Aug. 7, 2006, 10:54PM - OUTDOORS
Deer hunters find toys for new season
Gear showcase brings products to the masses
By DOUG PIKE - Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

The Texas Trophy Hunters Association's Hunters Extravaganza visited Houston this past weekend and, not surprisingly, drew a large crowd of enthusiasts eager to get back into their blinds.

Wandering the center gave everyone there opportunity to quick-charge his or her hunting batteries. I made a pass Sunday and came away jazzed for the seasons to come.

Hidden among the feeders and box blinds and camouflage and optics and other traditional fare were several different and interesting products.Here are a few.

Apples of their eyes
Deer hunters have a new and long-lasting attractant in Fusion; think of it as hard candy for deer.

The secret formula, rich in minerals and with a sweet apple smell, is poured hot into plastic tubs.

A base plate, backed by a long screw, is added while the stuff is still sticky. In the field, you screw the hardened Fusion block into a tree, remove the bucket and wait (probably not long) for deer to find it.

According to the Whitesboro-based manufacturer, Hedgebrook Corporation, Fusion blocks last 60-plus days even in a wet and muggy environment such as ours. Cows and hogs like it, too, but you can affix the block high enough up a tree that neither animal can reach the temptation.

At $20 each, Fusion should help draw more than enough deer to justify the cost, even if the cows do get a few licks. For information, call 903-564-7050.

Alabama-based Scentite Blinds introduced its new Tent Chair, a $100, one-man portable concealment system that makes fast work of disappearing in the woods.

The contraption starts with one of the newer-style folding chairs and covers it with a compact blind. Setup only takes a few minutes, and the whole thing weighs about 12 pounds.

In addition to hunting, this would make an excellent hide from which to scout a new area or do some serious antler rattling later, when bucks are fighting over does.

Tent Chairs can support hunters as heavy as 295 pounds. Take the long way to your spot every day of archery season, and you might get down to 275 by the rut. For more information call 800-828-1554.

Women complained long enough and loud enough about the raw deal they get in outdoors clothing to spawn She Safari, a full line of high-end khaki and camo styled specifically for them.

The Conroe-based company has been in business about two years and, as more outdoors-loving women discover it, is likely to stay in business. For information, call 936-756-7169.

Four-wheeled fun
I first came across Bad Boy Buggies a couple of years ago, when the Mississippi manufacturer was barely able to construct a dozen of its electric-powered hunting machines per month. Now, it makes (and sells) almost that many daily.

This 4-wheel-drive vehicle generates 31 horsepower and as many as 170 foot-pounds of torque from eight on-board batteries. Ground clearance is better than 16 inches, and the standard version has seating for four.

Cost for the Bad Boy Buggy is around $8,500 plus delivery charges, which is less than most of the larger gas-powered ATVs. The factory is backlogged, which isn't entirely unexpected so close to hunting season, but I was told that waiting time now is only around 3-4 weeks. In other words, there's still time to pull the trigger if you're serious about moving more quietly around the duck lease or deer lease this season.

For more information call 281-392-4609.

Hunting begins in just a few weeks.