Gifts for Bowhunters and Archers: What to Buy When You Don't Know Their Setup

The best gifts for bowhunters are the ones that don't depend on knowing their equipment: a gift card to their local archery shop, an entry to a 3D shoot, or something for deer camp. If you don't know a broadhead from a nock, skip the gear aisle and use the picks below.

Archers are particular about what they shoot, and with good reason. This guide is for the wife, husband, or grown kid who wants to give something that shows they paid attention, without guessing at specs.

Quick picks

• A gift card to their local archery pro shop. The safest gift there is.
• A 3D archery shoot or league entry fee. A day or a season of shooting.
• A range membership. Year-round practice, rain or snow.
• A game-processing gift certificate. Pays for the work after a successful season.
• A cooler of good food for deer camp. Better than anything they would pack themselves.
• A quality headlamp. Used on every pre-dawn walk in.
• A framed trail-cam photo or a print of their best buck. A picture of their season on the wall.
• ArcherVitre glasses with a real arrow as the stem. Our pick, covered below.

Why buying bow gear blind usually goes wrong

A bowhunter's setup is tuned like a musical instrument. Three terms explain why a guess rarely lands:

• Draw weight is the pounds of force it takes to pull the bow back. It is set to the individual archer, and a bow that is too heavy or too light is no use to them.
• Arrow spine is how stiff the arrow shaft is. It has to be matched to the bow and the draw weight, so the wrong spine flies poorly.
• Broadhead is the cutting tip a hunter puts on an arrow. There are many styles, and most hunters have a firm favorite they have tested and trust.

Buy any of those without the numbers and the gift goes back in the box, or into a drawer. Forum advice is consistent on this point: when in doubt, give a gift card to their local shop and let them choose.

Safe gifts for bowhunters that need no specs

A gift card to their local archery shop

Pro shops know their regulars and often tune bows, press strings, and set up arrows. A card covers any of that, and it supports a small business the hunter already likes.

A 3D shoot or league entry

3D archery shoots use foam animal targets set up along a course in the woods. Many clubs run them through the year, and leagues run on weeknights. Check the club's website or call, and ask whether they sell a gift entry. It gives a hunter a reason to shoot in the off-season.

A range membership

If there is an indoor archery range nearby, a membership means practice through winter. It is a gift they will use every week without having to buy it themselves.

A game-processing gift certificate

A good deer takes hours to butcher well. Many local processors sell gift certificates, and it is a practical present that arrives right when it is most needed. Ask the shop how they handle certificates and what the certificate covers.

A cooler of good food for deer camp

Camp meals tend toward whatever is easiest. Fill a cooler with something they would not make for themselves: a good cheese, cured meats, a pan of something baked, a bottle of whiskey if that suits them. Pack it so it travels well, and include a note.

A quality headlamp

This is gear, but it is not setup-specific. Every hunter walks in before first light, and a bright, comfortable headlamp with a red-light mode is useful. Choose a known outdoor brand, and keep the receipt.

A framed trail-cam photo or a print of their best buck

Many hunters keep hundreds of trail-camera photos on a card and never print one. Choose a favorite, or ask a family member to pick the best shot from the season, and have it printed and framed. This is the gift that shows you noticed what they care about.

For the den or cabin

If the hunter has a room where the mounts and the bow hang, a few things belong there: a sturdy wooden rack for the bow, a framed map of their favorite hunting area, a thick wool blanket for the cabin couch, or a good set of mugs for coffee before the walk in. These are all gifts that look right in that room and don't depend on a spec sheet.

Our pick: ArcherVitre, for the toast after the hunt

The one gift on this list they probably do not already own is a pair of crystal glasses whose stems are made from a real archery arrow, fletching and all. They come from ArcherVitre, our archery line, a stemware company founded by an orthopedic surgeon.

It fits a hunter well because every season ends in a toast: after opening day, after a first deer, at the table when camp breaks. A glass with an arrow for a stem is something they will recognize in a second and not need explained. It also works for the person giving it. A set is two glasses, so the hunter and their partner each have one when the season is over and dinner is on the table.

• Set of 2: $109
• Colors: red or green
• Styles: wine, martini, or champagne
• Free shipping on U.S. orders, and they arrive gift-ready.
• Hand wash only. They are not dishwasher safe.

Order by December 15 for delivery before Christmas.

Questions people ask

What is a good gift for a bowhunter if I don't know anything about archery?

A gift card to their local archery pro shop is the safest choice, since they pick the gear that matches their bow. A 3D shoot entry, a range membership, or a game-processing gift certificate also work without any knowledge of their equipment.

Should I buy arrows, broadheads, or a bow as a gift?

Not unless you know the exact specs. Draw weight, arrow spine, and broadhead choice are all personal and tied to the bow. A gift card lets them buy the right thing.

What can I give a hunting dad who has everything?

Think of experiences and keepsakes: a framed print of his best buck, a cooler of food for camp, or a pair of ArcherVitre glasses for the toast at the end of the season.

Are the ArcherVitre glasses for use or for display?

They are crystal wine, martini, or champagne glasses meant for drinking. Wash them by hand and they will last.

See the full ArcherVitre collection, or browse more ideas on our gift ideas page.