I saw that guile suit designed by Marc Anthony, where your bow arm is clear of guile material,,,, good idea,,, anyone know of anyone who sells that style.....

Yea, I have one, it's made by Bush-Rag. It is a quality suit and pretty lightweight as far as Ghillie's go being built on a mesh bug suit type of coat and pants. The cut away bow arm and chest area is the way to go. After some trial shooting I got the scissors out and trimmed up some areas to better suit me, and added a little in some other areas. It has both the burlap string and the leafy mesh. The string is a smaller size than some ghillie's which probably helps keep weight down. It has the net covering for attachment so you could add more material, but when you do the weight and heat of the suit will increase. It's a well balanced all around camo and if I add anything it is usualyl a little natural material from the area I am in.

You can get one from any maker and trim the arm fringe for string clearance.

I have a Rancho Safari that I trimmed and don't have any interference with my string.

Here I am testing it in the back yard, I don't wear sneakers when I hunt.

You can trim the fabric off of the arms of most ghillie suits.

If you have a chance to wear a ghillie before buying I would strongly advise it. I bought a set and my first time out I couldn't wait to get back to the truck and ditch it.

Many people have them and love them. They are just not for everyone. Bad part is you don't know until you wear them. Best of luck!

I have used the Rancho Safari one quite a lot but always fighting the trimmed left sleeve, I finally just cut the sleeve off at the shoulder and works great, Bob

"I don't wear sneakers when I hunt."

I do! I stillhunt and until it gets very cold (sub-freezing all day), I wear black high top sneakers. I got them a size larger so I can wear heavy socks and a thinsulate bootie that I found at Ace Hardware. I also have rubber overshoes I put on if it's damp. I can walk very quietly with them as I can feel if there's a stick or something on the ground before I set all my weight on that foot. Can I do a 5 mile power hike over rocky shale with them? No. But that's not what their for. I hunt midwest farm woodlots and the slower I go the better.

When it get's really cold and/or accumulated snow then I go to my Bean's Guide Boots.

I made my own using the leafy camo material I bought at wal-mart. Measured out a length cutting a hole for my head. It's like a poncho. I wear a long sleeved camo shirt under it to cover my arms and a belt at the waist to keep it from billowing out. It's wide enough to go past your shoulders slightly, which is good..

I took the same material and attached wide strips criss-crossing the top of my hat making sure that the strips hang down past your shoulders blending into the body. I adjust/trim the material to provide clearance for the bow string and vision..

I first created this thru frustration trying to bowhunt Turkey without a blind. Still have to be careful with movement but i've been close enough to touch them...

Chris

I don't know the answer to the OP's question, but trimming the sleeve shouldn't be difficult.

Back in the day before anyone manufactured these suits, military snipers used to have to make their own. This was done by sewing camo netting to the back of a flight suit or mechanic's coveralls, then attaching burlap strips to the netting. The strips were then completely "fringed" (like we used to do to old jeans), so they were mostly just a thick bunch of strings. Finally, the burlap was spray painted somewhat to better match the local terrain. A sniper's ghillie had nothing on the front because if they weren't low crawling, they weren't doing it right.

The commercially available suits of today look well suited for standing or sitting in the woods. I may give one a try some day (after I retire), but I'll probably make my own. - John

im with woodsman on the head and shoulders profile.. often thought that a guilli hat by its self would be good...ron

You are correct glue!

I have a boonie hood for my Shaggie suit and I've used just it when sitting on in deadfall during gun season WITH A BLAZE ORANGE BANDANA tied to the top and had deer walk right by be without a glance.

IMO the human head/shoulders outline is what they pick out first even if you don't move. That's why you should always be aware of your backdrop. I've also found that if you kneel down they don't pick you out quite a fast either, which is why I wear knee pads when I hunt.

If I kneel that long in a ghillie suit, how is anybody gonna find me when I call and ask for help up?

LOL! Everything has trade offs!

This three piece "string" ghillie suit usually sells for less than 75$. It does attract a lot of stickers so I put it on at the hunting site. I have only used it for turkeys.

one still has to draw the bow and make movement so it is important to chose the ambush location with care and with some cover to blend in with.

I'd never buy a ghillie suit, and I'd never use any type but the poncho type for most hunting.

All you need is a piece of netting that you can cut a hole in for your head to go through, and a bunch of strips of different color and type of material, and some jute,

Just start at the bottom of the poncho and start tying on the strips with an over hand knot. You can make one as good as and more versatile than any you can buy.

You have different types of material so that light is reflected an refracted differently, much like different types of leaves and foliage. You can modify the colors by adding to. or taking from. More green in some climates, white in snow, etc..

And the netting is much cooler than any type of jacket etc.. You also have the ability to put the material where you want it, and as much as you want.

Total investment probably $12.00 and 2 hours.

I made an impressive attempt at a homemade guille suit last year. I took a night vision parka that was issued to me during desert storm and a bunch of burlap material and earthy colored yarn- glued it all together with shoe-goo and it turned out pretty good. I then did a boonie hat in the same fashion. It seems to work- deer walk right past me and show me no attention.I'll try to post a picture later.

I bought some blanket material for a blind and it works well, they have a complete gillie blind cover...

there gillie jackets looks very good.

https://www.ghilliesuits.com/BowHunterSuit.aspx

Frank - I think you once floated the idea of a build-along for a Ghillie...

You post it, and I PROMISE to read it!

GDS says a good Ghillie is practically cheating. I say SIGN ME UP. I’ll holler ‘Nuff when I get tired of eating backstraps.

How do grilles work when your in winter conditions, all the leaves are gone?

I quit wearing my home made ghillie suit. It's better to wear regular camo to keep a small or slim profile. Then, you will yourself to disappear in plain sight. It works! If you will yourself to disappear, you disappear and can't be seen by deer. 4 to 8 yard shots will be the norm. You won't do any better with a ghillie.

Joe

I spoke to a graduate of scout/sniper school, who also hunts,,, he said, for hunting, the guile application, only needs to be the top half,,,,, also, because it picks up everything in the world, you should carry it, on a frame or its own straps and put on, when you get to locations......

Furthermore, its intent, is that even when you move, it will cover movement....... There is a lot to be said, to what Frisky said,,,,,, this sniper graduate said, he could wear a multi color shirt, and only a guille hat, and not be seen, or detected, he had seen that done in training......

He also said, nothing can shine, and that means your face, which he completely covers, and believes in dark fletching, also.....

a lighted nock, if you use them, would be helpful, on arrow retrieval,,,,,,,,

he said, he has had hunters, come within feet of him, on public land, while he was armed with a crossbow, and they never knew he was there, and he could have grabbed their ankles,,,,,,,

he said, the rush he gets, in killing a deer, has nothing to do with its size, but how close it is,,,,, anything farther than 10 steps is not acceptable.......

in his application, now that he is shooting trad, is that he almost just snap shoots, he developed his own style, since his quarry is so close,,,,,

"If you will yourself to disappear, you disappear and can't be seen by deer."

So if you THINK you disappear, then you DO? AWESOME! A new LGTBDFPOLKJUTRWACJKLNC catagory......TRANSVISUAL!!!!

I think I'll "will" myself as the state lottery winner this week!

I believe there is something to what Frisky said. At a minimum, you should avoid staring at the animal. Even people are sensitive to this. Try staring intently at someone who is not looking at you and see how long it takes for them to turn and look right at you. It takes animals a lot less time and it terrifies them when they make eye contact.

Hopefully this comment won't take us into a discussion of Hecs suits... - John

I would listen to Frisky. He is the Legend around here. He has even killed a doe to prove that his method works.

When did GDS say a Ghillie was cheating? Just curious where you found that information. I have said several things about them...expensive, look goofy, but foremost that wearing one of those in turkey season here would likely be a suicide mission. I don't use one, nor would I use one, since I think it's just extra crap to drag along on a hunt.

In all the years I've been hunting, the deer have not changed. They don't wear anything to make them disappear, still those brown/gray coats. However, there is a billion dollar business out there in things to try to circumvent the challenge of hunting them. But hey, you do what you have to do I suppose.

Here is my home made guillie.

My mistake, George! But I know it was somebody around here who ground-hunts a lot.

Just the same - I’m interested in experimenting a bit. I do know that sitting up a tree is losing its appeal as I go along...

well I found what I want today,,,, stopped at a Military Surplus store , had 3/4 guile with hood, total weight 2lbs, rolls up nice, 59.00,,,,,,,, done deal.....

nicely made, no burlap, all jute material, both with buttons and zipper,,, light inside, so it will breathe well.....

Turkeys are in trouble now,,,,,, do I need it, no, but just more fun, to screw around with,,,,,

I used one, for along time, when I gun hunted turkeys, simply layed out in fields, average shot was 10 steps, they had no idea,,,,,

then I started to hunt them with bow, but dislike the pop up blinds, need to be mobile,,,,,,

with this one, I can take it off easily, transport it easily on back, and put on, when needed,,,,,,,,

You can disbelieve their effectiveness, do what you want, but I know how well they work

Sawtooth....That's a really good job of crafting that suit. My compliments.

I thank you.

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