Great gifts for holidays.

• Position: SPORTS

Byline: Mark Blazis

COLUMN: OUTDOORS

Last-minute Christmas-shopping sportsmen and women should patronize our small, local shops that invaluably help us in ways the mega-stores can't. They have the quality products we need and provide reports, custom services and local advice we can't get online. They're truly indispensable to our tradition.

Visit Dave at D&G Tackle on 449 Main St., Leicester; Jeff at Fin & Feather, Route 140, Upton; Gerry at Gerry's Bait and Tackle in Milford; Ed at B&A Tackle (next to the Wachusett Reservoir); Bob at Bob's Gun and Archery Shop on Gore Road in Webster; Bill Martell at the Gate 8 Fishing Shop in Pelham; Rodney Flagg at Flagg's Fly and Tackle Shop in Orange; Joe Cote at Cote's Fly Shop, 115 Manville St., Leicester; Brett Fritze, Archery Plus in Spencer, John at The Gun Room, Route 9, Shrewsbury; Mike at LaRocca Gun Works, 51 Union Place, and Jim Bender at the Lower 40 on Madison St. in Worcester.

One of the best sources of information on local hunting, fishing, trapping, shooting and the environment is the Worcester County League of Sportsmen's Clubs' Sportsmen's News. Jim Berube, Paul and Joanne Thompson, Mel Crouse, Ken Stidsen, Bill Safer, Dave Papale, Fred Warren, Dave Morin, Marion Larson, Barbara Gafney, James Nishan and Randy Klockers compose a periodical I find invaluable. Two-year subscriptions are $10. Send checks to WCL News, PO Box 766, West Boylston, MA 01583.

Some last-minute gift ideas

Slips on ice last winter caused many injuries. Having broken ribs hunting an icy Alaskan slope, I've since avoided further slips hunting, ice fishing or negotiating an icy driveway using boot chains like Yaktrax Pros that afford great traction and are easy to put on, take off and compactly store in a pocket.

You must remove them, though, before entering your home to prevent floor damage. Ergodyne's Trex similar ice-traction device is effectively studded, like our old reliable snow tires legal 40 years ago.

I bought a pair of Thermacell battery-heated insoles, testing them in my non-insulated Muck Boots in 20-degree weather. Though they didn't provide habanero heat, they kept the chill out.

Tying a fly after sunset or walking to a deer stand with hands loaded, or dressing a deer in the dark are visually challenging. Ergodyne's Powercap has 4 LEDs in its visor for hands-free illumination.

With ticks exploding this season, Sawyer's or Duranon permethrine spray is the best insurance against Lyme disease. Used by the...