Your own Home Made Ghillie Suit!!!!!

[CoyoteBryceBowyer]

Redfish, There is indeed a good way to use Bug Suit netting. there is one I made for my little cousins, that had some bug netting strips tied along with some burlap, it was only to cover the Head, Arms, and some of the upper torso, almost like a short jacket in poncho form....

[DSARGE.308]

Got four of them in A-bags in the garage. Many hours in those hot suits. Many more hours making and maintaining them. Very good camofluage, but an overkill IMO for hunting. I'm thinking of those 3-d mesh suits for next year. Never wore mine hunting. The underside is bare with only camo on the back. Plus, they wreak.

[DSARGE.308]

If you decide to use them, a good way to get them frayed is to tie them to your bumper and drive a few miles. They will be all frizzie.

[SOS]

How well does glueing a few strips here and there on your outer layer work to break up your outline and add depth without making a 30 lb hot monstrosity!  I'm planning on cutting some strips out of old camo and glueing to some edges of sleeves, legs, etc.  A pseudo ghillie of sorts.

[Voodoofire1]

Guys, mine is made from netting,poncho style, with the strips tied on it,, front has more and as I'm right handed, the left side is trimmed, and woven into the netting, left arm is trimmed for clearence, headgear is seperate, made from a camo headnet, with the strips tied around the top 3rd. and just touch my shoulders, it works and is simple to make..............Steve

[sabas silva]

Hello guys, I just saw this thread and I have a question about the commercial made suit. How do you sent clean it other than air out. I received one for Fathers day.

[Fallguy]

I built one 2 years ago. I took 1" fish net and used camo neting. I made a long mountain man type pull over shirt out the fish net, and cut the camo netting in 1"to 1 1/4" wide strips 12" long. I looped and tied the strips through the netting. I used green and brown dased camo. You do not need complete coverage you just breaking the out line. This lite weight and not nearly as hot as the burlap and twine types. For my head I used a boony type hat and tied camo strips through the shell loops and let them hang down the back and sides 12".

[Problem Child]

I bought one of these  http://www.majorsurplusnsurvival.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MSS&Product_Code=027738&Category_Code=23  last year. It is a "bug suit" with the camo string sewn on. It includes the pants, jacket, and head net for around $80. It's only 3.5 pounds and as long as it's 65 degrees or cooler, it's comfortable. You would think the suit would get all tangled in briars but amazingly it don't,it pulls silently right through them. I had to trim the bow arm and face mask "beard" a bit to be able to shoot. It does "shed" the string a little but that's normal.

[owlbait]

I see that some company has a kit that you can buy with synthetic thread to make a suit that weighs 3.5#.The threads are 18-22" long. Do you tie the thread on full length or in half? I'm thinking of adding some camo to my leafy wear camo so I will feel better about hunting on the ground with it.

[CoyoteBryceBowyer]

Sabas, what I do to scent clean mine is spray it with White Lightening and let it sit out for a couple of days in the sun then reaply.....

OwlBait, as far as tying it on, however works best for you, you can Half it or use full length, a combo of both would work, might be easier to just stick with halfing it though....

[dorris]

sabas i take my clothes and put them in a sealed bag with scent wafers .

[owlbait]

Thanks for the knot tying info. I think I will try the combo method and see what that loks like. Maybe it will help change the outline?

[Eric Krewson]

I got lucky and bought a complete Rancho Safari light weight ghillie suit, new with tags, for $70 on the auction site, no one else bid on it. I have been intrigued with them for years but never tried one, hunted off the ground some the last few years and had good success out of natural material blinds. I am looking forward to using the ghillie suit this year.

[CoyoteBryceBowyer]

Sorry for my absence as I've been working these last few years. I just came back to the site and have new and better ways of making ghillie suits so that they are not as time consuming, hot, heavy, and much more efficient for hunting... and so much cheaper :0) . I have gotten it to where I never have to worry about strips in the way of the string. As well as a better site picture so you won't have to practice in your head piece. Once I am done unpacking everything and get down to the bottom of the boxes I have my work gear in, I will be able to post pictures of the new system.
As a start. I will say that I found Turnip Twine the best deal due to it being a thick twisted rope made of about 80 strands of straightened jute twine. I fiind it at feed and seed stores for a fraction of the price.
And thanks so much for the nice comments and supporting comments back when I first started this.
Bryce Hartzog

[CoyoteBryceBowyer]

one of the tips I have if you convert a BDU jacket into a ghillie jacket, turn your jacket inside out so that now you have protected interior pockets for gear that you might want to stow away.

[Daniel G. Banting]

CoyoteBB

I wanted to say thank you for all of your imput. Your time, effort and experience is apppreciated. I am looking forward to your additional postings.

Thanks,
Dan

[CoyoteBryceBowyer]

Hey, thanks. that means a lot. Glad I can help.

[USN_Sam1385]

I bought a BushRag Ultra Light Ghillie suit. It is not jute but a light synthetic thread/yarn material and polyester mesh. It is completely breathable. It is not hot at all.

Best of both worlds. Not sure why ANYONE uses Jute anymore. It stinks, it is terrible when wet, it is hot, and it is heavy.

Even the Snipers are using the new lightweight Ghillies now.

"Our new ULTRA-LIGHT GHILLIE JACKET is substantially more comfortable and just as effective as a traditional ghillie suits. We designed a light-weight, synthetic string material that cuts the weight of this ghillie jacket to 2 pounds. This new product is scentless, hand-washable, non-allergenic, water, and mildew resistant.

The jacket has a bug-proof mesh covered with an outer shell of 3/4" netting, allowing the user to insert natural vegetation or any additional material to alter the camouflage pattern. The jacket has a heavy-duty molded zipper, cord-locks, elastic-cuffed sleeves, and draw-cords for the hood and waist."