The last few years a real urge to start killing turkeys without my Double Bull has been brewing. Not that there's anything at all "wrong" with killing them out of a blind, heck I really enjoy it! But this urge has grown to the point that this year I'm gonna try to make it happen if I get the opportunity.
I'm still going to hunt out of my blind when I have Cade with me as I still haven't killed a bird while he's been hunting with me. So when he's coming with me, we'll be hunting with the DB. And as much as I want to kill one without the blind this spring, as long as Cade wants to come, he's the priority! So the opportunity to kill one without a blind may not even happen.
But I know that it probably will because of Cade's other commitments to baseball and such. I can't be getting him up at 4:00 on mornings he has a game....he'll be flat wore out!
So anyway, I started researching making my own ghillie suit. You-tube is an almost endless source of ghillie suit information. I looked at a lot of different ways to make them.
I wanted something that was light, not super hot, and something I could slip over my Sitka Gear easy and quickly when setting up, and also a suit that would slip off easily and carry nicely when not in use.
I settled on making it out of just netting for the "base" and would tie my materials to it.
As far as material to make it, I settled in burlap and jute. I know there are "lighter" materials out there, but the burlap was readily available, so I went with it.
The netting base. Fishnet folded over and cut out to the size I wanted then bound on the edges with jute rope pieces. "Head-hole" also cut out of the top...
With rit dye, it was easy to get all the colors and shades I wanted in the suit.
I wanted a lot of "texture" in the suit, so that meant using different materials to give it a real "confusing look"...
"strung" burlap...
"stripped" burlap...
jute rope...
Starting to tie in material. Started on the back side...
More later...
-------------------- Curt } >>--->
"I love you Daddy".......My son Cade while stump shooting 3/19/06 Posts: 16229 | From: NY | Registered: Apr 2003
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Great stuff nice looking work bud i made one a few years ago but used a light weight jump suit then put the netting on. worked great only trouble i had has getting rid of the smell of the dye and burlap.
keep it coming
-------------------- There is more to the Hunt.. then the Horns
**TGMM Family of the Bow**
Andy Ivy Posts: 4118 | From: African in Australia | Registered: Feb 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Stone Knife: This is going to be good
whoa, yeah - this IS gonna be good, curt's a top notch craftsman in everything he touches!
been thinking hard about '3d' camo as well ...
-------------------- "Molon Labe" (Come and Get Them) ~ Instinctive Archer Magazine ~ TGMM Family of the Bow ~ NRA Life Member Posts: 8858 | From: NJ | Registered: Mar 2003
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Man I told myself I was going to build one over the winter and still haven't started, now you got me jacked up about it again Guru!!
Posts: 1338 | From: Statesville NC | Registered: Feb 2006
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Looks good Guru. Let us know how you handle the bowstring and left arm relationship. I have not used an armguard with my RS Shaggie, but then I've not taken any shots on game with it yet.
-------------------- Black Widow PSAX Bocote 57# @28, 58 AMO Black Widow PLX Tiger Myrtle 60# @28, 64 AMO J.D. Berry Osage Argos 60# @28, 66 AMO Posts: 1171 | From: TEXAS | Registered: Dec 2007
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hey curt looks good i'll bring mine in on mon to show you how its going still can't figure out how to post pics
Posts: 21 | From: chester,new york | Registered: Dec 2009
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-------------------- Pronghorn Longbows Compton Traditional Bowhunters Professional Bowhunters Society Member Posts: 1232 | From: Northeastern CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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Looking good Curt...this brings back memories of sitting around in the barracks building these for all our guys in the sniper section. We each had one for all the environments we operated in. All I can say is very effective!
Posts: 8060 | From: Georgia | Registered: Jul 2003
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Chris, I saw a video about the snipers and ghillies at your base on Youtube. Pretty cool!
Installment 2:
A couple of things I wanted to mention before going too far. Getting the materials was easy, preparing it was time consuming.
I purchased the "fish netting" from Michael's craft store, along with the "Goop"(glue), and the thick 3 strand jute rope.
The burlap was purchased at Walmart. I think I bought about 5 yards and still have extra. Also bought the Rit dyes at Walmart, dark green, yellow, and brown.
"Stringing"(check youtube) the diff. colors of burlap was the most tedious part of the building.
When I started the back side, I purposely started about 15" up from the bottom of the netting because I figured I'll be sitting down on a stool when turkey hunting anyway. So didn't need it under my butt. I left the netting on though so in case I want to add some burlap at a later time I can.
The sleeves are cut so there about 3/4 sleeves. With the jute/burlap I can add additional length as I see fit.
Bow arm(for me the right arm being left handed) with be left bare netting on the inside so as not to have anything in the way of my bowstring. The chest area on the same side will get sparse jute/burlap and will be trimmed very short.
I'll be wearing my Sitka underneath, so any bare/sparse areas will still be very much "camo'd" thru the netting.
The back almost to the shoulders. I'll leave it like this for now till I see what the hat/vail will cover on the back. Don't want to overlap too much from the hat to the shoulder area(heat)...
Starting on the front.....I started tying all the way at the bottom and the bottom most pieces were left a little longer than the rest. I want it to drape over my legs when I sit down...
Anyone "thinking about building one", just do it, very easy, can't do it "wrong", and you can make it look anyway you like. All you need it time.
more soon....
-------------------- Curt } >>--->
"I love you Daddy".......My son Cade while stump shooting 3/19/06 Posts: 16229 | From: NY | Registered: Apr 2003
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Very nice start Curt. I will be watching this closely for sure!
-------------------- "I lost arrows and didnt even shoot at a rabbit" Charlie after the Island of Trees. -Jamie Posts: 4418 | From: Coxsackie, NY | Registered: Jan 2007
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Very nice Curt! Been thinkin about makin one myself. Lookin forward to more.
