The classic “Twelve Days of Christmas” song is one of those tunes folks tend to either love or despise. I’m on the fence, but to be honest, my favorite cover of 12DOC is on “The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas” album, released in 1968. Instead of partridges in pear trees, Sinatra’s kids sang about a lavender tie, meerschaum pipes, golf clubs, ivory combs, cufflinks and bunch of other things Ol’ Blue Eyes would have really found useful.
That got us thinking about this year’s H&B Holiday Gift Guide section. Without further ado, here’s what our rendition of 12DOC might sound and look like, starting from the last day, to build the excitement and allow you to try and sing along.
12th Day:
Twelve drummers drumming … as in turkey drumming.
When you hear that turkey gobbling, spitting and drumming this spring, you’ll be sitting pretty comfy with the Sitka Gear Equinox Turkey Vest. Our choice is the one in Sitka’s newest Optifade camo.
MSRP: $300
Stocking stuffer:
A five-count box of Winchester Long Beard XR 12-gauge turkey loads.
MSRP: $25
11th Day:
Eleven pipers piping … better yet, hunters smoking stogies after a successful hunt.
To keep those cigars fresh, we look to the Case Elegance The Smoke Can 50 Cal Humidor. Even if you don’t smoke, it can double as an ammo storage box.
MRSP: $120
Stocking stuffer:
Consider the Yeti 7 oz. Flask w/funnel, the perfect pairing for the stogies. It’s available in 10 color varieties.
MSRP: $50
10th Day:
Ten lords a-leaping … check that, a-hunting or a-trekking the backcountry.
For doing so, you’ll need a pair of Zamberlan ADAK 6 GTX RR Men’s Hunting Boots in black camo. They’re stylish, rugged and comfortable!
MSRP: $450
Stocking stuffer:
This one’s a no-brainer. Stuff the ol’ stocking with, well, stockings. Specifically, Cabela’s Deluxe Cold-Weather Wool Boot Socks for men.
MSRP: $20
9th Day:
Nine ladies dancing clearly gets rectified to ladies shooting.
And for that, we wrap up a top-of-the-line Walther PDP F-Series Pro 4-inch 9mm we reviewed recently.
MSRP: $929
Stocking stuffer:
Easy day. Let’s go with a 25-count box of Hornady Critical Defense 9mm FTX 115-grainers.
MSRP: $29
8th Day:
Eight maids a-milking makes us think of cows, followed by bison.
And by that we mean a 55-quart Wheeled Bison Cooler that we can take to hunting or fishing camp, the backyard or the next tailgating excursion. It’s available in white, grey or sand colors.
MRSP: $430
Stocking stuffer:
Time to stuff that cooler with some meat or fish from the field or stream. Keep it all fresh with the Cabela’s Vacuum Sealer and Starter kit.
MSRP: $49
7th Day:
Seven swans a-swimming, or in this case, waterfowlers a-wading and awaiting ducks in the flooded timber!
Wade in style with the Chene Cypress 2S Wader. They might set you back a few bills, but these durable beauties should last you a lifetime.
MSRP: $1,150
Stocking stuffer:
Keep your neck toasty warm in the duck blind or deer stand with the KUIU Proximity Neck Gaiter in Verde camo pattern.
MSRP: $45
6th Day:
What else could it be other than six geese a-laying stone cold dead on the ground?
Why so dead? Because they were no match for the redesigned Franchi Affinity 3.5 Waterfowl Elite 12 gauge. The Affinity 3.5 Waterfowl Elite comes with a 3 1/2-inch chamber in a 28-inch barrel configuration.
Finishes include GORE Optifade Waterfowl Marsh/Burnt Bronze and WF Timber/Cobalt Cerakote.
MSRP: $1,599
Stocking stuffer:
Generally speaking, we all love blue skies, but when it comes to taking waterfowl, a 25-count box of Federal Premium Black Cloud FS steel is tough to beat.
MSRP: $55
5th Day:
Five golden rings? How about something golden for shooting 5-stand or upland game?
Our pick is the Mossberg International Gold Reserve O/U shotgun. Bore choices include .410, 12 and 16 gauge. And they shoot as good as they look with their Grade A walnut stocks and polished silver with scroll and inlay break actions.
MSRP: $1,335
Stocking stuffer:
Gone are the days of strapping a metal-armed clay pigeon thrower to an old car tire’s rim. The new handheld Caldwell ClayCopter with a can of eco-friendly ClayCopter targets might be the most fun gift shotgunners could ever find in their stocking.
MSRP: $239
4th Day:
Four calling birds … eh, who wants black birds under their Christmas tree?
Not H&B, but we sure would love to call in more predators to the gun with a Primos Double Take Electronic Game Caller. Features include premium 24-bit sound quality, 200-yard remote control, integrated decoy attachment system, full color back lit remote control, 100 sounds included and more.
MSRP: $350
Stocking stuffer:
Since you’ll be up all night chasing song dogs, it’d be great to have some Black Rifle Coffee at the ready. Not sure if it’s the cool packaging or the fact it’s the BRCC’s original blend, but the BRCC Just Black Roast gets the nod this year.
MSRP: $17
3rd Day:
Three French hens make us think of chicken coops, which in turn leads us to dog kennels.
A stretch, maybe, but to keep your hunting dogs safe on the road to camp, nothing compares to the Gunner 2025 Flyway Series G1 Kennel Reelfoot with its double-walled construction. Four sizes and multiple finishes are available, and a portion of the proceeds go to Ducks Unlimited.
MSRP: $600-$950
Stocking stuffer:
A perfect pairing to the G1 is buying your best friend a 60-count bag of Uncle Ted’s Daily Canine Chews (MSRP: $50) and a 60ml bottle of Uncle Ted’s Joint Mobility Extract (MSRP: $65). Rock and roll on over to https://getuncleteds.com/ for more info.
2nd Day:
Two turtle doves get us dreaming about wild mornings sitting on the dove fields and cruising for pheasants or quail.
Said dreams include donning a new KUIU Upland Field Vest packed with pockets and other features that scream comfort and quality. Available in blaze orange, Valo and khaki.
MSRP: $299
Stocking stuffer:
Besides being perfectly sized to fit in any Christmas stocking, the Wiley X WX JAKL American Sniper (Chris Kyle) Brand Signature Series shades are ready for any shooting, hunting or leisure activity under the sun. There are nine color options to choose from.
MSRP: $140-$210
1st Day:
Looks like we made it! A partridge in a pear tree clearly has to become a deer hunter in an oak tree.
No, he’s not in a hunting saddle, but a Millennium Outdoors RG2 Run ’N Gun Hang-On Combo that includes the M8 Hang-On Stand, M255 Stick Ladder and MQV8 M8 Stick Quiver. It’s the complete solution for a quiet, mobile hunting experience.
MSRP: $440
Stocking stuffer:
Don’t become a statistic. Even Santa Claus wears the Hunter Safety System Shadow Harness during reindeer training sessions from on high. For the minimalist hunter, HSS’ Shadow is the lightest (only 27 ounces) and most flexible harness on the market.
MSRP: $75
Editor’s Note: Want more great gift ideas? Check out Hook & Barrel’s latest 2025 Holiday Gift Guides page.
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