GHILLI HEATER BODY SUIT

[The Night Stalker]

On a recent PBS hunt in Ohio, I was sitting in a stand when I thought of a different type of hunting tactic.  It was unseasonably warm and I was hoping for cold weather.
Last year, I mistakenly left my heater body suit to close to my wood stove. I was hoping to get it covered in smoke cover scent but ended up melting a apple size hole in it. I immediately ordered a new suit  which left my old one hanging in my hunting closet. I went to the local goodwill and bought a kids polar fleece jacket, cut the sleeves and repaired the hole. Next, I sutured ghilli netting with four pound test fishing line to my old suit. I shoe glued the suture contact points as seen in the pic below.

 

I took one of my polar fleece hats an attached netting to match.

 

I then started the process of making my heater body suit into a ghillie. I attached synthetic thread, burlap, and rancho safari material to my suit.

 

I then made a draw shield out of carbon arrows and attached the ghillie material to it as seen below.

 

 

I then experimented with pictures to see how it would blend with my woods. Tonya took several pictures at different angles to test the effectiveness of the suit.

 

I wanted a method that you could hunt anywhere in the woods, stay warm and be effective. If anyone that knows me, knows that I hate being cold and thats why I like my heater body suits.
Another method that I employ is a polar fleece vest with pockets sewed into the back. One above each kidney and one in the middle. I put those body heat pads into to the pockets and I stay warm under the most miserable conditions. I usually have hot hands in each pocket to keep my hands warm. It usually has to be pretty cold for me to do this.

 

Another important  aspect of the system is a comfortable chair that you can take anywhere and set up on uneven ground. I bought a millennium chair and it is perfect. I tried to use a ground blind bow holder but prefer a telescopic bow holder attached to a tree. I set up my chair next to a tree  that adds to my concealment. I then hang my bow out in front of me so I have easy access and I can  hide behind my draw shield. With little time, you can set up several ambush spots throughout your hunting area.
I will post a video of the finished product in action.  I usually roll my suit up and put straps around it I purchased at Walmart. Before I put the suit on, I lay it down and leaves attach to the suit. Tonya walked our four dogs past me at 3 yards and they were unaware of my presence. I store it on my wood in my wood shed.

 

[The Night Stalker]

first trying the suit under windy conditions from a safe angle. Its not what the deer would see. I experimented it is really hard to catch movement and the arrow is on you.

 

[ChuckC]

Great idea !

[The Night Stalker]

In this video, I had bare hands and arms to see movement. I also found out that my draw shield fell forward exposing my draw early in the process. I had to fix that. Eventually, you would see a blob of something that you could see ever so slight movement that shot an arrow at you.
 
Forgot to mention, I got the idea from the draw shield from an old post that Curt had on the how to section.

 

[calgarychef]

Actually a very good idea, I've got a homemade heater suit and simply the size of it helps greatly to eliminate the human form.

[Michael Arnette]

This is awesome!

[The Night Stalker]

Tracy, you bring a good point. I have a theory about your outline. When training young horses, I would take them to an area with a lot of back packers. The horse would freak out if they viewed the backpacker with their pack on because it would obscure their head outline. They would not pay any attention to normal hikers. I know deer are more likely to see you if you do not blend in with your shoulders. I like to look at them from the side and never directly at them at 90 degrees.

[The Night Stalker]

Another good idea that I seen recently is the Apache blind. A person could get some thin hickory poles, get some netting and attach ghilli material to the netting. Place the poles to you tree and thus breaking up your outline even more.
The deer would get accustomed to see the new brush pile over time and get acclimated. Then slip in their with the ghilli heater body suit and get a shot.

[fnshtr]

Great idea Tim. Just what I needed, another winter project!

[Longbowwally]

Very nice….Ghillies are something I need to add to my bowhunting 'toolkit'….

Looks good!

Bisch

[ChuckC]

I sometimes wear just the ghillie hat (ok...plus camo clothing) when still hunting, again, to break up that head / shoulder image.  I believe it helps based on critter response.

[ChuckC]

Re that draw shield.  I made one too, years ago, when Curt started that thread.  They probably work but are a pain.   I wonder if.....  I cut the lower arm (bow arm) completely off my ghillie.   Don't need it and helps w clearance.  But leaving longer fringe ( my ghillie uses cloth swatches, not strings) on the bow arm upper could form its own shield.

[The Night Stalker]

Chuck, that is a good idea. The draw shield is aggravating so I have a piece of serving that I secure it to my quiver as part of the set up process.
I never have any clearance problems like I do with my rancho safari shaggy suit because all the ghilli material is attached to the heater body suit and not to your arm. You do not have to wear any bulky clothes that would obstuct you either.

[calgarychef]

Your theory about human form is bang on, it terrifies animals as does the sound of our walking.

[ChuckC]

Chef...in deep crisp leaves try something.  Walk and use your longbow as a walking stick of sorts.  A third leg.  I dont think animals can count, the cadence is not a two legger, that's all that counts.

I must walk funny.  i had the thermals shift on me, so a strapped my nifty seat to my side, threw on my back quiver, grabbed my bow in one hand and my water bottle in the other and headed for higher ground to get out of that thermal and into the breeze of the day.   A buck up on the ridge heard me and came running down.  He stopped 25 yards away and waited for me to stick my water bottle in coat pocket, struggle to an arrow out of my back quiver and shoot.   Nothing to brag about but the  buck I wanted to shoot got shot by a kid with a CP from a tree stand.  I blew that 20 yard chance because the thermal shift got me and he came up a stick infested trail that I did not think was getting used because it was blocked on one end by a fallen tree.   Oh, yes about a heated Ghillie suit,  my wife wants one,  I wonder what the battery life would be.

[calgarychef]

Battery life could be as up much as 6 hours in an 18v rechargeable power tool battery.  Even if it was just 3 hrs I'd be in!