Holiday Gift Guide for 'Sconnies

Mornin' to everyone staying safe on early-season ice. This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

What we're opening up this week:

• Gifts for the special 'Scons in your life 🎁 

• Emu helps deer hunter fill tag 🦌 

• Snowy Owl spottings 🦉 

Wisconsin holiday gifts for every 'Scon on your list

We're sure we don't need to remind you, but Christmas is less than three weeks away, folks. We know there's a few of you with pumpkins on your porch, still. Get with it, Steve!

To stop you from gifting your loved ones that half-eaten block of cheese from the fridge, or some dusty trinket buried at the bottom of your junk drawer, we thought we'd go find the best darn gifts made by 'Scons, for 'Scons.

These gifts are Wisconsin made, helps fuel our economy, and are certain to help the 'Sconnies in your life get out 'der and enjoy our great outdoors.

Wisconsin's outdoor economy and brands

• Wisconsin ranks 5th in the country for share of jobs in outdoor recreation

• Home to famous brands such as Johnson Outdoors, Mathews Archery, Harley-Davidson, and more

• Each year, 17 million visitors step boot into a Wisconsin State Park, driving more than $1 billion in spending per year

Wisconsin gifts worthy of your stockings

This may come as a shock to some (ahem, Uncle Joe), but CASH is not an exciting gift to open come Christmas Day. And last we checked, Amazon isn't fueling our local small businesses (the opposite is probably true).

So if you really want to give your special 'Scon a gift that gets them outside more and backs Wisconsin's businesses, keep readin'.

Bending Branches (Osceola, WI) - These things are freakin' cool. The world's largest manufacturer of quality canoe and kayak paddles, Bending Branches is staffed by paddling enthusiasts ready to get the paddler in your life out on the water.

Johnson Outdoors (Racine, WI) - Jetboil, SCUPAPRO, Humminbird... if you're a Wisconsin sportsmen, chances are you've used a Johnson Outdoors product to cook a meal, catch a fish, or pitch a tent. Founded in 1970, they've made it their mission to leave the outdoors a better place than how they found it.

Mathews Archery (Sparta, WI) - Remember when you got your first bow and arrow? The feeling of the string sliding through your fingers... Well, you can give that feeling with a Mathews, considered one of the premier bow companies on the planet.

Wiscampsin Recycled Coffee Bean Mug (Milwaukee, WI) - Made from non-toxic, BPA-free composite of recycled coffee grounds, this Wiscampsin Mug sure would look handsome in your cupboard, dontcha think?

St. Croix Rods (Park Falls, WI) - Fishing and Wisconsin go together like Brett Favre and Donald Driver. Give the fisherman in your life a premium fishing rod from St. Croix (they may even help you fill your freezer!).

Trek (Waterloo, WI) - Trek filled the need for an American made, mid-to-premium priced bicycle. It may not get used for another four or five months, but a Trek bicycle is a great way to explore the state's many scenic bike trails and roads.

Wigman (Sheboygan, WI) - Ya know how Mom's feet are always a little cold and clammy? I knew I should have put expiration dates on those "Free Foot Massage Coupons" I gave her when I was 12... Wigwam socks have been in business since 1905, and their socks are so darn tough, their the official sock of the US Ski and Snowboard Team.

Wiscampsin License Plate Frame (Milwaukee, WI) - Never again let your bad driving get mistaken for that of a FIBs (though you really should pay more attention, Sheryl). This Get Out Der Wiscampsin frame just screams 'Sconnie through and through.

Rome Industries (Madison, WI) - Nothin' beats a long day in the outdoors like a pudgy pie around the campfire. Stuff with 'em with whatever you'd like (jelly, jam, pizza, smores, heck, even bratwurst) and shove 'em in the fire. It's that easy.

Wiscampsin T-Shirt (Milwaukee, WI) - We only got a few of these left, and for good reason. Made from eco-friendly products with a design worthy of a tailgate, a hike or a even church, this T-shirt was built to impress and a percentage of the profits go back to good causes.

Alright, 'Scons. Don your Santa hats, hit up these great local Wisconsin businesses, and help your loved ones get out der!

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Apparently "lake" has a pretty loose definition, so depending on who you ask, Wisconsin ranks between 3rd - 5th for most lakes. One thing we do know for certain is WI is ranked 4th for most water by area.

NEW: Wisconsin Events

Butt glued to the couch? Here are some great Wisconsin events to get you out 'der:

12/9 4:30pm - Cave of the Mounds: Guided Black Light Tours (why not, right?)

12/8 - 12/11 4:30pm - Rotary Botanical Gardens: Holiday Lights Show featuring more than 1.2M lights, themed displays and animations for the whole family.

12/8 - 12/11 4:30pm - Green Bay Botanical Gardens: WPS Garden of Lights has 37 botanically-themed light displays featuring more than 325,000 twinkling lights. Indulge in a cookie or hot beverage, shop for gifts in the WPS Trellis Gift Shop, and more!

Know a great event coming up? Respond to this email with the deets and we'll post it the week before it starts!

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

🦌 Emu helps deer hunter: In a plot written for TV, an emu wandered under a hunter's stand and distracted a whitetail deer long enough for the hunter to take the shot. Sounds like this lucky guy owes this Emu couple two-tree beers back at Deer Camp.

📉 Hunters fill their tags: Wisconsin hunters shot 14% more deer than compared to last year. Anecdotally, Forrest heard that the pre-opening day snow storm helped hunters up north, as they saw more deer moving around in the cold. A total of 203,295 deer were shot over the nine-day gun-deer season, up 8% from the five-year average. Just let me know if you need a home for all that venison...

🦉 Snow Owls are so back: Dazzling bird watchers in Ashland, Superior, and Marathon County, the Snowy Owl "snowies" come south in the fall in search of new territories. How far south they come is totally weather dependent, so fingers crossed for some more snowfall to lure these beauties down to the Dairyland State.

Meme of the Week 😂 

A review from the Trail... Oh hey, we been lookin' for 'em! If you see any, send 'em our way and we'll send you some cool Wiscampsin goodies via your referral link.