I am searching for hat that I could wear when shooting. I have a fedora that I like but the string hits the brim when I draw and it drives me crazy. Any suggestions about a good shooting hat? How do you manage to keep the string off of the Brim?

I wear a baseball cap and turn it around like a catcher would. :) Jawge

Same as Jawge here.Chris

same hear too!

Look at the pictures of Fred Bear, or Asbell in TBM. They have a slight curl in the brim of their hat over their right eye. I assume that makes a string clearance. I'm sure it starts lots of conversations, too. This topic has come up before, lots of the guys seem to like a boonie type cover with a floppy brim.

Baseball cap backwards for me too

I wear a Goorin fedora with a soft, stingy (short) brim at a slight angle. Works very well. Marco

Baseball caps are for baseball. I have an Orvis Lite Felt from Bass Pro Shop ($39). The brim is not so big, so it works better for shooting the bow.

Jones Style Hats pretty well solved that problem back in the day but I don't think any company makes them today.

They were making a real short billed Camo Hat in Asat Camo back in the 1990's which really "fit the bill" for Bowhunting but I don't think they are made anymore.

Baseball caps just look out of place on a Traditional shooter.

Tip your head up and then slid the brim down the string as you approach your anchor. Or just hold your head higher- not tucking your chin way down.

For warm weather hunting I take a shears to the brim of a ball cap, later I wear a short brimmed hat, Other wise nothing. I am guessing those little short billed caps welder wear could be cool to.

I have 3 old Jones hats but the string will still hit the brim on all 3 unless you push it up a little (look at the Wensels). I going for the military boonie with the back down and front tilted up. I have a military BDU hat I wear hunting and all I do is flip up the brim and the string clears nicely. It looks quite dorky at a 3-D shoot though like an aircraft mechanic during WW2.

Fedora works well if you train the front to angle down. Then you can tilt the hat farther back on your head n with the brim bent down in front it still looks like its where it belongs but it doesn't hit your string. Or get one with a flimsy enough brim that it doesn't matter if you hit it. Personally I wear a small brimmed boonie for hunting.

hard to find those baseball caps with the bill on the back where i shop.

Stetson fedora, looks great and very classy. eathier tilt back or curl up the brim where needed.

Pin the brim up while hunting. Simple

Hats that my wife makes. Worked with her to get the brim just right.

I use a camo boonie while hunting. Push the brim up in the front and back, and the sides keep the sun off my ears. Drop the brim in back to keep the sun off my neck.

Second the boonie

Hey Plenty Coups, Put in my order with your wife. homebru

Been hunting in a Boonie since the mid 90's. Run the strap up over the top to roll up the sides and rotate it until the string clears you style. You look like a total fool (so says the wife...) but in the woods who cares. :)

Shoot enough and you'll get used to it.

This one from Cabelas - all-mesh-top boonie.

Rolling the brim of your Fedora will help. The string might still make contact, but the brim lifts easily and does not interfere with the draw. I can use a baseball style cap with my 60" bow, but when I shoot 64" there is often contact. I wouldn't consider the notion of turning my cap before the shot. The motion of that action could easily alert your prey. I think the boonie style cap is a great option as is the style that Plenty Coups Archery shows above.

Let's say it's 88 degrees out and humid. I don't think I'll be wearing a non mesh cap. My Dad used to wear a ball cap backwards while playing soccer. Dana, I like that one. BUt I think I'll keep wearing my hat backwards. Jawge

Boonie...soft enough that it shoudn't bother with string draw and shadows your face-protects you from the sun!

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chief

Backwards baseball cap, boonie with sides upturned, at one time I had a camo baseball cap with a short "archers brim" can't find them anymore. Anybody know who makes them???

Who cares about shooting? Hunting is the issue. You need a brim to cover your eyes, so game can't see you blink AND still be able to shoot. The only hat I found that fills the bill is a Crusher Hat from www.dayonecamouflage.com.

Bowmania

Soft brim boonie will curl up when the string comes into contact with it. At least mine does. Another option with the boonie is to cut a small slit in the brim seam. Straighten a wire hanger and slide into seam all the way around. Both ends of wire sshould be on same side of the slit. Now you can shape the brim ant way you want. A few stiches will keep the slit from shredding. Frank

Short billed baseball hunting hats are sold by Mike Horton of the Nocking Point 913-774-7172

Jim

Thank you JIM!!!

I wear a ball cap or a dew rag if its hot. I have several hats with full brims, but the brim on the sides dampen my hearing too much. Hunting elk by sound I need my hearing too hear distant bugles, herd talk, or the slightest stick breaking in the timber. Fedora style hats take away too much sound!

Predator Camo made a bowhunter's short brim cap. Not sure if it's still available, but it's my favorite.

small bill dick tracy hat for me.

I often use a Greek fisherman's cap, as they have a short brim that doesn't interfere with the bowstring.

RonP

Stormy Cromer makes a hat with a shorter bill but they're made from wool so probably pretty hot for early season or southern states. Most of the time here in MI, I wear an old grey stocking cap.

I just cut the excess bill from a ball cap and stitch it closed. Works for me.

"Who cares about shooting? Hunting is the issue"

Bowmania, the OP specifically asked about shooting so we are trying to help him out a little.

Thats a great idea George and a simple fix i like baseball caps and this problem has been Vexing me for ages!

Redback

I had the same problem , went to a hat made by ARIZONA SHADDY HATS .. Sedona model .. made in the good old USA. You can Google them. AZ

OOPS .. forgot to rotate ... sorry AZ

Thank you gentlemen for all your replies and ideas. I went to Cabelas today and tried on a gore-tex boonie hat that I liked. The brim on it was fairly short and it was easy to flip up. I have not bought it yet, but I am thinking that I will. I also liked the idea that it was waterproof. Thank you all.

Shoot a waxed cotton Filson hat that is just right. 2 1/2" brim.

Hey Thx Riverwolf .... AZ

I don't like any brim over my ears either. Sound is muffled and you can't tell what direction it's comming from.

I like the boonie, have several, they can be rolled up in front if you like, or pulled down over your eyes.

It protects from sun, and if you treat them with Hunt Dri, they still stay soft and protects from rain, snow. I use them for hunting, don't really care what it looks like, but they get the job done.

The soft brim doesn't interfere with bowstring. Also you can roll them up and stuff them in your pants leg pocket, or wear with a light face mask. I look for function,in a hat, not trying to be the best dressed hunter, or impress anyone anyway.

No, no, no, you guys have it all wrong.

If you shoot long longbows like I do, just buy the hat you like the best, then take the scissors to the brim a little a time until your string no longer hits it.

The BEST part about this method is that you end up with a hat that looks a bit like something Dart Vader would wear

P.S. Extra adornments are optional.

I wear a leather touring cap...if I wear a hat.

Hitting my cap used to drive me nuts until I just decided to not worry about it. After about a month I realized that either I don't hit it anymore or just don't notice it. I think I going to a bigger hat.

http://www.cablecarclothiers.com/caps_touring.html

i wear a short brim hat. mason hats work well too!

Coups cap. http://www.plentycoupsarchery.com/Products.html

i wear a boonie too. safety pin one end up. wear that side to front for archery, to the back sitting against tree when turkey hunting, & to one side to look australian in failed attempt to get folks to buy me a beer...

I have two of the short brimmed bowhunter caps that I have had for about 15 years but I can't find any new ones. I got a camo Stormy Cromer bowhunter right before they quit making them. Other than these I wear a soft, short brimmed, GI boonie.

Hey pondscum, someone said it doesnt matter how you wear YOUR hat while hunting turkeys.....nothing's gonna help!

is this true?

It is pretty easy to add a snap to boonie. Snap the bill up on your shooting side. Gives you that "Aussie" look. It works.

I make a short soft brimmed baseball style hat that is washable and foldable. $10. PM me if you want more info. I will have 4 to sell at cloverdale (tradeblanket time)

Bob Lee sells a short brim baseball cap. Check their website.

In warm weather I just wear a cotton bandanna... in colder weather I like a wool boonie.

For early season hunting I wear a mesh small billed cap. Jawge

I just bought one from the Wensels at ETAR with the short wire brim. Works great!!!!

In the Summer time I use my Ultimate hat with the right hand side snapped up so the bream does not touch my hand on the draw. In the Winter I use my Fred Bear "type" hat.

Thanks!

These hats have a wire brim that can be bent to any configuration, perfect bowhunters hat, sold by "Big Jim's Archery"

Short brim baseball hats are the ticket, nothing says your a bowhunter like a short bill hat. Problem is good low profile ones are hard to find. I've emailed tons of bowhunting suppliers suggesting they market a good one. But now adays I just find a baseball hat I like and take a good pair of tin snips to them. Kinda leaves a frayed end, just like the expensive hats that come with that already used look have! I've wore short bill baseball caps for so long I can't stand to wear a reg ball cap makes me feel like I'm wearing a duck bill in front of me! lol

I turn my ball cap a little to the left, just enough for clearance.

I've been shooting a long time and I've never got used to string contact. I try to ignore it but it's not possible for me.

Turn hat backward.....and for those hats with a soft brim I add Velcro to the front body of the hat and the brim so I can keep the brim turned up and out of the way.

Just bought a short brimmed hat from big jim at denton hill. There is wire in the brim so it bends up. For even more clearence.the hat looks like barry wensels and in fact the wensels were sellin themtoo. Great hat cheap price.

I just tilt the brim of my ball cap up until the string doesn't hit. If the bill slids down during the day when I draw, it just takes a small tilt of my head for the hat to slid up with the string pushing it.

I didn't know that the CLOTHES made a difference on bowhunters but guess I was wrong there. Who would have figured.

I have a boonie hat that I just roll up the brim...soft and does not interfere with string. My felt hat does though...I pinned it up with a safety pin for a long while but stays by itself mostly now when I wear it...usually just go with my boonie hat or a fleece cap with no brim if cold.

keep em sharp,

ron herman

Early season, I use a camo ball cap from Wally World that I trimmed the brim with a pair of shears. When it gets colder, I use a Lite Felt Stetson from Cabela's. I formed the brim so it doesn't touch my string. Making or modifying your own gear is one of the great things about trad hunting.

I am now known as "the alabama hat lady" PM me if you want more details.

I bought one of the Art Young hats this yr, but the string hits the bill..2-5/8" bill. The only way I can stop it is to tilt the hat way up like Fred Bear did and I'm afraid it'll fall off back wards at the wrong time. Also don't like the fact that the brim in back hits tree when I lean back.

So I'll go hatless and carry a thin cloth baseball hat in my front pocket for when the sun gets in my eyes. I'll just cut the bill down short.

Why not just wear a stocking cap?

yall do know if you turn your baseball hat around your IQ will drop by 20 points...atleast that's what I tell the kids..lol

Boonie is the way I've been going since coming home from the vietnam war games. Don't like waterproof since that which keeps water out keeps heat in. Just a plain of camo bush hat is all you need. Frank

Boonie, soft enough to roll up and stuff....

That hat Dana C. posted is VERY nice.

Zip'

Need a hat with a brim to keep the sun out of my eyes and the rain off my glasses. As I stated earlier, if I have a baseball type on I turn it around or push it to one side to shoot and if I have a soft brim I push the brim up and secure with the added Velcro I installed to shoot. I don't care how soft the brim is....I can feel the string touch and it just don't feel right to me.

As I stated twice, I make such a hat,invented it for myself because I need to keep the sun/rain off my glasses. $10

wear Stormy Kromers...short brim...adequate eye shade and no string interference...theyre also warm here in Minnesota

i shoot in one of the fedora's from 3rivers. string contact does 's not seem to bother me. in hot weather i wear boonie from predator. my fedora has a nice little spot of string wax on it.

Also turning the brim a tad up or down works for the Fedora tyle. My one criteria for most shotting hats is the 2 1/2" rule. That works for me.

Try using tin snips to cut a slot in the brim for the bowstring. It is an alternative option.

Or, do the Barry Wensel trick an turn it sideways.

I refuse to wear hat backwards. No hunting in the hood for me.

I wear a boone.... But my problem isn't the string clearing the hat.It's clearing my belly???

There's a totally different solution for belly clearance. :-)

The only hat I have found that doesn't get in the way is available from comeauxcaps.com.It is a light weight, short soft billed welding hat which comes in a variety of colors including camo,it can be folded to about the size of a hankercheif and will fit in any of your pockets.Very handy hat.

Oh by the way if your sting contacts the baseball style cap the short bill will flex without resistance or afecting your site picture.

Oh I'm sorry, when you go to comeauxcaps.com click on the 2000 series reversable style and scroll down for colors.

Never could stand to wear a baseball cap backwards, it just doesn't feel right, and I can't lean back into a tree. Besides, it makes me want to wear long baggy shorts way below my buttline, and say things like " Yo" and "you know what i'm sayin'" and "sup"

Down here in Alabama if you were to wear one of those hats your head would be soaking wet, that i can promise you.

During early season bowhunting i don't even wear a hat its just to dang hot.

Baseball cap backwards, Fedora, or boonie depending on weather etc...

Longbowchampal, increase the size of you picture so we all can see the details. Nice job on the championship! Was that a BW bow, or something else?

I use a Kromer welding hat turned a little to the side. I am also working on modifying a visor so it has a 2" bill. I like visors for summer use since they are cooler. I presently use a boony for hunting.

Happy hat hunting...

loose

The picture is of my first trad kill with a bow my husband built, I have on the short, soft brim hat I make. Here is another pic of me shooting at the Howard Hill shoot, again wearing the hat. I am shooting a r/d longbow my husband made (behind me) that I won the shoot off with and the IBO.

I did not see anyone mention the Stormy Kromer hat. short bill, wool, and covers ears if needed. I love mine, except I wish I could get one made in cotton for the warmer days.

Stormy Kromer no longer makes the hat with the shorter of the two bills. They only make one length now.

There is another welding hat company out there with a familiar name: Kromer Cap Company.

I still wear the hat I bought 22 years ago when I worked at a welding supply store. Short bill,very comfortable, and very colorful. Not to mention-cheap.

http://www.kromercap.com/StyleA.htm

I move this hat over a little bit to keep from contacting me string.

loose

I wear a soft leather Akubra from Australia,tilt it just slightly an the string clears easy. I wear it on that slight tilt all the time now an it's sort of shaped it'self to my head like that.

Great hat,but a bit warm in the summer

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