One Person Chair Blind

Hunting is an art in itself, requiring patience and field craft to even get close to the quarry. The field of airgun hunting is possibly the most demanding of all, since the relatively low power output requires real stalking skills, in order to gain the opportunity to take that all important final shot. 

Getting to within a realistic distance of the quarry isn’t easy, and can be an incredibly frustrating business, but in today’s burgeoning market place, technology and a plethora of dedicated products are never far away; all designed to put the shooter in the driving seat, and tip the balance back in our favour.

Shooting hides have been around in some form or another for ages, and for the Ray Mears of this world, improvisation can bear fruit, but for the less creative or downright lazy among us (myself included), purpose made designs abound. A classic example is the product under review here - the One Man (sorry Person) Chair Blind, from Deben Group.

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The first thing to note here is the rather important point that this product is highly portable. Deben quote the Chair Blind as being 10.5lbs, yet it hardly felt it. Supplied pre-folded, the blind comes in its own slim-line kit bag, complete with back strap. No proper assembly is required; just pull the structure from the bag, and unclip the ‘cinch’ strap. After this, the spring-loaded mechanism will gently take effect, and the chair opens automatically. The chair dimensions are 20inch wide x 17 deep (16inches height to seat and 35inches high to top of seat.

All that remains is for the hood/canopy to be pulled forwards and over the chair, all the way to the ground. Four tent pegs are supplied to secure the bottom of the canopy flaps to the ground, although in calm conditions, even these can be dispensed with. The compact design includes various zip-up windows around the hood, and a main zip down the front, to be fastened once comfortably in position inside. Four small side windows allow visibility and can obviously be partially obscured as required. In the front, the shooter has a choice of either a small opening which completely masks the occupant, yet still gives a clear view ahead, or the much wider opening which gives full access and a more panoramic outlook.

Packing Away

Now get this… Getting the hide back into that kit bag is actually reasonably easy. Just unzip all the main canopy seam, then pull the canopy back over the chair. Pull the arms of the chair together, compressing the sprung leaves of the hood, and hold together whilst securing the clip of the strap. I found the easiest way was to squash it between my legs. Once strapped, the whole thing just pushes straight into the bag - simple!

My test example was supplied in what Deben specify as Tangle Disruptive camo, but the Chair Blind can also be supplied in the ever popular Realtree AP specification.

One glance at their hide brochure (or website), and it’s clear that the choice of designs cater for all. Double chair, cube designs… even a full blown outhouse. But for solitary hunting – most effective kind in my experience - this Chair Blind/Hide is a cracker.

Priced at £79.95 RRP, the One Person Chair Blind is highly portable, comfortable in use, and child’s play to erect.