I heard myself grunt as I tried to lift my leg just a little higher to reach the next step. Climbing a tree stand had become a real challenge. Arthritis in my lower back and a bulging disc had kept me on the ground for months, but it was deer season and I wanted to hunt. "I'm not ready to stop hunting," I had told myself time and time again. It wasn't like I was too old, but my body was telling me otherwise.
I finally reached the top of my stand and maneuvered my gear around to make room for myself. It was already turning daylight and it wasn't long before the deer started filtering by my stand. Long before the noon deadline I had given myself, I was ready to descend. I had sat too long on that hard seat and my back was telling me so. I stared down the ladder of my stand and wondered if the trip back down would be as tough and painful as the trip up.
My next trip to the woods two days later would be much more enjoyable. My husband, Tommy suggested that I try out the new Scentite Chair Blind. He told me of a perfect location to sit it and told me that I should see lots of deer activity. Now I love hunting on the ground. There is nothing more fun than stalking a deer on its own turf and outwitting him. However, sitting in a lawn chair surrounded by camo really didn't tickle my fancy. However, I agreed to try it. After all, that lawn chair would have to be more comfortable than the hard cold seat of my deer stand and I would not have to climb a ladder.
It was close to getting daylight when I arrived at my destination and I feared I'd get busted trying to get my blind set up and get all my gear situated. But I was wrong. The Scentite Chair blind, which weighs only about 12 pounds, set up in seconds and before I knew it, I was sitting pretty... and comfortably! The lightweight spring steel, frame folding chair popped open like any folding lawn chair. The Blind section of the chair is attached at the back and simply folds up and over the chair, with zip open/closure at the front and windows on both sides and front. Two small metal cylinders slip in place to hold the blind secure. I couldn't believe the simplicity, ease, and speed it took to get myself in position to hunt and it was a good thing.
As daylight crept upon me, I spotted my first deer crossing the lane in front of me at about 100 yards. I was sure it was a buck. I had no proof that it was as I could not visibly see a rack, but there was something about the way it walked that caught my attention. He was majestic, head high. His build was muscular but sleek. His neck was too short for a doe, I tried to convince myself.
The deer disappeared just as quickly as he had
appeared into the thick cedars. I knew though that he was just being cautious. He'd scout out the area before entering his food plot. Actually, this piece of land is nothing more than a weed patch, but for whatever reason, the deer love it. It's a worthless section of land, mostly cactus, thistle, and rocks. I held my breath as I waited for the deer to reappear at the other end of the cedars. Sure enough, I watched as he slowly crept from the treeline and stopped. Seconds later, his head dropped and he began to browse. My heart resumed beating.
Twenty minutes or so passed and I still could not detect antlers. It was still too hazy and I had forgotten my binoculars. Other deer were joining the first deer on the small hillside and feeding across the weed patch. One by one I eliminated the possibilities of the others being bucks, but the first deer still had me puzzled. He kept to himself, ever so slowly making his way towards me. When he came around a large cedar tree and stopped, I heard myself gasp. 
Standing against the solid green of the cedar, I could see the white rack. I raised my .243 and found the buck in my scope.
The sound of my shot could be heard echoing throughout the mountainside. It was a sweet sound and I watched as the buck went down in front of me at about 60 yards. I leaned back in my chair to compose myself. As I prepared myself to exit the blind minutes later, I spotted more deer entering the weed patch. I settled back down and decided to just enjoy watching the wildlife and scenery. I wasn't in any hurry. I was having a great day in the outdoors and I can promise you there will be many more days spent sitting pretty in my Scentite Chair Blind.
For more information on the Scentite Chair Blind and their many other wonderful products, visit Scentite or call toll free 1-800-828-1554.
