GIFTSTHATWILLMAKE A HUNTER’SHOLIDAYSHAPPIER

FROM FIELD...

Sitka’s Equinox Guard Collection will help prevent mosquito bites. Author Scott Haugen wore them while hunting spring turkeys and didn’t get bit at all. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

THE BEST GEAR OF THE YEAR

TRY THESE HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR THE HUNTER IN YOUR LIFE

By Scott Haugen

This year I spent over 250 days afield, hunting, fishing, scouting, running trail cameras, and more. I traveled to multiple states and four countries. I used a lot of different gear; some I won’t use again, some I loved. If you’re looking for some last-minute holiday gifts for the hunter in your life, these are ones I’ve personally used and would highly recommend.

SITKA’S EQUINOX GUARD COLLECTION

to photograph jaguars. The first evening along a river I got nearly 100 mosquito bites through my clothes! The next three days I wore Sitka’s Equinox and didn’t get a single bite. I wore it during spring turkey season in Oregon and in Alaska during the

... TO FIRE

Fresh from the bay or pulled out of the freezer, crab meat enhances this Tiffany Haugen-concocted salsa recipe. (TIFFANY HAUGEN )

TURN CRAB MEAT INTO A ZESTY HOLIDAY SALSA

By Tiffany Haugen

Fresh Dungeness crab has a flavor like no other seafood. Delicate and creamy with the essence of the sea, it almost seems shameful to eat it any other way than straight from the shell after being boiled or steamed. However, there are ingredients that pair so well with crab that all of them are elevated when mixed together. While this crab salsa recipe is almost entirely crab, the bits of other ingredients added will result in a fresh dish with multi-layered complexity. Please note that the addition of cilantro is optional. If you aren’t a fan of cilantro, you won’t want it in your crab salsa. I like splitting the recipe and adding cilantro to half of it, as neither my dad or father-in-law are fans of the herb. After all, you must keep the dads happy!

If you have crab meat in the freezer, now’s the time to pull it out and fix up something fun and flavorful for the holidays!

2 cups cooked, shelled crab meat ½ cup diced cucumber 2 tablespoons diced sweet bell pepper 2 tablespoons diced tomato 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice Zest of one lime 1 tablespoon diced chives or scallions 1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro, optional 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon white sugar Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

In a medium bowl, combine cucumber, bell pepper, tomato, lime juice, lime zest, chives or scallions, cilantro (optional), olive oil and white sugar until sugar is dissolved. Gently fold in crab meat and lightly season with salt and pepper as desired. Serve immediately with chips of choice or keep refrigerated until ready to eat.

CRAB CARE TIP

Before cooking crabs whole, make sure they are alive by poking an eye or antennae. These sensitive organs should move when stimulated. If they appear sluggish, crabs can be renewed by quickly submerging them in cold saltwater.

Once the whole crab has been cooked, pry off the carapace, break the crab in half and thoroughly clean it. Make sure to remove the gills and all visceral mass, where biotoxins are harbored.

Editor’s note: For signed copies of Tiffany’s popular book, Cooking Seafood, and other titles, including husband Scott’s best-selling book, Recreational Dungeness Crabbing, visit scotthaugen.com.

Big Al’s silhouette decoys are some of the market’s most effective and affordable decoys. Haugen regularly uses them on his waterfowl hunts. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

summer and didn’t get one mosquito, no-see-um or white sock bite.

The collection features a hoodie, pants and gloves designed to be worn together to minimize the health risk and distraction of insect bites by preventing contact with mosquitos, ticks and other bugs. Utilizing a newly developed bite-reduction fabric and infusing built-in Insect Shield treatment, it works. Each piece offers UPF 50-plus protection, Polygiene odor-control technology and moisture wicking to keep hunters comfortable in warm and humid conditions. I was amazed with its comfort in the 95-degree daily heat in Brazil.

Info: $448; sitkagear.com.

CHÊNE GEAR ZIPPERED KNEE BOOT

I wore these boots on multiple deer hunts in wet conditions, fall turkey hunts, waterfowl hunts, and all fall and winter when running trail cameras, chasing predators, photographing wildlife, and training dogs. I’ve worn and tested many knee boots over the years. These are awesome!

I love the ankle fit and support these offer, while maintaining stability and comfort. The tread pattern performs great in a range of conditions, the side zipper is flawless and very convenient, and the insulating neoprene is durable and flexible. Custom insole options result in even more comfort and stability, and they’re quick drying on the inside.

Info: $200; chenegear.com.

YETI LUGGAGE AND PANGA BACKPACK

I’ve traveled to some 40 countries and appreciate good luggage. This year I used Yeti’s Crossroads luggage and can’t say enough about its durability and performance. It took a pounding in three countries and multiple states, got rained on, dragged through mud and sand, laid in the snow, and everything was dry and the zippers, wheels and extending handles kept working!

The multiple interior compartments are very efficient, allowing a surprising amount of gear to be tightly packed. The zippers are tight but never let me down, even when excessive pressure was applied. The accessories compression bags are more than worth it. The Panga Backpack hauled tens of thousands of dollars in camera gear in remote Alaska, Canada, Mexico and South America, and held up in the heaviest of downpours.

If you’re a serious traveler, this luggage is a must!

Info: $300 and up; yeti.com.

BIG AL’S SILHOUETTE DECOYS

I use a lot of different decoys, but one of the most effective and affordable has been Big Al’s Wigeon Pack Duck Silhouettes. Arranged in fields, at water’s edge in flooded fields and along sloughs – even on levees – these decoys were responsible for bringing in large numbers of wigeon, mallards, pintail and teal all season long. I like using five dozen silhouettes with a dozen floaters, which allows for very effective sets and at a fraction of the cost of full-body spreads. And the silhouettes are easy to carry.

Info: $72/dozen; bigalsdecoys.com.

Slayer Calls continue to expand their line of waterfowl calls. Both the single- and double-reed duck calls come in a range of colors and they’ve proven very effective for the author on numerous hunts throughout the

West. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

Slayer Calls has a single- and double-reed duck call I’ve used throughout the West, including Alaska, for the past two seasons with great results. I’ve also used their honker call on many hunts with awesome outcomes, and their Tar Belly white-fronted goose call was money this fall in Canada.

These are some of the easiest duck calls I’ve ever run and their sound quality is outstanding.

Info: Starting at $49.96; slayercalls .com.

ENJOY ALL THE GREAT outdoors has to

offer using some of this top-notch gear. Merry Christmas and happy holidays! CS

Editor’s note: Scott Haugen’s popular DVD, Field Dressing, Skinning & Caping Big Game, makes a great stocking stuffer! Visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.

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