For the person who already owns the gear, the better gift is the thing they'll carry it in for years.
Across most of the country, hunting season runs from the first cool mornings of fall deep into winter: deer stands before sunrise, cold mornings in a duck blind, long weekends at camp. If you're shopping for someone who lives for those months, you've probably noticed they already own the rifle, the boots and the jacket with forty pockets. What they rarely buy for themselves is good carry: the bags, coolers and bottle carriers that live in the truck all season and take the abuse.
We've made canvas gear in Greenville, North Carolina since 1982, and a lot of what we make is designed for the field. This guide covers what actually matters in hunting gear, then breaks down the best gifts by the type of hunting they do, so you can choose something that fits how they hunt, not just what looks good.
What makes a good gift for a hunter
Before you pick anything, it helps to know what hunters look for in the gear they carry. A few things separate a gift that gets used every weekend from one that sits in a closet:
- It handles weather. Hunting happens in rain, sleet, fog and wet marsh grass. Waxed canvas is water-repellent: it sheds water and dries out, and it can be re-waxed when it starts to look dry. It isn't fully waterproof, so it's built for wet conditions rather than submersion.
- It's tough where it counts. Truck beds, boat floors and blind benches wear out bags at the bottom and the seams first. Look for heavy canvas, reinforced stress points and bottoms built for abrasion.
- It's easy to clean. Mud, blood and spilled coffee are part of the season. Wipe-clean liners matter more than most people realize.
- It suits the carry. A hunter walking a mile to a stand wants a shoulder strap and a compact size. Someone driving to camp wants capacity and structure.
- It earns its place. Canvas doesn't have the crinkle of a nylon shell, and it develops a patina instead of looking beat up. That's why heritage canvas gear has stayed in hunting families for generations.
For hunting camp and lease weekends: a bourbon bag
If there is one gift we'd put at the top of the list, it's this one. Hunting camp has its own traditions, and one of the oldest is the bottle that comes out once the guns are put away and the fire is lit. Getting that bottle there in one piece, over washboard roads and in a truck bed full of gear, is harder than it sounds. A good bourbon bag solves that.
The Double Barrel Bourbon Bag carries two standard 750ml bottles in 14oz water-repellent wax canvas, with foam insulation to protect the glass and a wipe-clean nylon liner for the inevitable spill. A removable divider makes room for a larger bottle, and the adjustable strap switches between hand carry and over-the-shoulder, so it's easy to carry from the truck to the fire with your hands full.
For the camp that runs on more than one bottle, or the hunter who's always the one bringing them, the Four Barrel Bourbon Bag carries four. It's built the same way, and its liner is covered by a limited lifetime warranty: if it ever leaks, we replace the liner at no charge.
Which one to choose: the Double Barrel suits a single hunter or a weekend for two. The Four Barrel suits a camp, a lease group or the person who hosts. Both make a strong host gift for whoever runs camp each year, and both carry wine just as well when the season ends and the holidays start. See both in Bourbon Bags & Wine Totes.
For deer stand and treestand hunters: a compact day cooler
Deer hunting means long, still hours. Hunters often climb into a stand before first light and stay through the morning, so food, water and coffee need to come along, and they need to be reachable without a lot of noise or digging around.
The Field & Marsh Day Cooler was built for exactly that kind of day. It holds a full lunch or six bottles with ice, the flip-open zippered lid gives quick access without unpacking, and a zippered front pocket keeps small things close. It's compact enough to tuck into a ground blind or a truck cab, and it carries by the top handle or a detachable shoulder strap for the walk in. The exterior is heavy Martexin™ wax duck canvas, and the liner carries a lifetime warranty against leaks.
Why it works for deer hunters: it's sized for one person and one long sit, and it doesn't look out of place in a stand, a truck or at the camp table that evening.
For duck and waterfowl hunters: gear that handles the wet
Waterfowl hunting is the wettest kind of hunting there is. Gear sits on boat floors, in flooded timber and in blinds where everything ends up damp. This is where waxed canvas really earns its reputation.
The Field & Marsh Cooler is built from Martexin™ wax duck canvas with a Cordura™ nylon bottom, the part that takes the most abuse from wet decks and muddy ramps. It's the larger of our two Field & Marsh coolers, for longer days or a blind with more than one hunter, and it looks better each season as the wax picks up character.
Waterfowlers also tend to carry a lot of small gear: shells, calls, lanyards, chargers, a first aid kit. Huntsman Organizers come in four sizes and keep all of it sorted inside a blind bag or duffle, so nothing rolls loose into the bottom of the boat.
And after a cold morning on the water, the Double Barrel Bourbon Bag is a natural partner. There's a reason so many waterfowl traditions end around a fire.
For upland bird and dove hunters: light, simple carry
Upland and dove hunting are walking hunts, often in early-season heat. Hunters cover ground, so they carry light and keep the heavier gear at the truck. A day cooler waiting at the tailgate with cold water and drinks is one of the most appreciated things on an opening-day dove field.
For the truck itself, the Huntsman Collection Tradesman Tote is a good catch-all for gloves, shells, snacks and blaze orange. It's made from heavy 22oz shuttle loom cotton duck with a Martexin™ waxed bottom and handle trim for water resistance, and it comes in Woodland Camo, Black Watch and Autumn Plaid.
For the out-of-state hunt or the lodge trip: a waxed canvas duffle
For the hunter who travels for an elk hunt, a guided duck trip or a weekend at a lodge, a good duffle matters. The Huntsman Duffle is built from vintage wax canvas duck trimmed in leather, and it's fully lined with 420 denier nylon so muddy layers and wet boots wipe out easily. Slip pockets at each end hold small items, and a covered bottom support panel keeps its shape when it's packed full. It also comes in Black Watch and Autumn Plaid.
For a smaller add-on, the Huntsman Travel Kit keeps toiletries together at camp and hangs from a hook when there's no counter space.
Make it theirs, or outfit the whole camp
The difference between a good gift and the one they keep for decades is often a set of initials. We embroider monograms in our Greenville shop on eligible bags. Start with Personalized Canvas Bags.
Buying for a hunt club, a lease group or a lodge? Matching bourbon bags or coolers make a memorable gift for the whole crew. Custom logo orders start at 24 pieces and take 6 to 8 weeks to make, so October is the comfortable window for holiday delivery. Start a custom order and we'll walk you through the options.
Caring for waxed canvas through hunting season
Waxed canvas is low-maintenance, but a little care keeps it shedding water for years. Let it dry naturally after a wet hunt, away from direct heat. Brush off dried mud rather than scrubbing, and spot clean with cold water. When the fabric starts to look pale or dry at the folds, usually after a season or two of hard use, rub in a fabric wax bar and warm it gently so it soaks in. For more on how canvas weights and waxed canvas compare, see our guide to canvas weight, duck canvas and waxed canvas.
Gear like this isn't built to be replaced next season. It's built to come back every October.
Shop Bourbon Bags · Shop the Huntsman Collection
Frequently asked questions
What do you get a hunter who has everything?
Skip another gadget and give them something that carries the gear they already love. A bourbon bag for camp, a day cooler for the stand or a waxed canvas duffle for travel are things most hunters use every weekend but rarely buy for themselves.
What is a good gift for a deer hunter?
A compact cooler they can take into a stand or blind, like the Field & Marsh Day Cooler, or a bourbon bag for the evenings at camp. Both get used every weekend of the season.
What is a good gift for a duck hunter?
Anything that handles the wet. A waxed canvas cooler with a tough bottom for the boat or blind, organizers for shells and calls, and a bourbon bag for the fire afterwards.
Is waxed canvas good for hunting?
Yes. Waxed canvas is water-repellent, hard-wearing and doesn't have the crinkle of many synthetic shells. It's not fully waterproof, so it's best for rain, snow and wet ground rather than being submerged, and it can be re-waxed to keep it performing.
How many bottles does a bourbon bag hold?
The Double Barrel holds two standard 750ml bottles and the Four Barrel holds four. Both have a removable divider for larger bottles.
Can I personalize a gift?
Yes. We embroider monograms on eligible bags in our Greenville shop. For hunt club, lodge or corporate gifts with a logo, custom orders start at 24 pieces with a 6 to 8 week lead time.
When should I order for Christmas?
For custom logo orders, October is the comfortable window given the 6 to 8 week lead time. Monogrammed orders through our website are available through the holidays. Check our shipping policy for the latest delivery timing.
Where are Parrott Canvas bags made?
In our own shop in Greenville, North Carolina, where we've been making canvas goods since 1982.