By the time you read this article, you should be wrapping up your Christmas shopping. I wanted to give you a few last-minute ideas for the hunters on your list.

As a hunter myself, I can assure that the hunters on your list will appreciate you going to the expense and extra effort of getting them a great Christmas present that helps them to enjoy the great outdoors.

1). New shotgun for duck hunting, $1195 — This past weekend I had a chance to check out the new V3 Waterfowl Pro edition from Remington. Remington has been making firearms for around 200 years and this model will not disappoint. The gun is surprisingly light, shoulders easily, and has features that are specific to waterfowlers. The area inside the trigger guard and the area where you feed shells into the magazine have all been redesigned and enlarged to allow for ease of use while wearing gloves. Some of the buttons have been enlarged for ease of use as well. I assure you a duck hunter helped design this gun.

2). Tripod shooting sticks, $79 — Theses are the real deal. After hunting with monopods and bipods, I can tell you that a tripod is far superior. They provide a rock solid shooting platform to aid in those tough to make long distance shots. A steady gun equals more meat in the freezer.

3). Quality binoculars, $200-$2000+ — When it comes to price, the sky is the limit. However, you get what you pay for. Binoculars are priceless when it comes to scouting for and evaluating game animals in the field. With antler restrictions and some ranches having minimum score limits, it is imperative to know exactly how big or mature an animal is. Great binoculars make this possible.

While my list this week is short…. time is even shorter, so get to shopping and always remember that Christmas is about God’s gift to us. Merry Christmas my friends!

Brian Johnson, originally of Port Neches, is pastor of First Baptist Church of Winnie, owner of DuckDogTrainer.com and outdoors writer for The News.