With the holidays right around the corner, there's no better time to start planning. Support Montana businesses that are putting their public lands and waters first by checking out some must-have gifts from our awesome state partners. We encourage you to shop local when you can and thank these businesses for supporting Montana BHA by including them as you spread holiday cheer!

Whether you need flies or gear, want to explore a local river or have something more exotic in mind, Blackfoot River Outfitters has the hook up. Treat your friends and family to a guided trip - just make sure you save a seat on the boat for yourself. For the DIY angler in your life, shop in-store or online for all the rods and reels, waders and packs they need.

Everyone likes opening a present full of food! Getting a quick, delicious meal in the backcountry should be the easiest thing about a trip. Let our friends at Gastro Gnome Meals provide high quality dehydrated meals to you and your loved ones, so you can focus on making memories. 

Know a hunter who couldn't quite get it done this year? Instead of them worrying about an empty freezer, give the gift of naturally grassfed bison meat, grown right here in the Big Sky State. North Bridger Bison Ranch offers humanely field-harvested, dry aged 1/4 bison, processed, packaged and shipped directly to your doorstep -- or pick it up at the ranch in the Shields Valley. And if you're looking for the perfect seasonings and sauces, try a dash of MontanaMex!

Sometimes the best gift is a meal you don't have to cook. Swing by Cambie Taphouse + Coffee in Missoula for any meal or tasty beverage drinking occasion and treat that special someone to a wide variety of locally and regionally sourced beer, wine, coffee and a simple yet delicious food menu.

Trying to shop for that one person who has literally everything? We bet they don't have a BHA dog life membership or sweet RepYourWater dog accessories. People love their pets more than themselves anyway, so do them a favor and give their best pal a gift instead!

If you've got someone who can always be found just a little too close to the campfire, or a foodie who appreciates the taste of a real flame grilled meal, Burch Barrel has got you covered. For maximum ease, be sure to swing by your local Anaconda, Butte or Livingston Ace Hardware stores to grab one! We're already dreaming of summer nights, backyard cook outs and wild game steaks!

All the top 10 gift idea lists on the internet can't compete with walking through a store perfect for the person you've giving to. The Trail Head, with two locations in Missoula, offers everything your loved ones could need for their outdoor adventures, and best of all, you don't have to wait for it to come in the mail. Be sure to check out their excellent selection of Mystery Ranch packs. Get inspired by hiking clothing, boating gear and fishing accessories sure to be the hit of the gift giving season. 

This holiday season, we want to give you a piece of advice: you can do better than gas station coffee. At home or on the way to the best fishing hole, Planetary Designs' Brutek travel coffee presses will get your friends and family caffeinated, out the door and on the way to adventure. Pro tip: pairs best with Black Coffee Roasting Co coffee, roasted locally in Missoula!

Got a buddy that you absolutely never loan fly rods to because they're an accident waiting to happen? Give the gift of an excellent repair policy with gear from CD Fishing USA. With responsive, agile fishing gear as their base, and a simple, affordable repair policy, you can rest easy knowing if your buddy breaks their own gear, well, at least they can get it fixed before the next trip.

It's a fact: wearing BHA gear while hunting and fishing guarantees a successful trip (as long as you define success as a good day spent outside). The BHA Store is full of all the best hats, hoodies and accessories to get you out on your public lands. Share good luck in the field to your friends and family and make sure to grab something fresh for yourself. We now offer free local pickup to those who want to swing by our offices in Missoula! 

Need something nice to bring to your spouse's boss' holiday dinner party you somehow accepted an invite to? Be the toast of the night by bringing a bottle of BHA Zinfandel or bourbon from Spotted Bear Spirits in Whitefish. Proceeds of the sale of each go to BHA. Go ahead and buy an extra bottle for yourself -- we won't tell.

Hunting season is just about over. Got someone in your life who complained about every single mile or were so out of breath heading up the mountain they sounded like a jet taking off?  Maybe they'll appreciate some at-home fitness with MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab. It's never too early to get ready for the next backcountry hunt and spring bear is right around the corner.

If there's anything we want in the winter, it's a frosty, frozen treat. We know it sounds crazy, but you're supporting a business that loves our public lands and indulging in something local and delicious. Skip the traditional holiday desserts, and bring home Genuine Ice Cream in Bozeman! Or head over on one of those perfect, bluebird days and let yourself believe winter is almost over -- it won't work, but the ice cream will help.

Got a sibling who constantly borrows your favorite hunting pack? Or a buddy who never brings their own lures? There's nothing better than local expert guides when it comes to outdoor recreation. Let Sportsman & Ski Haus in Kalispell and Whitefish help you find something for all the hunting and fishing gear heads on your list so you can stop loaning, and start borrowing!

Grab some gear to gift they can feel good about wearing with GrizzlyFish. Support these conservation enthusiasts and father/son fishing duo by snagging a comfortable, high quality shirt or hat to wear and know that your money is helping fund organizations like BHA that are protecting our wild lands and wildlife.  

This may sound crazy, but have you ever thought about giving the gift of financial stability? Lucca Scariano with Edward Jones in Missoula can help! Let's face it, there on some people on your list that just need cold, hard cash. Give the recommendation of a financial planner who won't raise an eyebrow at how much they're spending on hunting and fishing gear every year.

• There are some businesses that give above and beyond to advocate for our public lands and waters. Partners at the headquarters level, we can't recommend enough that you support Montana-based companies like: Black Coffee Roasting Company which makes your early mornings glassing or on the water a little better,  Tony Bynum Photography so you can bring a snapshot of the outdoors into your home, FHF Gear to keep your most important gear right where it belongs, OnX Maps to get you wherever you want to go, Sitka Gear for quality hunting camo, no matter the weather, Stone Glacier making your backcountry camp light so you can pack out heavy, and MontanaMex to inspire new recipes and sprinkle flavor into old favorites.
  
  
• Not seeing what you want on this list? No worries! Amazon.com has just about everything you could ask for, and you can still give back to BHA through AmazonSmile. Simply shop through the AmazonSmile site and be sure to select Backcountry Hunters & Anglers as your charity of choice. A percentage of each sale will find it's way back to BHA; it all adds up and your shopping experience and prices will be identical.
  
  
• And finally, the #1 gift we can recommend this holiday season is a Gift Membership to BHA. Starting at just $35, these memberships support the work we do, expand our ranks and amplify our voice. Surely you know a friend or family member in need of nudge to join BHA. If you gift them a year, we'll be sure to convince them to stay on as supporters after that.

From all of us at the Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, thank you for your continued support, and happy holidays!

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