Ghillie Suits for Archery Hunting

[MikeT49]

I recently picked a ghillie suit for archery hunting. I am almost completely ignorant on their usage other than Google BS. For those of you that use them, any tips, tricks, pros, cons, etc would be appreciated. Targeted animals will be elk and whitetail. TIA Mike

 

[drop_point]

A real ghillie is useless for archery. Your front is going to be free of jute, which is the side of you turned toward the animal.

Also you have jute hanging around that can get tied up in the cams...and you know what happens then.

If you've found regular wearable camo ineffective, I'd suggest a leaf suit over a ghillie personally. I've never found the need for more than camo clothing. I've been a fairly successful archery hunter myself and never been busted because of what I was wearing, its most always scent.

 

[AWS]

First if it is raining they get heavy and don't dry well. As above jute ones I think would be a pain with a bow.

I regularly wear a strip ghillie for coyote hunting as it is just easier to put over any clothing that is deemed necessary due to weather than have a closet full of camo for different conditions. I just where a Ghillie jacket as my legs sitting are below any coyotes vision. Even in a Ghillie it is movement that gives you away more than the camo your wearing. I use the legs from a ghillie suit to make rifle wraps and face coverings.

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They are also bur, barbwire and thorn magnets

I've ust started hunting coyotes with a bow and haven't had any problems with my ghillie jacket bow hunting.

 

[DiffEQ]

Get out and practice with it on. See how it works for you.

 

[MikeT49]

I forgot to include that I can't shoot a vertical bow anymore, I will be using a crossbow.

 

[Migolito]

Folks get in thier head what a Ghillie is. It's nothing more that camo/netting that you can, or not, attach foilage to. I've hunted Archery with an extremely lite weight Ghillie Jacket. It's basically punch cut camo fabric made into a loose jacket. It will not retain a lot of water and is very quiet. Mine did catch on vegetation if I pushed through thick stuff. The nice thing about the Ghilli I used is that it definately broke up my outline, and it moved with the slightest breeze. Deer/elk would look right through me. Thats the point. Shoot with it(obviously) and see if you need to cover your arm for line snap. Btw, I always painted my face and did not wear a balaclava.

 

[hogpatrol]

I'm in the same boat, crossbow only. I have a couple leaf suits. This is the one I wear in the early season and I sometimes hunt on the ground. Deer have been ten feet away and never realized a human was there.

 

[Bojo]

My brother swears by a cheap 2 piece leaf suit.
For those of us who lack self discipline in sitting/standing still, being comfortable is the most important as it keeps you from fidgeting too much.
I also am a firm believer in doing your best to break up your eye outline

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have had a 2 piece leaf/carbon suit for 25 years. Early season archery,Turkey, field waterfowl, fall bear. I also have had deer close,one crop row, and gone unrecognized.

 

[AWS]

I've been thinking about this since my first post and while I wear a ghillie jacket coyote hunting I started thinking about all the deer I've killed, still hunting and tracking in a bright orange wool coat, some I could have touched with the muzzle of the rifle and the closest kill was 8' sitting on the ground with no blind, he just walked up to me.

There is at least one U-tube video of a fellow sitting in the open in a Santa Suit calling in coyotes.

A ghillie isn't they end-all of camo you still have to take into consideration scent management(using the wind) and keeping still.

 

[ebb]

Down this end of the world bugs are the biggest problem. When i bow hunted i used a bugtamer and attached what i needed to it to break up outline. The bugtamer was eventually found to be enough with out adding much.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

I started wearing an ASAT leafy suit and head cover. I hunt in natural blinds and on the ground a lot.

I will never hunt without it again. I have never had a deer pick me off. Have had them smell me and walk within 5 feet looking for me but they look right through you.... unless you move.

Nice and light, things don't stick to it and it is mesh- breathable and so you can wear it anytime and also doesn't muffle your hearing.

 

[Twdmar]

Ghillie suit camouflage works to soften your outline but unlike in the movies doesn't make you invisible. You probably already realize this.
I don't use one because it's heavy and doesn't work to spot and stalk because it's bulky and snags on things. They work great for calling in turkeys.
If its one with the punched out leaf pattern, I think that would work better than a sniping style and be fine.
I have a hat with a small amount of burlap on it that I keep in my pocket for bowhunting. I do a lot of crawling up to the edges of canyons looking for deer and it breaks up the silhouette of my head better I think.
Try it out, they are good for some things, not so much for others. Good luck!

 

[nockhunter]

A good friend of mine said it was the best thing he ever did was using one for archery hunting. We shoot traditional bows, (me recurve, him long bow). He trimmed the strings on the inside of his bow arm and chest area. He ground hunts 90% of the time.

Mike

P.S. I will be giving it a go this year

 

[Park ranger]

I dress in full camo head to toe and play hide and seek with my bloodhound and wife in my woods. Wife and dog can’t see me, but you can’t fool that nose. Bloodhound nose is better than thermal, it can go back in time where thermal has to look in real time.

 

[mikeinct]

I sit where I am comfortable facing into/cross ways to the wind. I watch my back trail but if you know their pattern movement during the light you will be fine with any comfy clothes.