I have a Leaf suit currently and it has worked for me in the past, but it has also contributed to the deer busting me due to noise.
I would like to get a "real" Ghillie suit and preferably a long coat style, that is lightweight, and must be noiseless.
Those that have used them please give me your recommendation on best ones out there, thanks.
I have a "Sapper Suit" from allpredatorcalls.com.
It isn't your typical heavy string type construction (although they do make one like that).
This one is a mesh long coat with "shoot thru mesh camo strips attached.
It is really light weight, comes with a hood and flap to cover your face if you wish to use it.
I haven't noticed it to be noisy.
It hasn't legs to catch on all the weeds and brush, and the best part is it was only $60, so if it doesn't work for you, you are not out a whole lot....just donate it to St. Judes.
QuoteOriginally posted by beaunaro:
I have a "Sapper Suit" from allpredatorcalls.com.
It isn't your typical heavy string type construction (although they do make one like that).
This one is a mesh long coat with "shoot thru mesh camo strips attached.
It is really light weight, comes with a hood and flap to cover your face if you wish to use it.
I haven't noticed it to be noisy.
It hasn't legs to catch on all the weeds and brush, and the best part is it was only $60, so if it doesn't work for you, you are not out a whole lot....just donate it to St. Judes.
X2
Rancho Safari long coat. It is incredible, just wish it was cooler here in sc so I could wear it more.
I also decided to try the sapper suit and staying on the ground this year. Have had a couple of close encounters and misses(different perspective) but it has been a good season so far. Have had deer in heart in throat close and passed for various reasons but will take one eventually I'm sure. Sapper suit is light, and quiet, just needs some trimming on bow arm and chest.
I use a RS ultralight longcoat. It has no stringy materials, just flaps of material. I won't trade it. It has gotten me into so many close encounters I can't even count them.
ChuckC
Make your own. Cheaper and fun! Wife and I made one in a weekend. They will get you close to deer!
Bush Rag makes a good long coat at an affordable price. It uses bug suit material as a base and then has 3/4" netting sewn onto that. The ghillie threads are tied to the 3/4" netting. They are light and easy to repair when the threads start to wear over time.
Darren
Rancho Safari Long coat for me. Top quality. Will last a life time. $200 might sound expensive but when u are comparing it to the purchase of stands and accessories, not so much. I own the original, but I understand that they now offer a lighter weight model. Whatever you do, I would recommend staying with the long coat. The two piece suits(pants)are a pain. :campfire:
Each has its advantage.
Traditional Ghillie - PROS: nothing diffuses light better than a traditional ghillie. Easy to use and make or add more material. CONS: burlap is smelly, snags on everything and it is hot and heavy - look out of it gets wet
Newer mesh Ghillie (like Kill Suit and newer Cabellas) PROS: very light weight, easy to fit in a pack, does not snag on everything and you can just throw it in the washer and they are CHEAP, and they can be worn over any combination of material CONS: can't easily add material, does not diffuse light as much
For me I love wearing a traditional ghillie when it is cool enough and there is not a lot of underbrush - but I find myself wearing my various Kill Suit combinations 95% of the time. The sapper suit is all you really need as it covers down to mid thigh. BTW - another advantage is that the Kill Suits are much easier to climb a tree with although I usually put mine on once I am in the stand. Yes the right Ghillie is also very effective in trees.
Here is the difference between reg camo and ghillie. Regular camo was invented to help you blend into environments and make it harder to outline or see you. Ghillie suit camo was developed/perfected to remain undetected by an enemy actually looking for you.
I cannot prove it but I get away with a lot more slow movement with a ghillie then I ever have with any camo including the open patterns like predator and ASAT. I've had deer and elk see me draw my bow with the ghillie but they seldom blow out of the area and very few became highly alerted. Most just noticed me and then shrug it off as a non-threat. That has been my experience withe the Sapper/kill suit as well.
http://www.ghilliesuits.com/BowHunterSuit.aspx
This is the one I have.... The bdu's they are attached to are nice and after a couple washed I've had zero problems with noise I've had deer and turkey's at 5 and less yards while wearing it. Love the suit only problem I do have is these yarn/string style suits pick up allot of woods dabrie and r hard to clean out.
Rancho Safari Longcoat, Camo color is called 4 seasons with burlap. The best i ever used. I tried them all. They are very warm, i don't put mine on until i reach my hunting area.
I have the Marc Anthony designed suit from bushrag. It's nice as its designed for bow hunters with no jute on the arm or chest. That said it doesn't stuff in a pack very well. I use a USMC surplus assault pack to carry it in the woods and can't fit much else in there. I often times don't wear the pants and just the jacket. The hood is annoying so I made my own ghillie hat out of an old boonie cover. I can tell you it does work, I recently had a groundhog almost run me over sitting on the ground.
I did however just purchase the ASAT 3d leafy suit and it seems way better. Compacts down into nothing, big enough to fit over all of my cold weather gear, and doesn't look like it will snag quite as bad as the ghillie if I decide to get up and walk around. Haven't worn it out in the field yet but I hear nothing but good reviews. It doesn't seem that loud to me, but folks just say you have to wash it a few times for the noise to go away.
I use the Sapper suit from Allpredator calls- light weight long coat w/hood. Works well & cheap!
I love my bushrag! I run the marc anthony one. I really agree with Dave T above.
Thanks for all the good info from your experience, Dave T.
Hadn't thought of wearing mine in a tree.
Good to hear they don't spook as much with the movement of drawing.
I'm going to have to give it a try.
:clapper:
those of you using the sapper suit, are you cutting away the material for bow shooting?
ASAT 3d suit........you will not be seen.
Make your own!!!!! :thumbsup: It's really not hard...
Go to the fabric store and get 3 yards of nylon mesh, like they make laundry bags from. Fold it in half,lengthwise. Then measure about 20" down from the fold on each side,then sew from that point to the bottom.(about 2/3ds of each side.) Cut a slit or hole for your head,and make a simple hood if you want and sew it on,or just make a facemask type hood to slip over your head. Whatever you prefer... Basicly, you're making a "Poncho" style.
Buy about 4 balls of colored Jewt twine and a "Rug hook" from the craft store. Then cut the twine into 12" pieces & go to town!!!
You can work on it as much as you like! You could work steady and finish it in a couple days... Or, work on it alittle each night,for a winter project. Have Fun!!!!!
Sorry Guys for the delay in responding.
Ok for those with the Sapper suit in the 3D strips how much noise does this suit make when moving?
Let set a situation to clarify what i'm looking for.
Your in your hidy hole and have the suit on and it 6:10 pm and there no wind and you can hear a pin drop in a cotton pile quiet and deer at 10 yards.
How much noise will that deer pick up on while slowly drawing your bow back?
My current leaf suit is made out of a Polyester material and in these condition deer have lock in on the slightest sound. and the material tend to have a velcro type locking effect between leaves.
South, I just had a doe tense up at the sound of my arrow rubbing across the arrow rest (rug). Course, she was at 6 yards or less while I was on the ground. I had a mulie buck tense up while I was drawing another bow, same thing, and he was more like 20 yards away.
Under the right conditions, they can hear a lot.
CHuckC
South... never been a problem for me it's made from mesh so they are pretty quiet.
ttt anymore?
I've been thinking if going ghille for awhile. Worried about the fit for a talk guy. Any tall guys have these?
I've been thinking if going ghille for awhile. Worried about the fit for a talk guy. Any tall guys have these?
Sorry about the double post.
QuoteOriginally posted by Wandering Archer:
those of you using the sapper suit, are you cutting away the material for bow shooting?
I cleared the inside of left arm and left upper chest but it wasn't a real problem. I have a bad habit of always tweaking things...
Here is a post from years ago I put up on making your own ghillie suit. I still prefer to make mine, I provided a link below my original post to the site that I learned to make mine from, but for hunting purposes I don't add the cabinet foam and canvas to anywhere other than the knees.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=047328;p=1
Rancho safari, use it almost always and love it.
I have used an ASAT 3D leafy suit for a few years and can attest to its effectiveness (but as pointed out by someone earlier: being made of synthetic material, it doesn't diffuse light well, so be aware that in early-morning / late-evening light conditions, you tend to stand out depending on your surroundings).
However, I've been curious about trying a ghillie. Has anyone tried a 'viper tog'-style ghillie and had any success? Instead of a full-body ghillie, it is designed to break up the outline of the human head and shoulders while not adding a lot of bulk. The initial offerings were rather expensive, but lately some affordable options have become available, such as the one by Voodoo Tactical:
(http://www.saigonsamsmilitary.com/prodimages/Sniper%20Tog.jpg)
Similar to a home-made ghillie, you tie/stick whatever material/foliage you want in the netting. The one pictured above even has a built-in pouch for a hydration pack.
Just wondering if anyone has tried this and had success; it looks like it would work well for still hunting and spot-and-stalk (nothing to snag your legs on) while still effectively breaking up your outline and letting you blend in.
Oops, double post.
Where are you guys buying your Shaggie Rancho, and is the 4seasons the camo to buy, i think 3rivers only has the woodland. I am 5'10", #200, would a large be ok?
Shaggies, by Rancho Safari came large, at least when I bought mine. Large as in, very voluminous so you can wear a fanny pack etc.
Cabelas used to have them, I guess now 3Rivers does, or order direct from RS on-line.
Something to consider.. RS makes a Bowhunter deluxe version and a longcoat version. My OWN experience is that the Bowhunter version is fuller (more stuff sewn to it) and may be more cumbersome, while the longcoat is less full and trims up right fine. It is also a bit less expensive. Mine was called the ultralight back in the day, I think it is just the LCBU version (no jute or burlap) now. If / when I buy another, it will be the same as what I have.
Remember to wear it for practice and trim whatever needs to be gone. Don't get excited, it helps and it doesn't hurt the coat's effectiveness.
CHuckC