Ghillie setups, and field uses

[Kopper1013]

I know...."Another ghillie thread!!"

Just wondering you guys that wear them how you prefer to use them?

Do you just park it at a tree on a stool? Find a dead fall? Maybe stalk?

Last year I did the park it next to a tree on a stool and it seemed I'd get busted 30-40% of the time. It wasn't movement the deer would be passing by within 10-15 yards and just freeze then the head pumping would commence.

So how do YOU hunt in your ghillie and what seems to be the most effective way to use one?

I will admit I had many close encounters last year (that where awesome) but most seemed to end before I could raise or draw the bow...

P.s.- I do wind check

[ThePushArchery]

I hunt from the ground 50% of the time these days. I have a Ghillie that I cut the lower half off of, as well as the left sleeve. Over the last 8 or so years I've harvested a lot of animals from the ground without the ghillie suit.

But the success rate has drastically increased and "busted" rate drastically declined once I started religiously running the ghillie suit if I was on the ground.

Making the ghillie only a coat essentially has made it so convenient to use as I'm bailing out the back door of the house. I throw it on and stalk my way into the timber. The ghillie has allowed for close encounters stalking into my set up where I'm sure I would have been busted before.

I still tuck into blow-downs, high grass, corn fields, etc etc. I do not simply sit in the wide open against a tree. Just this morning I got busted drawing on a doe at 10 yards in my Ghillie. I was in a blow down on a travel route. They caught me off guard by coming in from downwind and the opposite direction as usual, but I would not have got that chance without the Ghillie. They knew I was there from their nose, but they couldn't see me. Ofcourse until I started got to anchor    

You have to think of a ghillie as a blind. You're much more likely to have close encounters out of a blind if you brush it in. The same goes for a ghillie hunter. Brush yourself in a bit. (tuck into a blowdown / high grass / weeds / etc)

These animals live in these forests. A random 6' tall 190 lb bush sitting in the wide open that wasn't there yesterday is going to throw some red flags... or white flags in the end..    

Good luck. Ground hunting is the best.

[Stump73]

You need concealment behind you and some in front of you will help.

[ChuckC]

I have done a lot of different things.  Yes, they work stalking, but they tend to catch on everything so it is slow and tough going... but it DOES work.  

I like to nest into an existing bush or coupla bushes if I can, either on a seat or standing.  Leaning against a tree there helps.  Having some breakup, especially behind you helps a lot, but I have had things walk right past with me standing there.  

Had a mid sized buck walk nearly right into me on a trail, as he was following where a doe had walked minutes ago.

Make sure you shoot with the equipment you are gonna use.  I had no difficulty with my RER bow and I assumed all my bows would work, but the BH on my ASL is a lot lower and I hit my arm a lot using it.  It cost me.

I just cut off the entire bow arm at the elbow and trimmed up the chest on that side.  Don't need it anyway.  Now it is out of the way.

I use a Rancho Safari ultralight longcoat with boonie hat.  I added my own face mask ( didn't like theirs).  I also have some other brand ghillie like gloves when I am in total sneak mode.
ChuckC

[dhaverstick]

I never wear mine into the field. They are like a giant piece of Velcro! I once had an altercation with a multi flora rose bush and was stuck for three days until my dad came looking for me and cut me loose. Okay, maybe I exaggerated a little but they are a pain to walk around in. I carry mine in a backpack and put it on when I get to my hunting spot.

I have spider holes all over my farm to hunt from and I also carry a folding saw, anvil pruners and 14" zip ties with me in case I need to make an impromptu hide. I also carry a small piece of camo netting to help brush myself in. I think it is way more important to have something behind you than have something in front of you.

BTW - a ghillie suit will absorb approximately 50 gallons of water in a downpour and will weigh around 400 pounds. This is not a fun way to spend the afternoon.

Darren

[Chain2]

What dhaverstick said !

[ron w]

I set up with some cover around me, front and back. I have had deer so close I could count whiskers, but that's to close to shoot. I sit on a waldrop pac seat keep the bow on my lap. Having a deer at 4 yards is really exciting even if there is no shot. When I get busted it's almost always my movement.