ok i do not like the feel of a face mask at all. i will be going on an elk hunt and know i need to camo my face. i am leaning to face paint. what do you use? would love and tips, suggestions, pictures ect....
I quit using either years ago. Much of the time you won't have a dark background and I think the black painted face is worse than nothing at all.
I usually use a few streaks of paint, it heats up quick after sun-up and a mask just feels too stuffy to me.
I use a face mask if anything because I don't like the mess and feel of face paint. I think it is like camo patterns in general. Use what gives you the most comfort and confidence. Movement is what gets you noticed.
Just stay in the shadows, the shine of a human face is worse than its color. Could just not shave for a few days.
I ws once hunting from a stand and a fella was hunting about 150 yards from me. Right at dark all I could see of him was his face.
carbomask or burnt cork.
Face paint or nothing for me. I do not like face masks.
I carry a thin face mask hat I carry In my pocket. If I set up on a bull I put in on. Face paint works all right but you usually end up sweating it off or wiping it off. Whatever you are comfortable with.
I really like the carbon face paint from 3 rivers, comes off really easy. I can't stand a face ask
i am not comfortable would either but i know you NEED to use something.
I use burnt cork in warm weather and a black silk balaclava in cold weather...
Another carbomask fan here. Cleanup is insanely simple.
Face mask for me. I've tried the paint but sometimes sweat and wipe it off, plus I dislike having it on all day or clean it off between each hunt. With the mask I use a style that I keep pulled up under my hat most of the time and only pull it down when I get into some action.
Full beard and a few streaks of light powder type paint. I agree with RC..have seen it a hundred times. A mans bare face glows like a jack o lantern in the timber
Face mask for me, just pull it up when when you get into the critters. Paint is too messy to deal with in the back country.
I have used paint but have also had elk with in a few steps with no paint... No I just skip the paint.
Mesh face mask. Light and non intrusive. I buy a couple new ones every year and keep at least in every possibles bag, duck and goose bag, and archery bag I own.
I don't use masks anymore they often interfere with hearing-one of my best weapons.
carbomask or burnt cork.
My personal preferance is paint.Dont wantthem to catch any shine.Like a jack rabbit when the sun shines through their ears.Face masks are fine too,but hot,if its not cold out.
Like most of you I hate wearing anything, but feel you needed to, so I use the spando-flage, a strechy-elastic-netted head cover. Only thing is I cut the top off then wear it upside down. Most of the time it is lowered around my neck and when like a neck gaiter. Sucks when it is hot though. Anytime I foresee action or am in the shadows I pull up over the nose and below the eyes, kinda bandit style with a bandanna.
Burnt cork is my second choice, always have one in a fannie in pack.
Should probably add that I always grew a beard each hunting season, starting in July until it the brown hair stated turning gray.
The beard you are wearing on your avatar will work fine. Every situation is different but sometimes things happen quick so the less you have to jack with the better IMO. I quit wearing anything on my face but maybe a little stubble and I am still killing elk....Shawn
Burnt cork is the best all around face coverup.
I'm a mask man. I just feel like everything can see me when I do not have it on. I might try the burnt cork this year. Good reason to by another bottle of wine:)
Face mask, keep it simple.
I think you need to cover your face. Carbonmask, black, squirt some on your hands and rub over face, done, don't need a mirror.
I like big vertical lines of paint to break the silhouette, to blend with the vertical forest and to try and hide my eyes, if you are on your knees and not moving, I think a close elk sees your eyes. I top it off with a boonie hat with ghillie cover to break the silhouette and to shadow the face.. I have found that all camo works as long as you are hidden behind a tree and all scent killer works as long as you stay down wind!
I really like the mesh face mask but obviously the paint will work too. They are very light, you can keep it around your neck and just pull it up when you need it and it doesn't close off the ventilation from your chest up through the collar of your shirt like a spandex type face mask will. Also, you can wash it in a creek and it drys in no time.
I don't know why anyone would go through all the effort of chasing elk and NOT wear something to cover the most visible and highest off the ground part of the body. Why take a chance when you have travled so far, worked so hard and spent so much money. You finally get in the chips with an elk close and no face coverage???? Not me.
I don't like the grease paints as many will just wear-off as you sweat. I don't like a mask when hiking, it's too hot and hard to see everything but I will wear it down around my neck until it is really needed.
Last year I tried the old pirate's trick of using a burnt end of a cork. It cleans off nicely but does tend to wear out some by the end of the day. It is a good free alternative to a mask and face paint.
When elk hunting, I'm moving alot! I prefer a mask that hangs around my neck when not needed... but quickly available come crunch time.
I also have used burnt cork.
If hunting from a treestand for whitetails, in warm weather, I use cork or paint.
Paint is a pain to put on every morning and take off every night. I use a mask or nothing.
I carry my mask in the pocket of my pants. I put it on when the stalk gets serious. I don't like the feel of either for long.
MAP
QuoteOriginally posted by adkmountainken:
i am not comfortable would either but i know you NEED to use something.
Not necessarily so! I have only rarely used anything to hide my face. When I have, it has been a bit of charcoal from the fire to streak the face here and there.
After several days in the field the beard growth starts to hide a bit (less now since "salt and pepper" is giving way to salt :) )
I wear eyeglasses and they are probably more of a problem than anything but all in all, can't say that I've ever been busted over glasses or face!
OTOH, know for a fact that I was once busted by a lead cow due to UV reflection coming of blue jeans. :eek:
Just go full beard Big Kenny. Have your bow in front of your face as elk approach, and set up in the shadows, you'll be fine.
I haven't wore a headnet or facepaint in 15-20 years.
Burn a cork, Brother!!!!! :thumbsup:
I grow a beard and wear my booney hat that has the integral face mask. I shot my elk with no face mask as I was walking out one evening thinking I was done hunting.
For me the hassle of either far out weighs the benefit. A beenie hat and beard have always been good enough for me.
I sweat so much Elk hunting I don't use either. Paint is a pain and I don't like shooting with a mask. I found while deer hunting the deer are much more likely to spot my movement than the color of my face. I have to believe it is the same with Elk. Scent first, movement second, color or lack of... third in order of game noticing me.
Maybe I go overboard,but the fur trapper in me says take every precaution. I have never hunted elk, but ungulates being what they are, I would wear something to camo my face.
You could no dought get away without using anything, but if you get caught with the sun on your face, you may wish you had. Why take the chance?
I use face paint for most deer hunting on the ground. use wet wipes in a ziplock in hunting pack to wipe it off.
no face vial for me, to much to go wrong or distract you from the shot focus etc. just not for me.
Here is the deal...if you live in elk country and can hunt all the time you can afford a few risks like not wearing SOMETHING to hide your face. Out of state dream hunts are something else entirely.
As RC has said, a human face shines like a beacon in most light conditions. After sunset, before dark, I saw a man's face from 100 yards this fall while he was sitting still in the middle of a bush waiting to ambush ducks. (Stood out like a blazing beacon)
Cover your face with something...if you are sweating from the heat you MAY want to be hunting differently anyways. (think wallows, etc. places where it is cooler) I use a face mask or burnt cork no matter what. Elk are not as skittish as whitetails, but they aren't dumb either. Also, in the rut they will come from unexpected places and at unexpected times...Often you will have to setup on the fly and your face should not be one of your concerns in that situation.
Try both options this summer while shooting your bow and that will tell you which you prefer.
I have always used paint. I use it for turkey hunting also. I hate mask. Just dont feel right.
If I am sitting a stand Paint.
If I am hiking and moving a lot, I keep a mask handy and use it when I am in action.
elk are not as skittish as whitetails, but they aren't dumb either. Also, in the rut they will come from unexpected places and at unexpected times...Often you will have to setup on the fly and your face should not be one of your concerns in that situation.
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