N.C. Wildlife Commission offers wildlife-related gifts for every budget

This holiday season, be kind to wildlife and your budget by shopping at www.ncwildstore.com.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s online N.C. Wild Store carries a wide variety of products — from books to posters to clothes — that cost under $40. Even better, proceeds from many products go to support a correlating wildlife project or program.

For example, proceeds from the book and CD set “The Frogs and Toads of North Carolina” ($15) support projects that benefit nongame wildlife in North Carolina, from bog turtles in western North Carolina, to red-cockaded woodpeckers in the Sandhills to loggerhead seaturtles along the coast. Likewise, sales from the “Trout Fishing Maps of North Carolina” ($12) go to the Wildlife Resources Commission’s six trout hatcheries and stocking program.

More than 70 products are new this year, while others are perennial favorites that appeal to hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts of all ages.

One new publication sure to get that avid angler on your gift-giving list off the couch and on the water is the “Fisherman’s Guide: Fishes of the Southeastern United States,” reprinted from the hugely popular 1984 edition. The 362-page hard-cover book ($39.95) includes information on 250 fish species, their habitats and distribution, and methods of catching and preparing fish. Fish species are beautifully illustrated by renowned wildlife artist Duane Raver.

White-tailed deer hunters will enjoy “Twenty-Five Years of Trophy North Carolina Whitetail Deer: A Compilation of Records, Articles and Photographs,” a summary of the Dixie Deer Classic trophy deer records from North Carolina from 1981 through 2007. The 103-page paperback, which sells for $15, compiles the data from nearly 11,000 deer and more than 100,000 data points that have been collected for the last 25 years.

Inspire youngsters to get outside and explore nature with “Lost in the Woods – The Movie.” The 40-minute video ($19.95), which won the Widescreen Panda Award for the best children’s wildlife film world-wide, tells the story of an old box turtle and a lost raccoon that discover the magic of spring and learn what happens to a young fawn alone in the woods.

Birders, young and old, will appreciate copies of “The North Carolina Birding Trail – Coastal Plain Guide” and “The North Carolina Birding Trail – Piedmont Trail Guide,” two publications that highlight 205 favorite birding sites in the Coastal and Piedmont regions. Both guides are on sale for $10 each.
Other sale-priced items include:

* Pathfinder Gift Set ($20) – a four-piece set that includes a compass, a multi-function knife and a flashlight secured in a handy travel case featuring the exclusive NC Wildlife design.

* Camouflage stainless steel thermos ($24) – a 34-ounce thermos that features a folding handle for easy portability, a detachable shoulder strap and a large, built-in serving cup.

* Assorted apparel, from T-shirts to caps, embroidered with the exclusive NC Wildlife design.

“We know that folks are tightening their budgets this year, so we have a lot of quality, wildlife-related apparel that is either on sale or priced to sell,” said Clayton Wilkes, the Commission’s retail business manager. “A sweatshirt silk-screened with a strutting tom turkey painting by Duane Raver is only $20, with proceeds from the sales going to support the Commission’s wildlife programs.”

New this winter are zip-up hooded fleece jackets in red and black ($25) with matching fleece sweatpants ($19.95), both featuring a silk-screened North Carolina Wildlife design.

Other new products include:

* North Carolina trout waters magnet set – a set of four 1”x 1” acrylic magnets that depicts North Carolina trout regulation signs ($4.50)

* 2008 Duane Raver cardinal ornament – an exclusive 3-inch, hand-blown glass ornament that features the artist’s original design of North Carolina’s state bird ($15)

* 2009 Kids Wildlife Art Calendar – an oversized (20”x14”) calendar that features the winning artwork from a statewide competition for children in grades K-8th ($6)

In addition to new products, the N.C. Wild Store has available long-time favorites, such as the award-winning magazine, Wildlife in North Carolina ($12 for one year; $30 for three years), and the 2009 Wildlife Calendar ($6), which features 12 months of beautiful wildlife art, a detailed almanac and wildlife-related information and tips.

Inexpensive stocking stuffers include jewelry ($7.95-$21.95), NC Wildlife ball caps of varying designs and colors ($13.50-$20) and coloring picture frame magnets ($3.50).

For more generous gift-givers, gift baskets, which range in price from $49.95 to $69.65, are ideal for that special someone. Each basket is filled with cheeses, nuts, jerky and other tasty treats made in North Carolina as well as a plush toy. Proceeds from the gift baskets support the Commission’s Wildlife Diversity Program, which works to conserve and manage nongame animals and their habitats.

Purchasing an engraved stone paver is a unique and lasting way to remember someone and at the same time support kids’ fishing events and other programs conducted at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville. Pavers are placed each spring in the “Conservationist Walkway,” which wraps around the facility. They are available in three sizes and range in price from $50 to $100.

A lifetime sportsman license is a terrific buy-it-once, buy-it-for-a-lifetime gift. The license, which ranges from $15-675 depending on the age of the licensee, provides a lifetime of hunting and fishing privileges in North Carolina, even if the holder moves out of state.

“Like many other products from the Commission, your purchase of a lifetime license helps fund wildlife conservation efforts that affect everyone,” said Theresa Castro, the agency’s direct sales manager.

For the person who has everything, an online donation in his or her honor to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund makes a terrific gift and provides crucial support for nongame wildlife in North Carolina.

To see all items available for purchase at the Commission’s N.C. Wild Store, visit www.ncwildstore.com.