Any ground hunters try a Ghillie suit afield?

Jim DE · 10-29-2002, 09:10 PM

I am in the mood to try something different..(LBR knows I do this alot

) I have been looking at Ghillie suits to use while still hunting or stalking but the design of these suits seem to me that the rags would entangle the bowstring at full draw or at least interfer with the release. Lots of ads show archers using these. Anyone use one of these suits yet?

Wahya · 10-29-2002, 09:28 PM

I don't have any experience with them, but have given a little thought to making one. I think a hooded sweatshirt with pants would work great. Just slice and stick them with rags. It seems that you could make adjustments so that the bowstring wouldn't be interfered with. I would cut the rags short on the inside of my bow arm and on my chest. The rest could be left long, but I think you'd definitely have to shoot the bow some while wearing it to fine tune the gettup. I havn't given any thought to the hood, but figure that it could be handled the same way, or even leave the rags off on that side of the head. Figure I'd give it a try this winter and see how it works out for next season.

Make them sharp and shoot them straight, or leave them home.

LBR · 10-30-2002, 01:03 PM

Jim! Great to see you here bud!

I have never tried one of those suits myself. Thought about it, but there is no way I could even get through the woods here in one of those things--I'd have myself tied to a tree in no time. Sorry I'm not more help, but had to chime in to say hi.

Chad

Long Bows Rule!

Jim DE · 10-30-2002, 01:29 PM

Hi Chad.....I've been reading this forum for awhile but had some problems getting logged in.......the webmaster assisted me in that department a month or so ago.

I am here now!!!!

I didn't figure I would wear the Ghillie suit in...but put it on once I was in position.

Looking at the cloth....I figured theres a source of some erratic arrow flight. But was curious if anyone had given one of these suits a try. It's either a Ghillie or an ASAT Ultimate 3D that will be ordered this week.

Take care Chad....you will be seeing me here often now.

Edited by - Jim DE on 10/30/2002 14:36:04

john nail · 10-30-2002, 05:14 PM

I use one quite a bit for Turkey. It is too hot to wear to the field, but you put it on after you get there. They do work. I trimmed and shot with mine for a whole afternoon before I was satisfied that it wouldn't interfere with the string. I even had to trim a lot off the hat.......I call mine my "cousin It" suit(from the Adam's family TV show)

Jim DE · 10-30-2002, 09:57 PM

LOL..."Cousin It" thats a good one!

I was looking a Ghillie suits from various suppliers and see Cabelas has a new item.....a build yourself Ghillie suit on their online store for about $70.00. States also less than 5 hours to build....looked great in the picture and you could build it to your needs rather than alter a already built one.

Edited by - Jim DE on 10/30/2002 23:00:44

Strongbow · 10-31-2002, 02:03 PM

I bought a poncho/head gear kit from a company online called
Bushrag. The headgear is a small net that you attach to your
hunting hat. The camo itself are strands of twisted burlap that
you tie into the netting of the headgear and poncho. I haven't
used it yet this season. I have found that depending on your
terrain, you may have to trim the strands to keep from hanging
up. I would suggest packing out the suit with you until you get
your blind or area you plan to hunt and then don the suit. Here
in Ohio I had to trim the strands because of all the brush and
jaggers. Ideally, it would work best out here if you set up on
the ground for an ambush. I wouldn't try to move around too much
in these woods with the type of ghillie I have. Maybe the wide
burlap pieces you see on the Cabela's ghillies would work better.
Good luck.
Strongbow

Jim DE · 11-01-2002, 07:28 AM

Strongbow....Have you shot your bow with it on.....was there arrow flight problems due to the burlap interferring with the bowstings path?

I assumed that packing in was necessary....Delaware hunting is mostly marsh and bottomland terrain where I hunt. I could see a stalk ending up as an effort in futility. Visions of a briar patch holding me hostage till help arrived did pass my mind <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Strongbow · 11-01-2002, 01:21 PM

Jim,
I had to leave out the burlap strands around the left chest area.
The ghillie I have is a poncho, no sleeves.
Strongbow

Bowhunter57 · 11-03-2002, 06:54 AM

Jim DE,
I've bowhunted a lot with a 3/4 length leafywear poncho and really like it. The only thing I have to do is wear an arm guard to keep the baggie sleeve from interfering with the bow string. With the pants, hat and face mask it's great for breaking up your outline and there's no worries about the dangling rags that you're going to have with a ghillie suit.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

Guns cause crime, like silverware causes Rosie O'Donnell to be fat.

Edited by - Bowhunter57 on 11/03/2002 07:55:44