Ghillie kit

[jonathan creason]

Anybody ever built their own ghillie suit from a kit?  I'm thinking about keeping my feet on the ground more this upcoming season and would like to use a ghillie to try to gain a little edge.  The big auction site has some kits, both jute and synthetic, from around $30-$50.  Would this be a worthwhile investment, or would I be better served with something else?

[Matt Fowler]

I'm in the process of makin' my own. Gonna make a head and shoulders type, sewing the netting onto a camo shirt and hat. I stripped and died burlap bags. Hope to get some burlap tied on this weekend.

[huntin_sparty]

I dont know about those kits but I used a ASAT 3d camo suit last season and saw more deer than ever before.  Its $140 but it worked for me.

[Matt Fowler]

Some of my material

[ryped]

Jonathan,

I built my own this winter from a kit and it worked out great.  I made a synthetic tracker kit with olive, tan, brown and black.  In hindsight I wish I would have used tan, tan, olive and brown b/c it got to dark.  I'll PM you a pic.

Matt, nice material.

[jonathan creason]

Got the pic, ryped, that suit looks great.  I've read a lot of comments here and there about getting them too dark.  It's hard for me to picture in my head how I want it to turn out and choose colors correctly, though.

[pronghorn23]

I built my own this summer from. It was fun but time consuming.  I could've bought one but doing it myself I saved about half the price. The time factor was the difference. But I like doing things knowing I made it myself.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I have two shaggie suits with tops and leggings for stalking.  I no longer use the leggings they catch on everything.  They work great and are easy enough to make.  Your burlap colors look great and should work well.  I use three different shaggies, one that is light for winter and late fall, one that is tans and browns for eastern washington, and one that has more greens and browns for spring and summer hunting and hunting the west side of Washington.  

Lots of people use way to much burlap on their suits.  Leave the clumps of threads long and stagger them. You can create the shape masking effect without a lot of bulk.  

I reccomed dipping the burlap in a no scent fire retardant.  Burlap thread is an excellent fire starter.  I watched a buddies shaggie suit go up in flames once.  A careless flick of his cigarette caught it on fire.  This leads to my next reccomendation.  Either use velcro as the closure mechanism, or make sure the buttons are lightly sewn on so you can rip them off to get out of the suit.  NO ZIPPERS.  My buddy got thrown in the creek and then cut out of the suit. He jammed the zipper trying to open it when it caught on fire.  No one hurt, just one really scared / wet buddy and the rest of us laughing at him.

[wisconsinteacher]

My kit is in the mail.  I hope to start it next week.  I paid 70 shipped and I think I will be able to get a suit, hat, and a shoulder cover for my wife out of the kit.  I will post pictures when it is done.

[mjh]

I made mine from a kit from Bushrag been very happy with mine.

[Shakes.602]

Can Ya make one with an Oversized Hoodie SweatShirt and Fishing Net?? The "Frugal Archers Methodology"?? DIY is GOOD!!

[Friends call me Pac]

Here is mine.  Shirt is a long sleeve Dickeys work shirt.  Netting is a volleyball net.  Strips are 90% rit dyed jute and 10% strips of camo netting.  

[Shakes.602]

Ya Definitely  LOOK  Like a Shrub!!     Great Job!!