OUTDOORS LOVERS CAN be difficult to give Christmas gifts to because they spend the entire year accumulating the gear they need.
They just couldn’t wait a few months to get their rods, guns and other accessories.
It can be frustrating, but the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has a few ideas.
Namely, give your favorite outdoors lover the gift of permission.
The first idea is a Discover Pass.
To the chagrin of many, the Discover Pass is necessary to enter state parks and other state-managed recreation lands.
This year, it comes with some flexibility: you can choose the start date for the annual pass.
You can activate the pass right when you buy it or any day within a year of purchase.
Discover Passes can be purchased online at www.DiscoverPass.wa.gov or at retailers across the state. See a list of venders here: www.tinyurl.com/WDFWvendors.
The cost is $35.
State parks receive 84 percent of revenue from Discover Pass sales. The Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Natural Resources each receive eight percent.
Another gift idea is a fishing or hunting license.
The 2013 licensing year doesn’t begin until April 1, but hunting and fishing licenses became available for purchase earlier this month.
These licenses can be purchased at the same vendors as the Discover Pass.
They can also be purchased online at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov, or by phoning 866-246-9453.
Bad gifts
My gig as an outdoors writer makes me susceptible to receiving emails from public relations firms representing authors of books and the makers of new products.
Some of the products being peddled are downright silly.
For the last few months, most of these emails open with a line such as, “Were you planning to do an article on holiday gift ideas?”
I wasn’t planning to write such a column; but since they asked, here are my two favorite gift ideas:
■ Zap-N-Trash is an insect zapper that, as the email from Oakdale Solutions said, “turns killing flies into entertainment.”
This might be a fantastic product, but the way it’s being promoted is strange.
“The Zap-N-Trash is the life of the party,” Zap-N-Trash inventor Mike Filonczuk said.
“Everyone likes to watch the flies get zapped. We turned it into a drinking game until flies were going in every nine seconds — that’s a lot of drinking.”
I know that flies are annoying, and eliminating them is something most of us want.
But it’s really odd to see killing flies promoted as an fun-filled activity.
Apparently, Zap-N-Trash isn’t an actual product . . . yet.
Zap-N-Trash is asking for donations to get the product off the ground.
The email was sent to me to ask to spread the news on how my readers can get in on this fun.
So far, only $150 of the $50,000 goal has been raised. Only a few more days are left, so hurry up and donate if you want.
Go here to pitch in or learn more about the product: http://tinyurl.com/ZapNTrash.
■ I don’t know why I was sent an email for this product, as it has nothing to do with the outdoors.
But I have a feeling it will help many of you.
Poo-Pouri products eliminate bathroom odors that apparently can ruin a family’s Christmas.
“Poo-Pourri wishes one and all a merry holiday season that’s free of the odors a house full of good food and people can bring,” the email said.
“But if well wishes won’t be enough to hide Uncle Jim’s bathroom presence, then stock up on Poo-Pourri’s before-you-go bathroom sprays and new candles.”
The email goes on to mention that Santa Claus would also appreciate the gift of Poo-Pouri, because, “After a night full of milk and cookies, that bearded fellow certainly has to contend with a tummy that’s all a rumble.”
This email was all-around terrible, but you can learn more here: http://poopourri.com.
On the website there is a photo of a girl with the quote, “This product saved my life.”
Just awful.
Take my advice and just buy a candle without “poo” in its name.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
