughout the Christmas period. As well as game roasts, charcuterie, Wellingtons, pates and pies, the boxes contain Somerset cheeses and a luxury chutney selection.
- Hamper 1 (feeds two): £109.99
- Hamper 2 (feeds four): £199.99
- Hamper 3 (feeds six): £299.99
- wildandgame.co.uk
Has this peaked your culinary interest or given you inspiration? Click here to look at our archive of recipes
22. Salient Exeter Knife
Designed with a smaller blade size and much larger handle, the Exeter is the perfect precision knife. It features a 4mm thick stainless-steel blade, hollow-grind bevel and a figured Turkish walnut handle with brass loveless bolts. The model can also be laser-engraved, gold-inlaid or diamond-encrusted, and comes with a handmade leather sheath to wear in the field.
- From £400
- salientknives.co.uk
Click here to read our test of the best hunting knives
22. Croots Byland Cartridge Bag
Handmade in England, this beautiful leather cartridge bag has a hinged speed-load opening allowing for easy access. Pictured in dark havana with a 100-cartridge capacity, the bag can be personalised with up to four letters for that finishing touch.
- £219
- crootsengland.co.uk
23. Stoffell knives Beara knife
Handmade in South Kerry, the Beara model is a classic. It sports a 4.25in blade made from 2.5mm Scandvik stainless steel and Tasmanian lackwood handle. A decade in the making, this knife design was born in the forests of Scandinavia before being refined in the rugged landscape of south-west Ireland.
- £310
- stoffellknives.com
25. Glorious Twelfth whisky
This whisky’s depth of character gives a complexity of flavour akin to a 25-year old vintage. Its soft caramel notes will take you back to the Highlands.
- £40
26. Swarovski Optik EL Range
The EL Range combines Swarovision technology with precise range measurement, making it ideal for stalkers who shoot over long distances. The integrated tracking assistant makes it much easier to track your prey by guiding you to where you fired your last shot.
- From £2,920
- swarovskioptik.com
27. Leupold BX-2 Alpine
If you don’t need a ton of magnification but still want to let in a little more light, the BX-2 Alpine HD 8x42mm is the perfect optic for the job. It delivers HD performance and enough magnification to identify animals in most scenarios, but is still compact enough to take everywhere.
- 8×42: £310; 10×42: £340
- vikingarms.com
28. Accurize Shooting System and Targets
Credit: Accurize
The laser technology enables you to practise anytime, anywhere, because practice makes the perfect shot. You can shoot endless rounds, perfecting your aim with your own firearm.
- £399
- edgarbrothers.com
29. Eley Hawk Silver-plated Cufflinks
The perfect addition to any game-shooting outfit. The Eley Hawk silver-plated cufflinks feature the classic 12-gauge cartridge cap on the face of the cufflink, adding a touch of class to one’s attire.
- £18.55
- eleyhawkltd.com
30. Shots and company
These unique shotgun cartridge-shaped bottles are the ultimate shooting gifts. From firing cap to crimping, the heavyweight bottle is a luxury replica of a shotgun cartridge. These 70cl bottles are filled with exclusive sloe gin or 10-year-old single-malt whisky.
- Sloe gin: £85; single-malt whisky: £145
- shotsandcompany.com
