Dennis Lynch has been around the outdoors his entire life and understands what gear you need for your favorite outdoor activity. But in this addition to Filson Life, Dennis explains how he creates his Christmas List that includes a bounty of Filson gear.

Planning your Christmas shopping list can drive you crazy. Especially when your hoping to get your spouse that special something and ask, “What would you like for Christmas” only to get the responses, ” Oh, can’t think of a thing,” “Got everything I need,” or the dreaded, “Whatever.” And if you actually got them nothing, it’s sure to land you in the dog house.

I make this matter so simple for my beloved. I have a time tested system that has produced a bounty of great Christmas gifts and makes it easy for my wife.

The System 

At the beginning of the year, I’ll find the Filson winter catalogue in my mailbox. I do a quick browse through and then go through it again for a more detailed inspection. When I see an item that looks perfect for my favorite outdoor activity, I put a star on the photo. If the item is “to die for” it gets a maximum of three stars. After doing my due diligence, I see what pages have the “three star” prospects and unceremoniously rip that page from the catalogue and place it in my side table drawer. As the new Filson catalogues arrive throughout the year, I religiously follow the same procedure and by late fall I have several pages of “great” Christmas gift ideas. All ranked by the star system and then rated from top to bottom by page order. Then, of course, Santa (my wife) has to calculate how good or not good one has been throughout the year in order to make a decision. And, of course, budgetary constraints come into play.

Over the many years, this system has worked out great and has enabled me to gather a bounty of Filson products. When I returned from a recent hunting trip to South Dakota, my Filson bag was a venerable cornucopia of upland gear. I took an inventory and it seemed like everything I wore or used was one of my Filson practical and long wearing items.

Shirts, sweaters, boots, jackets duffle bags, Tin Cloth dog bowl, chaps, field pants, socks, vest, etc., –All these items and more where from my annual Christmas harvest– courtesy of Santa via my wonderful wife, Susan.

Filson is truly timeless.

Merry Christmas and have a Filson New Year!

The List

1.  iPhone Case

2.  Money Clip Card Holder

3.  Mackinaw Tin Cloth Vest

4.  Filson Slubbed T-Shirt

5.  Feather Cloth Fly Fishing Shirt

6.  Dry Finish Fishing Waist Pack

7.  Tin Cloth 505 Pants

8.  And of course, a Bridle Leather Belt, in size 32.

Maine-based Rhon Bell of Backwoods Plaid, takes Filson along for a trip through the backwoods of Northern Maine and the sights you see along the way. 

Growing up in the woods of Northern Maine, like most wild states, hunting was a family occasion. Like the hunting land we’ll tramp across today, the skills of game scouting have been passed down from my Grandfather. Keeping the tradition alive, I’m heading out with my cousin, Shawn, in search of hopeful signs that Whitetail Deer are present this season.

Our old map leads us, on foot, down a narrow woods path. The destination lies a couple hundred yards east of a power line and just West of several ridges. Three miles in and mid-way up a small hollow we sit down to take a breather. Shawn slips off the 30-30 that has been handed down through the family, and rests the rifle at his side. Morning temperatures hover above freezing and cause heavy steam to rise from our Thermos. Coffee always tastes better in the field.  Our talking immediately hushes as we hear heavy steps coming from the exposed field to our right. A cow and her calf appear from beyond the back side of a knoll and within a few short moments the two are in clear view; their silhouettes boldly standing out against the blue skyline.

The bustling of opening my day pack and grabbing my camera quickly draw their stare. Side by side they peer down at me across the opening. I rush to adjust the camera settings in hopes of a perfect exposure and begin snapping away. I grew up in this area and have seen many a moose, but this was special. As a young man, it wasn’t uncommon to see 30 moose in a single field, grazing on the frozen stems of a harvested broccoli field.

It is apparent with each step the cow takes that her front right leg had been injured. Perhaps the injury occurred while defending herself, or her calf, against a small pack of coyotes. No matter how it happened, the limping makes you feel for the wild beast as she tenders it with every step forward. The two soon ignore our presence and continue onward toward their rightful destination. I feel lucky to have been in the right place at the right time.

We gather our gear and press ahead ourselves. Scavenging the area, we find multiple early scrapes. It’s not far and we find a daytime resting area where these deer are bedding down. Judging by the size of the droppings nearby, we have a large deer on our hands, possibly a mature buck. We’ll be looking forward to opening day. You simply never realize the joys you’ll encounter in the out-of-doors until you put yourself there.

Peter Patenaude, a registered Maine guide, has been a Filson advocate for over six years. His blog Boot & Canoe, focuses on traditional skills and Maine’s outdoor heritage. Peter shares some more tips for a successful partridge hunt. 

Partridge hunting can be a difficult thing. Chasing those small brown and tan chickens through the woods is sometimes a very frustrating experience, even if you have fully prepared for, and researched, the hunt. When starting out, a dog spoiled me by letting me know when a grouse was nearby. She was a great companion that taught me many lessons and will surely never be replaced– I think her last lesson was to teach me how to find small game on my own. Over many seasons spent in the woods, with both successful and unsuccessful trips, I have come to realize certain patterns and tricks for finding birds.

1. Habitat- Look in wet places; I will often jump multiple grouse after originally only spotting one, so be ready.

2. Trees- Do not only look on the ground. Partridge will often sit up in trees and you can commonly see groups of 4 or 5 of them in the same one.

3. Listen- I cannot count how many birds I have found by hearing them walk in the leaves.

4. Time and Temperature- Pay attention to both of these. You will start to notice a pattern of when certain roads and areas “turn on.”

5. Stop- When walking, a bird will hold up and wait for you to pass by. If you stop, it will get nervous and bust, giving you your shot.

6. Look- Let yourself take everything in and your eyes will pick up on movement– usually the neck and head.

7. Search- It is very easy to lose a bird after it has been shot. If possible, they will always find fallen trees or brush to bury themselves under, so take your time and search these areas and you will usually walk out with one in hand.

Judith O’Keefe loves the great outdoors whether she’s out in the field or on the river she enjoys share it with her dogs, Cooper, Skeeter, and Bug. These loyal companions are as at home in the outdoors as they are by the fireplace. In August she added another addition to her furry family, Blitzen. 

This past summer I had no intention, none what so ever, of taking on a puppy.  I have three dogs.  My beloved Pudelpointer, Cooper, a small and easygoing Havanese named Skeeter, and a mixed-breed rescue we call Bug.  Already too many dirty paws and wagging tails, not to mention the noise and commotion that takes place when the UPS delivery person knocks on the door.

However I believe, one of the saddest truths in life is that dogs do not live long enough.  Somewhere along the line, we learn some things in life are just not fair.  Well, this sorry fact is at the top of my list.  All three of my dogs are in good health, but have reached senior status.

Cooper, who some have referred to as, “a hunting machine”, was also blessed with a big heart and wonderful disposition.  So when Bob Farris, owner of Cedarwood Gun Dogs, emailed this June to say that one of his bitches had just had a litter of pups, I was interested, but my practical side quickly took hold.  Then Bob mentioned that the stud that sired the litter was the same that sired the litter Cooper came from . . . and this would be his last.  All reason went out the window; my last chance to have a dog that would be so directly related to Cooper.  When do I pick her up?

August was sweltering with temperatures reaching into the triple digits as I found myself driving across eastern Oregon’s High Desert to Boise, Idaho.   Bob knew I wanted, not only a great companion, but also a dog that would hunt like a champ; a dog with beauty, natural ability, and a heart of gold.   A tall order, but Cedarwood had come through before.

Blitzen, named after my favorite river in the southeast corner of Oregon, is now five months old, and I have to admit, I’ve mouthed the words, “What was I thinking” many times.  She’s a puppy, and in her zeal to explore and learn, she can make a real mess.  She’s tortured the older dogs incessantly, treating them like chew toys, and if I’d let her, she would consume enough dog food to make a Great Dane fat.

There are those who have suggested that my decision to get her was somewhat impulsive, but I have never doubted that decision.  I know that with a firm and loving hand, she is going to grow into one extraordinary dog.  And did I mention . . . she can point?

Eaglerock Kennels has been breeding some of the finest English Setters ever to point a bird for over 38 years. These loyal companions are as at home in the outdoors as they are by the fireplace. Filson pro-staffer and manager of Eaglerock Kennels, Michael Thompson can thank his trusted Filson gear and good bloodlines for continued successful hunts in the field. 

We at Eaglerock Setters pride ourselves in a rich heritage of breeding, trialing, training, and hunting some of the finest English Setters available; the Eaglerock Setter.  Founded by the late John Yates and now continued by myself and my wife Tammy we have refined and refined again many of the finest bloodlines to produce the Eaglerock Setter; a companion gundog steeped in tradition and sure to please even the most discriminating upland gunner.

It was our goal to not only carry on the tradition of having fine dogs but also to make owning an Eaglerock an unique experience for our clients. Just as we have painstakingly researched and bred to provide an exceptional dog we are as particular in placing our dogs in homes where they will excel in all they do.  From birth until the puppy goes home clients are kept updated and informed on the pups progress. It is always exciting when they get their first bath, have a collar placed on them, walk on a lead, and of course point.  The interaction lends itself to clients who become friends.

Friday and Saturday November 2- 3, 2012 was our first Puppy Luncheon.  Clients traveled in from as far away as Maine and Michigan to participate.

On Friday I took the guys hunting over the of father of this litter and another couple of our setters.  We had a great hunt and it gave them the opportunity to see not only how our dogs hunted but also what gear we used.  This is my full time job so my suit of choice is Filson.  It can get pretty nasty in here in PA between the multi-floral roses and the weather so these guys got to see where their gear fell short.  Needless to say they borrowed Tin Chaps and Gamebags in an attempt to keep up.

Saturday was the luncheon which was a smashing success.  Clients got to visit and get to know each other, swap hunting and dog stories, and have a question and answer time all while playing with their new pups and enjoying a catered lunch.  There was a demo table set up with some of my new Filson gear, RST shotshells, and some training books from my predecessor John Yates.  At the close of the day the Purina sent everyone home with a tote bag filled with food samples, bowls, towels, and a Purina hat.  

This was yet the beginning of another tradition for us at Eaglerock.  Reputation is everything especially in this business and we stake ours on providing fine companion gundogs to great people, a task we could never accomplish without the help of companies like Filson, RST, and Purina.  They carry on and help us carry on the tradition of excellence in the field.

Filson in the Field:WILDLIFE PRESERVATION FROM A HUNTER’S PERSPECTIVE, WYOMING from Filson on Vimeo.

Jeff Short, a wildlife biologist and survey coordinator with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, heads the Southwest Wyoming Radio Collaring Project to study the seasonal habitats, movement and fawn survival of Mule Deer. Since the last Mule Deer study in the mid-80s, southwest Wyoming has suffered a decline in deer, much like other areas of the western United States. The information collected from this project will help determine necessary habitat treatments, set hunting seasons and overall deer herd management. Through family hunting traditions, Jeff’s love of the outdoors and deep respect for the land’s resources guides the work he does today.

Every hunter needs to have the best of the best to comfortably return from the field. We’ve compiled our personal selections for the holidays. No matter the caliber they tote, the field conditions in which they trot, or the game they chase – we have your gifting options covered. From tin cloth pistol or rifle cases to the reliability and weather resistance of the legendary Field Coat, check our recommendations for this holiday season.

1. Tin Cloth Grip Case – Long used for safe, handsome, and rugged transport of a treasured pistol. Now lined in green/black plaid with an interior pocket. The perfect gift.
2. Tin Cloth Field Coat – This classic is renowned worldwide for its versatility and features. Featuring side and front loading game bags, pleated action back for freedom of movement and pockets for all necessities in the field. The wool lined collar and dry finish shelter cloth add comfort and protection.
3. Filson Shooting Shirt – Abrasion resistant, double-layer protection, blaze orange, Made in the USA. The comfort and design will support proficient shooting skills while maintaining warmth. Our shooting shirt can’t be beat.
4. Double Hunting Pants – Carefully crafted from shelter cloth with an extra layer of durable tin cloth in high-wear areas guarantees these heavy-duty pants exceed all expectations. Opt for the leather bindings at checkout – they won’t disappoint.
5. Filson Carrier with Vacuum Bottle – Stay hydrated, stay caffeinated, and stay warm. Stanley teams up with Filson for this on-the-go item. 15 hours of warmth are now at your finger tips, whether coffee or soup. A requirement of cold-weather hunting.
6. Uplander Insulated Boots – An insulated, light-weight, fast drying boot is necessary. Our cork soles will keep feet comforted and dry on approach to hunting country. The leather wears well with age and always reveals true character.