You like that your partner has something he loves so much, even when you don’t quite see the appeal of waking up at 4 a.m. to spend the day in a cold tree stand. Meanwhile, he would go every weekend if he could. You want to show him that you support his interests, so when an occasion comes around, you want to give him a gift he’ll use.
Buying gifts for a hunter when you don't hunt yourself can be tricky. His gear tells you almost nothing, because the things he needs most are the things he doesn’t think to mention. We’ve outlined some gifts that any hunter would love, sorted by budget and by the kind of hunting he does.
| What type of hunter is he? | Gift ideas | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Owns every piece of gear he wants | Electronic hearing protection | Amplifies what he's listening for on the hunt, so he keeps his ear protection in all the time |
| Sits long cold days for deer | GS Extreme 3.0 | 40 hours of hearing enhancement can last a weekend without a charger |
| Shoots at a range or off a bench | MXII PRO | 22 dB NRR over the ear, and nothing sits inside his ear canal |
| Is new to electronic hearing protection | CRX | The lowest-cost way into protect-and-enhance earbuds |
| Would never spend this on himself | XCOR PRO | The flagship earbud, and the one gift he won't buy on his own |
| Doesn’t want you to spend over $50 | X30i earplugs | Real protection at a stocking-stuffer price |
| Has an ear size you don't know | Earmuffs | One adjustable band fits nearly every head |
What Do You Get a Hunter Who Has Everything?
Forget novelty mugs, gimmick multitools, and branded gear he didn't pick himself. All three end up in a cupboard.
If he already seems to have everything he needs for a hunt, three kinds of gifts would still be appreciated by any hunter: consumables he burns through, upgrades to gear he already owns, and the boring essentials he keeps postponing.
Consumables are the safe choice. Ammunition, scent control, hand warmers, and replacement ear tips for his hearing protection gear all get used up after several hunts. There's no such thing as owning too many of these.
Upgrades work when you know what gear he already carries, like a better sheath for a knife he likes. So does an MX Zip Case for earmuffs that rattle around a truck bed.
The third category is where the good gifts hide. Nearly every hunter has one piece of gear that still technically works, annoys him every trip, and never reaches the top of his own shopping list.
Hearing protection is the clearest example. He likely owns a pair, but it’s probably ten years old and pinches after an hour. Maybe he leaves his earmuffs in the truck on hunts because he'd rather hear the woods than block all sound out.
The American Suppressor Association says that 70 to 80 percent of hunters never wear hearing protection. Gifting him with electronic hearing protection takes away his reason for skipping it, because electronic earbuds and earmuffs amplify the low-level sounds he's listening for while blocking the sound of the gunshot.
How to Buy a Hunting Gift When You Don't Hunt
You may not be into hunting, but there are four questions you have to ask yourself to find the best gift for the hunter in your life:
- What does he hunt?
- Does he hunt alone or with people?
- Does he sit or walk?
- What is he still using that looks worn out?
What he hunts tells you the conditions his gear has to survive. You’ll have a better idea of which of his gear needs water resistance, low weight, or more battery life.
Whether he hunts alone or with people changes what he needs to hear on a hunt. A hunter in a group has to talk to each other without pulling his hearing protection off, and a hunter by himself is listening for movement in the woods.
Whether he sits or walks during the hunt decides how much bulk in his gear he'll tolerate, so low-profile earbuds usually beat earmuffs for someone who covers a lot of ground all day.
Check the rest of his gear when you have the chance. Whatever's frayed, cracked, taped, or held together with a hair tie tells you what he uses often and needs replacing.
Tip: Photograph his gear pile before you shop, so you can match brands and sizes later.
Some gear is safe to buy blind, and some gear isn't. Anything with a fit variable, a caliber, a draw length, or a boot size needs more information before you spend.
| Safe to buy blind | Ask first |
|---|---|
| Earmuffs, which adjust to nearly any head | Boots, where a half size ruins the gift |
| Electronic earbuds that ship with multiple tip sizes | Gloves, since hand size and dexterity preferences vary |
| Cases, packs of ear tips, cleaning kits, batteries | Anything caliber-specific, including ammunition and optics |
| Headlamps and general-purpose lights | Bow accessories, which depend on draw length and anchor point |
| Hats and neck gaiters | Jackets and bibs, where layering systems have to match |
| Gift cards to a brand he already uses | Knives, if he's particular about steel and grind |
One step before you check out: look up the return window, especially on anything he wears, and keep the receipt in the box. A gift receipt isn't an insult. A gift he can exchange for the size that offers a good seal is a gift he'll wear all season.
Best Gifts for Hunters Under $50
Don’t be fooled by the price tag. If your budget is under $50, you can still buy working gear for hunting, not just a token. Replacement ear tips, an MX Zip Case, gun cleaning supplies, batteries, and hand warmers all get used by real hunters, and none of them require you to know a single measurement before buying the gift.
The standout option for under $50 is a set of filtered earplugs. AXIL's X30i earplugs only cost $38.99 and carry a 19 dB Noise Reduction Rating with the foam tips in closed mode. A toggle switch on each earplug lets him choose between full protection and hearing through, so he can talk to his hunting partner without taking anything out of his ear. Five interchangeable tips and a carrying case come in the box, and nothing needs charging.
Best for: a hunter who wants protection he can leave in from the truck to the stand.
The X20 earplugs cost $24.99 do a similar job on a smaller budget, and MX PASSIVE earmuffs costs $38.99 and suit someone who doesn’t like anything inside his ear canal.
Apparel works at this price too, as long as it's a brand he already wears. Check the tag inside something he owns before you order hats and shirts
Everything under fifty dollars gets you gear he would have picked up himself eventually. Doubling the budget gets you to the gear he keeps postponing to buy for himself.
Hunting Gear Gifts for $50 to $200: What He'd Never Buy Himself
Gear that a lot of hunters talk about but don’t buy for themselves usually sit between $50 and $200. He'll likely spend on a tag, on ammunition, and on a rifle he's wanted for years, but wear the same earmuffs he bought in college because replacing working gear feels like an indulgence.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports peak sound levels from firearms at roughly 140 to 175 dB. A single unprotected gunshot at that level can permanently damage his hearing.
| Product | Type | NRR | Battery | Price | Why he hasn't bought it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRX | Earbuds | 20 dB (foam tips) | Up to 10 hrs | $123.06 | His passive earmuffs still technically work |
| MXII PRO | Earmuffs | 22 dB | Up to 60 hrs hear-through | $153.99 | He'd prefer to put the money toward ammunition |
| MX PRO | Earmuffs | 23 dB | Up to 70 hrs hear-through | $153.99 | Bluetooth in earmuffs seems like luxury to him |
| GS Extreme 3.0 | Earbuds | 21 dB (foam tips) | Up to 40 hrs hear-through | $184.60 | He assumes electronic earbuds are for the range |
The CRX is the least expensive way into electronic earbuds, which makes it the easiest first upgrade for someone who's never owned a pair. A filter-on-microphone system compresses sounds above 85 dB, hearing enhancement runs up to 6X, and ten hours of runtime covers a range day with room to spare.
Best for: someone still wearing the passive earmuffs he bought a decade ago.
The MXII PRO and the MX PRO both sit at $153.99, which is the price point a hunter talks himself out of every season. The MXII PRO carries a 22 dB Noise Reduction Rating and has a compartment in the cup that holds a pair of AXIL earplugs for doubling up on an indoor range. The MX PRO runs up to 70 hours in hear-through mode and takes interchangeable plates if he wants his earmuffs to look like his own.
Best for: a range regular, or anyone shooting from a bench where bulk on his head costs him nothing.
The GS Extreme 3.0 is the all-round earbud for hunting. Foam tips carry a 21 dB Noise Reduction Rating, hearing enhancement amplifies safe sounds up to 5X, and an IP65 rating covers rain and sweat. Concha locks in the box help the earbuds hold their seal while he's moving.
Best for: a hunter who's out from dark to dark and won't see a charger until he gets home.
If you want to go past this budget tier, the XCOR PRO at $307.67 is the honest never-buy-it-himself option. Noise Reduction Rating runs 21 to 23 dB depending on tip style, and hearing enhancement goes up to 6X.
For a gift that should look like a gift, the SIG SAUER TRACKR Blu run $138.99 and the SIG SAUER TRACKR Electronic earmuffs run $92.99, both with co-branding he'll recognize.
A few non-hearing picks belong in this tier too, because no single category wins every gift. A fixed-blade knife he doesn't have to sharpen in the field and a headlamp with a red mode that won't blow out his night vision are both gift ideas for gear he postpones buying for himself.
Budget gets you to the right tier, but two hunters with the same budget may want two completely different things entirely. What he hunts narrows down your gift ideas further.
Gifts by Type of Hunter
The picks above work for any hunter. What he hunts decides which gift really earns a place in his pack.
What to Buy a Deer Hunter Who Sits Still in the Cold
A deer hunter's day depends on staying still and hearing small sounds at a distance. Hearing enhancement helps him pick up an animal’s footfall in leaves before he sees any movement, and a low-profile earbud like the GS Extreme 3.0 won't catch his rifle stock when he mounts. Our best hunting ear protection guide goes deeper on what to look for in a stand setup.
Duck and Waterfowl Gifts Have to Survive Water and Mud
Waterfowl gear takes a beating. Look for a water resistance rating on anything electronic, a dry bag for what shouldn’t get wet, and gloves that still work when they're soaked. Our duck hunting gear guide walks through a full waterfowl setup.
Elk Hunters Count Every Ounce, So Their Gifts Should Too
An elk hunter carries his camp on his back for days, so weight and packability decide most of his gear. Earbuds beat earmuffs here on size alone, and anything that replaces two items with one earns its place in his pack. Our backcountry elk gear guide covers what a multi-day hunt demands.
Bow Hunters Rule Out Anything That Touches the Draw
Anything that touches a bow hunter's face or interferes with his draw is the wrong gift. Earmuffs can break his anchor point, so in-ear protection like the X30i earplugs is the safer choice for an archer who also shoots rifles. Broadheads, a release aid, and a bow-specific case all work if you know his setup.
Upland and Bird Hunters Move Fast and Shoot Often
Upland hunting means walking miles, working with dogs, and taking more shots in a day than some hunts produce in a season. He needs to hear his dog and his hunting partner between flushes, so hearing enhancement gets used constantly. Our upland and pheasant gear guide dives deep in covers boots, vests, and the rest.
Bear Hunters Hunt Remote Country for Days at a Time
Bear hunts run long and are hard on equipment, which puts battery life and durability at the top of the list. Our bear hunting gear guide talks about the full kit.
Range Shooters Need a Different Gift Than Hunters
A range shooter isn't listening for wildlife. He wants comfort across a three-hour session and the ability to hear the person next to him. Earmuffs work well for him because nothing goes into his ear canal, and doubling up with earplugs underneath helps on an indoor range.
Three other groups of hunters need different considerations when it comes to gifts.
Gifts for Women Hunters, Youth Hunters, and First-Season Shooters
Fit Decides the Gift for Women Hunters
Fit is the real problem in hunting gear for women, and most gift guides skip past it. Boots, bibs, and packs are cut for a different body and size charts don’t always translate well. Hearing protection gear is adjustable, so an earmuff band or a set of earbuds with several tip sizes works without you having to guess.
Youth Hunters Need Adjustability More Than Anything Else
For younger hunters, protection carries more weight than it does for adults, because noise damage adds up across a lifetime. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that roughly 12.5 percent of children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 have permanent hearing damage from noise.
Earmuffs with a band that cinches down small will fit him for years, and the smallest foam tips in an earbud box can work for a teenager.
First-Season Shooters Need Gear They Won't Outgrow
Someone on his first hunting season doesn't know yet whether he'll hunt deer, birds, or neither. Hearing protection is something a shooter uses on every hunt and at every range session regardless of what he ends up chasing.
The X30i earplugs or the CRX both carry over from a first range trip to a tenth season.
Tip: Have him wear his new hearing protection at a range session before opening day, so any sizing exchange happens while the return window is open.
Hunting Gift FAQs
What do you get a hunter who has everything?
Buy one of three things: a consumable he burns through, an upgrade to gear he already uses hard, or the essential he keeps postponing. Hearing protection falls in the third group, which is why it works so often as a gift.
What is something every hunter needs?
Hearing protection, a reliable light, and a knife he doesn't have to sharpen in the field. All three get used on every trip regardless of what he's hunting, and he'll run all three past their useful life before he replaces them.
What do you get someone who likes guns but doesn't hunt?
Shop range gear instead of field gear. Electronic earmuffs, eye protection, a range bag, and a shooting mat all get used by a range shooter. Comfort across a long session beats packability for him, so earmuffs make more sense than earbuds.
Can you buy ear protection as a gift without knowing his size?
Yes for earmuffs, which adjust to nearly any head, and mostly yes for in-ear protection that ships with several tip sizes. Check the return window before you order either one, and leave the receipt in the box so he can exchange a set that doesn't seal.
Buying One Gift? Start With What He Replaces Last
The gear a hunter replaces last is the gear he uses most, which is what makes it the right place to spend your money. For most hunters, that list is short: hearing protection, his light, and his knife. Of those three, hearing protection is the one where waiting costs him something he can't buy back.
Once the gift is picked, give it a first testing session. Ask him to wear it on a range trip before the hunting season opens. He'll want to work through the tip sizes in the box until both ears seal, and he'll want to learn the controls while nothing is happening around him. Gear that gets set up in advance is gear that comes along.
Share:
How to Make Ringing in Ears Stop After a Concert
Finding the Perfect Hunting Gifts for Dad