Ghillie suits are awesome! Just thought I would share a picture of a “ghillie monster” that is roaming the woods & fields in our area. I took this doe at 5yds Saturday evening; she had absolutely no idea I was around until the arrow went thru her chest.
I had decided to hunt a creek bottom behind a cornfield where I thought the wind would be in my favor. I set up in a blown down tree where there was a merger of several trails. I have hunted this spot with success before from a tree stand but this time I wanted to try the ghillie. Shortly after setting up I heard deer coming down the ridge to the east of me on the other side of the creek. A doe with two young’ns crossed the creek coming my way. I was hoping they would stop at the main trail and turn my direction but they continued heading due west. They past within 15yds but due to my position in the blow down I couldn’t shoot.
About 20 minutes later I could hear more deer on the ridges going to the creek. I love the sound of deer in dry or frozen leaves; this next group of deer was a little bit farther north where several large cottonwood trees grow. It sounded like a herd of elephants coming in those big cottonwood leaves! It was loud enough that I was having a really hard time trying to tell were they actually were going to appear. Suddenly, directly in front of me, I see a mature doe heading straight for me. When I say “straight for me”, I mean if she doesn’t change course she will walk right over me! I don’t know what to do, there is no way I’m going to get a shot off like this. If I let her pass, she will be within touching distance and will spook. I just kept my arrow pointed at her as she closed the distance. As she got to the tree top she swung to my left to avoid the tree, I don’t remember if I hit full draw or not. I do barely remember seeing the arrow disappear as if the deer was a ghost. It went through her as if she wasn’t there and buried in a tree 10yds on the other side of her. She spun around and headed back towards the creek but never made it there. I also like to hear deer crash in those big cottonwood leaves!
I used my usual equipment, Osage self bow and tonkin cane arrows with trade points. If you have never tried a ghillie suit, you really should. Just be prepared to be run over if the game your after doesn’t see you, they can get REALLY close.