One of the most terrifying tasks that face the holiday gift-giver is hunting down a present for an outdoors enthusiast. A lot of shoppers can’t handle the stress. Instead of a package, the hunter or angler is likely to end up with a plastic gift card.

No wonder. Ask the average hunter or angler what they would like and you are likely to receive a blank stare and a mumbled, “I guess I don’t need anything.” What are they thinking? Of course they want something, in fact they want so many somethings they don’t know where to start.

Great care must go into giving gifts as important as gear for sportsman. You don’t just rush out with credit card in hand. You need to think about this stuff. Fortunately, I care and I’ve been thinking about it all year.

Start small with stocking stuffers. Survival items are a good bet. Cigarette lighters, compasses (don’t skimp, unless you want your sportsman to stay lost), handwarmers and wool fingerless gloves are welcome. How about a HeatMax beanie with handwarmer pockets over the ears? On her November blacktail hunt, my 14 year-old daughter wore one and her ears never got cold (she bagged her buck, too).

Every angler needs new fishing line. Try Berkley’s new Trilene Pro Grade Fluorocarbon line. Fluorocarbon is stealthier than standard monofilament and just might help your angler land more fish in the coming year.

A fly-rodder might like a package of RodWrap. A chukar hunter could use a Wilderness Athlete energy bar. For the big-game hunter, roll up a copy of a popular hunting magazine.

For the shooter, give an annual membership to the Central Oregon Shooting Sports Association. COSSA (www.oregonshooting.com) is a safe place to shoot, whether the sportsman’s tastes run to shotgunning, handguns or riflery.

If one of the hunters in the house is a four-legger, check out Tazlab (www.tazlab.com), a Bend-based company. They have a nylon safety collar that is a definite Fido-fashion upgrade. You can even put a light on it.

Their adjustable-length leash has a safety whistle and can be used to secure the doggie to your waist when you need both hands free.

Do you have a young angler on the list? Put a jar of Pautzke’s Orange Deluxe salmon eggs in his or her stocking, along with a couple of bobbers and a packet of hooks. They can put the gear to use on opening day of trout season.

I believe every budding archer should start with the basics before picking up a compound. Check out the Hunter Dan recurve bow set (www.hunterdan.com) or the Fred Bear Lit’l Bear.

“When the River Ran Wild” by local author George W. Aguilar Sr. ($22.50, Oregon Historical Society Press) examines the traditions of the people who make up the Warm Springs tribes. With chapters on Flora, Fauna, Salmon Fishery, Religion and Beliefs, Warfare and others, this book answered a lot of questions I’d had after years of fishing and hunting along the Deschutes and in the Columbia Basin.

Another book to consider is “The Deadliest Indian War in the West” by Gregory Michno ($18.95, www.CaxtonPress.com). This book examines the under-reported Snake Conflict of 1864-1868 that blazed across the high desert.

Everyone likes to eat. Here’s a new cookbook from Tiffany Haugen ($19.95, www.amatobooks.com) called “Grill It! Plank It! Wrap It! Smoke It!” This one is geared for those who enjoy food infused with the smoky essence of wood.

If the hunter’s duds are threadbare, consider SportHill camo (www.sporthillhunting.com). This Eugene-based company has a proprietary 3SP fabric that is light, comfortable and cool in the summer, warm in the winter. This is what I grab when I’m headed out on a winter chukar hunt or a coyote setup.

On the first day of our elk hunt, I noticed that five out of the six hunters in camp were wearing Danner Pronghorns. Now that I think about it, the odd man out was the only one who didn’t fill his tag. The latest Pronghorns have a zipper in addition to an eyelet lace-up system. I didn’t have to stop to retie my boots and they were faster going on and coming off.

Consider a Double Bull Archery blind. The DBA Matrix 360 has a center height of 67 inches and a six-foot plus shooting diameter. The heavy-duty cotton/poly fabric is quiet and non-reflective. A Silent Slide window system allows for 360-degree shooting. It goes up in seven seconds and tears down just as fast. The blind comes with a bonus three DVD set filled with hunting action and comedy.

As you give and receive this year, remember Oregon’s military men and women who can’t be home for the holidays. You can show them you care with a gift package from home. Visit www.caringfortroops.com.