I have been thinking of trying a ghillie suit. Am wondering who has used them and how they liked them. Also brands you would recommend? Or has anyone made their own?
I only have one season under my belt using a ghillie but it was very exciting. Here's the story:
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=052515;p=1
I can't wait to try it again. I have the rancho safari shaggie longcoat.
Bill
I really like mine, i got it from www.cheaperthandirt.com (http://www.cheaperthandirt.com) it was about $100 for the complete suit. Animals don't even take notice of the 'bush' next to them.
My cousin and I made our own ghillie suits a few years ago. We used over-alls, which we sewed netting on the back, and then tied strips of hessian sacks (that we dyed different colors to get the color we wanted). It worked really well! And really hid you well! But I've never tried it for bowhunting, and I just found it too heavy and bulky to be effective.
Recently, I bought a suit from Cabelas. It's just a $60 suit, but it works really well, is very comfortable, and is perfect for bowhunting! And seems to be holding up pretty well! I'm taking it to SA when I go this summer.
I don't have any pics of my homemade ghillie suit, but if you'd like some, I'd be more than happy to post some! I hope this helps!
Nigel
I have a ghillie suit and a leafy suit, the ghille is a lot more effective at breaking up your otuline but it is heavy and bulky where the leafy suit is lighter and cooler if hunting in warm weather. If you trim back the fringes along your bow arm then it doesnt get in the way of the string. One other thing about the ghille is you can change the color by taking out and replacing different colored strings.
I use the one from cabelas TSC top and bottoms I paxk it in and put it on once I am there. I love it you disssapear. I killed a buck from the ground this year with it he didnt know I was there, I have also been busted in it by scent and too much movement, it effective but you got to use your head with it. It will be deadly on turkes this spring.
I like my Rancho Safari ghillie! I got the longcoat, leggings, and boonie/facemask model...Deer just don't see ya when you're wearing it!!!
A buddy of mine has the Rancho also, very nice suit, I would hesitate about buying that one either.
I have been using mine for EVERYTHING since I got it 2 years ago (Turkey, Deer, Hogs, Small Game, Scareing the begeezers out of the neighbor's kids). I have the pants, jacket and boonie hat from Rancho Safari. It is not the jute string model, it is made up of strips of non-cotton camo material.
I had a jute string one before this and didn't really like it. It was heavy, snagged on every little twig (OH the CUCKLEBURRS!) and just didn't blend in well. Also if you got rained on, it got so heavy it was hard to walk, not to mention how it smelled a day or two after if ya didn't get it well dried. I gave it away and bought the one I have now second hand and LOVE IT!
The body is made of netting similar to what is used to make duck decoy bags. I have found that if I need it a little darker, I wear all black under it, a little lighter, all grey or tan. In the spring I wear all green and it matches perfect.
The suits made with the cloth strips don't look "movie cool" like the military sniper jute string suits, but for a hunter I think they are better, more practicle. Just like "Elk don't know how many legs a horse has!" (name that movie) deer can't tell if you have on a jute string suit or a strip made one.
I have a dry bag (like you would use canoeing) I keep the suit in along with some cedar branches and a fresh handful of soil, and with appropriate caution have had deer TOO close.
Buy you one, make you one, just get yourself one they are a blast and far cheaper than a blind and easier to pack around. I have never flown anywhere to hunt, but figure it would be easier to pack a ghillie than a blind.
One last caution, when you do get your ghillie, put it on and practice in it. Make a few adjustments if need be. A snip here, or a trim there can make all the diffrence when shooting. Otherwise have fun with it. Just think, you'll never have to buy another Halloween costume ever again.
OkKeith
Thanks for all the info guys! And the movie line is from Jeremiah Johnson I believe, OKKeith. I see you are from Claremore. I work for Terra Nitrogen here in Sioux City, got a chance to visit our Terra plant at Claremore a couple of years ago. Great looking deer country!!
Hey Rod,
Yep, you got it.
It is good deer country around here. The right mix of farmland and timber. If you were at your plant at the Port of Catoosa (farthest inland port to the ocean I believe) on the Navigational Waterway, you were close to some really prime big timber bottomlands.
You ever get back up this way give me a holler. I know you will be working but I could buy ya some lunch or something.
OkKeith
I really like mine, not sure how well it works, but it has really raised my confidence and increased the number of animals I have seen. Can't say its the suit, but I do not think I have gotten that much better in a season. Can't wait to try it out on a gobbler this spring... 92 days left!
I made mine out of a ASAT 3-D suit , I got 20 years ago. Tied strips of different stuff in the leaves on the jacket, took the pants , cut the legs off at the crotch, tied in material , pull them on from the bottom for leggings. Then tied stuff in my boonie hat. It was cheap and light enough I wear it all turkey season. I've been using it for 10 years. They work but there not a cure-all.
One thing I have found is that you have to move slowly, and keep your arms close in. Deer and turkeys will spook if they suddenly see daylight between your ribs and your elbow.
Also, my experience is they don't work well from a treestand. Too much blob I suppose, but on the ground with some back cover, they work very well (around here anyway). In 10 years, when everybody has them, something else will work.
Kinda like flies (for fishing). A pattern is a killer for a few years then the fish get wise and some other new fantastic pattern shows up. Or an old pattern is brought back up since several generations of fish (and fisherman) have never seen it.
Nothing can replace decent woodsmanship, but they are fun! Don't ya just feel COOL when ya wear'em?
OkKeith
I have something to say about Gillie suits!!!
My friend and I took off to different stands while bear hunting once; and were to meet in the woods after the hunt. He had not told me he had brought a gillie suit in his backpack.. and when he walked up in the dark........ :scared: :eek:
He is a few inches taller than my 6-3... and I thought I was meeting bigfoot :help:
Gillie suits?? Tell your buddies your going to wear one; and for goodness sakes say something as you approach people in the dark.
Unless you own fruit of the loom stock or something...
:biglaugh:
I forgot to mention early be careful. Some of these suits are NOT fire retardant. Stories have some of these catching fire and hurting/ killing unsuspecting wearers. I would hate for that to happen to someone... don't smoke in one and don't wear it around the campfire. :campfire:
Good warning John. Yet another reason NOT to get the jute type suits! I looked and the suit I have is actually made of 50/50 poly/cotton material.
OkKeith