On the Dock with Rick Smith 7 December 2010

Gift buying for that hard to surprise family member has never been easier than this year. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has compiled a list of some great gifts that every sportsman will love. Here are some unique gift ideas just in time for Christmas:

Texas State Park Pass

What camper and outdoor lover would not want a full year of unlimited visits to the diverse and beautiful state parks of Texas? Cost of this annual pass is only $60 and it’s good for your whole carload of family and friends. With over 90 state parks, the card holder could visit a park a week and still not make them all in a year. To get complete information and to order a park pass visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/parkpass” www.tpwd.state.tx.us/parkpass.

Christmas Ornament

Decorate your tree with a commemorative Texas State Parks Christmas ornament. These attractive brass ornaments feature Texas park and wildlife scenes. Past year ornaments are still available, but prices do vary, so contact the state park customer service center at 512-389-8900 to order.

Stamp Collectors

Hunting and fishing stamps have always been popular items for collectors. Why not start a young person’s collection by purchasing the set of six different stamps for only $21.65? Each stamp is designed by a noted wildlife artist and the money supports the TPWD conservation efforts.

Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine

Here is a gift that keeps on giving every month and is the perfect gift for the outdoorsman in your family. This magazine is chock full of beautiful photographs and insightful information on all things outdoors in Texas. At only $20 for two gift subscriptions, it’s the best publication value in the state.

Prestige License Plate

Showcase your love of the outdoors by purchasing a customized license plate picturing a white-tailed deer, horned lizard, largemouth bass or wildflowers. Plates cost just $30 with $22 going directly to conservation efforts. This program has generated more than $4 million dollars for Texas land and water conservation initiatives. You can pick up an application at your local department of motor vehicles.

Colorful Posters

There are nine colorful Great Texas Wildlife Trail maps available from the Texas Extension Agrilife Bookstore. These maps will guide you to almost 900 birding and wildlife sites throughout Texas, containing information about the wildlife you can expect to see at each site. The maps include driving areas with designated sites and unique highway signs with site numbers corresponding to the map. Prices vary from $2-$4 each. For more information visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails” www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails.

Saltwater Posters

Pick up the “Saltwater Fishes of Texas” poster, or one of Sea Center Texas’ posters featuring a redfish or spotted sea trout for the saltwater angler on your list. Freshwater fishing advocates may prefer the “Freshwater Fishes of Texas” poster. All posters sell for under $20.

Videos and More

Other featured products on the “Shop the Outdoors” Web page this year include a colorful wheel featuring the 16 hummingbird species documented in Texas and a variety of documentaries and videos. One of the videos displays a collection of TPWD’s most picturesque destinations statewide.

Why not buy something special for yourself after crossing everyone else off your holiday list? Once you’re done shopping for everyone else, treat yourself with a chance to hunt and fish for free—forever! It only costs $5 to enter the Lifetime Super Combo License Drawing, and you can enter as many times as you like. The Super Combo License, normally purchased for $1,800, gives you the right to hunt and fish in Texas without ever having to buy another state license or stamp. The entire percentage of hunting and fishing license fees go to TPWD’s conservation efforts to help make Texas one of the best places in the country to hunt and fish. If you enter by Dec. 27, you’ll have 2 chances to win—once in the Dec. 30 drawing and another in the June 30 drawing. For complete rules and information, visit  HYPERLINK “http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/lifetime” www.tpwd.state.tx.us/lifetime.

 HYPERLINK “mailto:rick@marineoutlet.com” rick@marineoutlet.com