GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

Howdy! yaw;


I was pondering on using a ghillie suit to ground hunt;and was wondering if any of you fine folks had any suggestions?

The thing is there are a lot of hunters in my area using stands to hunt. I have seen and have been told by other hunters in my area that they have wittnessed the dear searching the trees for hunters.

I was in my stand and saw several bucks come in searching the trees. That was why I was considering using an ghillie suit.

What do you good folks suggest? Do any of you use a ghillie suit and if so do you think this would help me in harvesting a deer from the ground since the deer have begun to pattern the stand hunters? What are some of your alls tricks and tips when ground hunting with a ghillie suit? Do you all use extra ground cover or would just setting with back side to a large oak or downed log be okay?

Anysuggestions would be very helpful and appreciated.


God Bless/Good Hunten!

Holler Critter

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

I like to hunt on the ground just as much as being in a stand, drawing back on a deer at eye level is awesome. I use cabelas light weight ghille pants and leafy shirt. I think it does well for breaking up your outline but i think you can hunt the ground with out the ghillie. For me though it kind of adds a little extra confidence and that is a huge part of hunting.

If you want to hunt on the ground, try it. The worst that can happen is your not gonna get a deer that day. Also if its a wet day, when the woods are silent try still hunting.That usually makes for a fun hunt.

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

I use the ASAT pattern leafy suit. It works great. Do a search on this forum going back a ways and you will get lots of info including contact info on where to order.

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

Several years ago, during the second of two times that I ever bowhunted before this season, I had an awesome experience hunting from the ground. I was probably 18 or 19. I was evening hunting a greenfield in October, and it was really warm. I wore a woodland camo BDU set with jungle combat boots. Because I was on the ground, I figured I had better be head to toe, so I my camo net facemask and gloves as well. I set up in a camo directors chair, with my back to some thick leafy foilage that was too thick to see through.

About 1/2 hour before dark, I had a HUGE doe walk out feeding. She mosied over to about 20 yards broadside, and just stopped and fed. I raised by bow, and drew. She never new I was there. Then I remembered, the guy who actually owned the lease on that property didn't allow does to be shot. It was an older guy that grew up thinking that if you onlly shoot bucks you get more deer. Yes the buck-doe ratio was severly out of whack, but his lease, his rules. I held my bow for about two minutes contemplating taking the shot (would anyone see me and dad leave, or maybe "but I could of swore I saw spike"). I know I shouldn't have even considered it, but this would have been my first ever deer. Finally, I let my draw down. My arrow rattled on the rest, and her head shot my way. She ke[t blowing and stomping, but couldn't figure out what wsa there. Finally, my arm got tired and I layed my bow in my lap. She saw this movement and bolted. It was about 5 min till dark, so I packed up and left. I sometimes still kick myself for not taking that shot.

I told that longwinded story to say this. Don't waste your money on a guilie suit. Get some good, open patterned camo, and put yourself against a thick backdrop, and they will never know you are there.

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

just thought i would add that if you do go the ghillie suit route, and hunt thick woods, you will be tangled in every briar you come with in 10 ft of. I only wear mine when im hunting open timber, because it is impossable to be stealthy with a ghillie suit through heavy brush.

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

G5 is right about that...., you don't need one to hunt from the ground any how. I like to sit in open hardwoods or on the edge of a greenfield in small pines. I have one but it seems to be more trouble than its worth

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

I have a Rancho Safari Shaggie Suit. It's pretty awesome how much it hides you.

I do recommend getting into some cover. Just standing next to a tree will work, but it's much easier for the deer to pick you out when they get within ten yards.

My friend uses oneandhad a doe come in and browse on the other side of a bush so close he could have poked her with the arrow. He also had a mature buck come within four yards and browse around him. (doe only area)

Birds will land on you, squirrels will practically walk across your feet. It's pretty cool.

I don't put it on until I'm at my spot. The shaggie will grab every briar within two feet of you. (bring brush clippers with you)
Also, practice shooting with it and don't be afraid to trim away anything that might interfere with your string.

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

i am a marine scout sniper and have made several real ghillie suits
have you ever seen one? not on eof the store bought ones that
are no way as good as the real thing ,there is no better camo on earth
than a real ghillie suit 'vegd' up it takes time to make but can adapted to any terrain if you want to know more hit me back

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

I agree with moondance. I'm not in the military but I made my own for paintball and it works great while hunting. The store bought ones don't even compare to the ones that you can make yourself. I'm sure his was better than mine, but mine works just fine. Get some jute twine and/or burlap, die it in various greens and browns, and tie it on to a net that has been glued to a jacket and pants. Mix the shredded threads with a few leaves from the dollar store and some pieces of large unshredded burlap. It's hard to mess up... anyone can do it, and there is some how to sites on the internet that help out alot. If I were you and going to ground hunt, I would definately make my own. Plus when you do kill a deer with it on, you feel way cool.;)

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

moondance1..ooh rah..Semper Fi......keep ya head down!!

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

I have one of those leafy type outfits that I use for ground hunting. I've had good luck with it. Had a doe almost run me over the first time I wore it hunting. She ran up to me and slammed on the brakes at about 5 feet. She jumped back, ran a few yards , then stopped to see what the heck I was. By that time, I was drawn back and had my sight pin held tight behind the shoulder. It was an easy shot.

Got several other deer wearing it also. I did get busted a few times trying to draw or trying to slowly position myself. Sometimes its just hard to get drawn when they are close and you are on ground level. They probably caught a little of my scent and were extra cautious.

I do think one of those homemade Ghille suits would be much better, though.

The thing is a pain in the arse to walk in, if there are greenbriar or black berry briars around. The suit tends to get caught on everything. Have had a little trouble crossing barbed wire fences also.;)

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

Well moondance has a point, and natrual camo is the best way to go, any store bought ghillie is basically made for just one certain type of terrain, you can search far an wide, but you will almost never find the rite ghillie in order to hunt your favorite spot, hence making your own will be the best way to hunt with a ghillie, on the other hand, if you do not hunt from the ground very much, then i suggest you start out in a pop up blind and put some brush and what not up against it (not blocking your shooting zones) becasue people who dont hunt from the ground much tend to get figity, and you would be suprised how deer can see a small movement, they can get spooked very easily unless they live near high traffic areas, and yes seasoned deer will watch for any movement in the trees becasue they probably had a few close encounters with hunters that missed.

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

I've used a 3-D leafy suit for a while now and always found it effective. When my friends first saw me in the suit walking across theridge they called me sasquatch, but also noticed that when I stopped, I almost immediatly blended with my surroundings.

I looked into the guilly suits, and even thought about making my own modeled after some of the military styles I've seen. I think it would be great for shotgun, muzzleloader, and rifle hunting, but was concerned about the cloth hanging from the suit getting caught in mycompound bows mechanics during a shot. I would stilllike to make one someday since 90% of the hunting I do isspot and stalk.

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

If they didn't work military snipers would not use them.

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

Unless I am in a blind (and then I wear all black) I am wearing a leafy suit of some type. I love how you disapear while wearing it. Birds land on my bow or rails of my stand all the time. Squirrels play at my feet. Last weekend I had a coon in the tree with me 4 feet behind my head hissing at me because he just couldnt figure out what my head was.

Don't don the leafy wear till you are at your stand. Once you wear some type of 3d camo you will never want to wear non 3d camo. The wildlife comes right up to you:D

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

hey guys just to let you know how effective a ghillie suit can be ..i will give you an example as a sniper myself with the corps we were on field missions doing stalk and hide tactics against friendly enemies.....actually we split up into different groups and played bad guys ....well to give you a short run down of the story it was my turn to exit the bird [helicopter] and start a patrol heading north well about half a mile into it and in some pretty open terrain i felt something hit my leg ....as i looked down guess what was in between my legs ....a 50 caliber sniper rifle and the sniper ...he said i got you and i just about crapped my pants ....i thought i was good ..i didnt even know he was there it was all due to the ghillie suit ..i nkow because i helped him make it the week earlier ...if they can fool a sniper i am sure i can fool a whitetail...however the only thing with a homemade military style ghillie is it is impossible to get the smell out of the burlap ihave tried everything but you can still smell burlap..thanks guys

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

First deer that I ever shot at was on the ground. This is my first year of using a stand all season after 4 years of bow hunting. It is definately a different experience

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

I thought the TCS was very dark and the colors were pretty much the same. Anyone use one of these on the ground?





or



or

Leafywear:

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

Does anyone have a good link to a "make your own" style of guillie??

RE: GHILLE SUITS AND GROUND HUNTING?
 

We really don't need those out here but i've considered getting one after reading some of these posts :)