What I dont like about the banquet scene is the standard guns. If we have enthusiasm for the sport we probably already own a 12 guage with a 28" barrel(s). Cheap crap doesnt have interest either, frnakly gun design asthetically has gotten so crappy I want to vomit, but thats another topic.
If I were buying for something like that I would get guns that people might want to try but just dont quite dump the cash on in the gun store. Like 28 gauges, english stocked/short barrel pumps and autos, even a man sized 410. Also some current production guns that are still considered classics but no real reason to own if you have well functioning hunting guns already.
Some ideas that come to mind:
O/U or SxS Beretta, Browning, Franchi, etc for a big prize
Franchi 28 autos
Rem Special Field types
BPS Upland specials
870 Wingmasters, especially smallbores
The new run of Ithaca 37s any guage
Browning ATD .22s
.22 pistols are always fun, neat kit style guns like Ruger bearcats arent terrible expensive
Ruger Blackhawks