A Sportsman's Christmas Tree

Themed Christmas trees and decorations have been popular for years. From trains to bows, color schemes to nutcrackers, Christmas trees have displayed various tastes and styles. So this year, why not show your enthusiasm for the outdoors with a tree dedicated to hunting, fishing and camping? The following steps make a sportsman's tree easy, without having to purchase a lot of extra decorations.

1. Determine what exactly you want your tree to represent. Are you into deer hunting or wing shooting? Are ducks your thing? Or could you spend the rest of your life reeling in the perfect bass? Maybe you enjoy all of the above. Once you have narrowed down your specific interests, you have a theme.
2. Start brainstorming all of the different aspects of that theme. Take deer hunting for instance. There is way more to deer hunting than the hunt itself. There's deer camp, gear, pots of chili, camo, and—with any luck—antlers. Consider bass fishing; various types of lures, tackle, trailers, life vests, and reels all make up the sport. All of these aspects can be used for decorating your tree.
3. Be creative. Almost anything can be used as a Christmas tree ornament. With a pack of hooks and some fishing line you can make ornaments from items you have around the house. Start with your hunting bins and tackle boxes. Fishing lures are perhaps the easiest to convert into Christmas tree ornaments. (Be careful not to hang anything with hooks at the bottom of the tree where small children or pets could reach them.) Empty shotguns shells strung together can make a festive garland for your tree. Have a small pair of deer antlers or a faux pair for rattling? Tie them together and use for a tree topper.
4. Ask around and visit thrift stores. Often friends and family are looking to unload an ornament surplus. There's a chance that these unwanted decorations contain some real gems for your specialty tree. Let people know what you are looking for; social media is a fast and easy way to accomplish this. Also, check local thrift stores. They often carry Christmas items that have been donated, or things you can re-purpose to use for your tree.
5. Look in unexpected places. Sure you have checked your gear bags and tackle boxes for appropriate items. What about the rest of the house, though? Toy boxes and kids' rooms are a great place to start. Matchbox trucks, a camo vest from an action figure, and small plastic toy animals all make a great addition to your tree. Check the kitchen! From tiny cast iron skillets to hunting or fishing themed cake toppers, the kitchen can offer some valuable ornament material.

A sportsman's Christmas tree is a fun way to show off some of your favorite hobbies! By using items you already have, creating this tree can be inexpensive as well. If your family doesn't want to embrace the idea of a sportsman's tree, that's okay. A smaller tree in an office, garage or man cave is the perfect compromise. A sportsman's Christmas tree is a festive way to say, "Happy Hunting," and "Merry Casting."