Ghillie Suit, Make or Buy?

SoDakHunter · 06-10-2008, 02:11 PM

Hey Guys,

Quick question... Has anyone out there attempted to make thier own ghillie suit? I'm really looking into using one this year, just because i thought it might be fun to try out. There are tons of How-To sites and such on the net and i'm wondering, who has made one? Or would you rather buy one (usually start around $100+ dollars) ? If anyone has a suit or knows of a good technique please share your information. (not sure if this is the right place for this, but it will be used for hunting, so there ya have it.)

wunhunglo · 06-10-2008, 02:22 PM

Why would you need one?
I have never yet met a professional hunter or stalker who uses one. Not even come across a professional poacher who uses one! (& I know quite a few of those)
Only ones I've seen used were by the Army.

But to answer your question, if you really need one, I would make my own to fit in with the natural landscape of where I hunt. Not much use using a jungle camo in the desert or in the snowfields.

SoDakHunter · 06-10-2008, 03:21 PM

Well, you can buy them in color schemes to match your surroundings. Or you can make them. Like i said, kind of looking for someone that has experience with this.

Plus... why would you hang out with professional poachers without reporting them?

wunhunglo · 06-10-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoDakHunter

Plus... why would you hang out with professional poachers without reporting them?

Depends what you understand by ""professional"" poachers, maybe wrong adjective, how about ""enthusiastic amateurs""? 30 odd years ago I was one, and still live in the area I was brought up in, so still know all the locals. The local police also know who does what but they are more interested in harassing motorists.
A local guy who goes out on the hill & takes a deer now and again, I don't have a problem with.
In my country (Scotland), all deer shooting & Salmon fishing is controlled by the landowners, but if a deer damages your car or property it is considered a "wild" animal and the landowner is not responsible! They've got it both ways. Plus the fact that great tracts of the Scottish countryside are owned by foreign investment groups who bring no or little added value to the local economy.

Burke · 06-10-2008, 04:01 PM

Yeah a G-Suit would be hot where I live..and the animals near me are not that bright..

FS00008 · 06-10-2008, 04:38 PM

Well if I were to actually wear one, I'd make it (I've done so in the past). Why pay for one when you can make natively? I've only worn cammies once though and the same with the ghillie suit. I didn't notice any difference in ease or anything, so I normally go in what's comfortable and suitable for the terrain.

I couldn't see the need for one if you weren't "stalking/hunting" men. Do worry about scent and whether or not your upwind or downwind however... I think that's a bigger deal than what you wear. I never could understand those people who felt it necessary to wear camo and then a bright vest over it...

Minionsram · 06-10-2008, 06:32 PM

I own and use a G-suit. check out Discount Hunting Gear, Discount Hunting Boots, Discount Shoes, Discount Ammunition, Discount Ammo, Discount Boots, Military Surplus, Outdoor Gear At the Sportsman's Guide for one to buy. My father taught me how to make and use them at an early age. If you can master the skill Nothing can see you, but as fs stated above, it will not help with the scent. and that is be primary scence the animals use.

My father taught me because it is our heritage, I might not be able to live in scottland, but I do like to learn. Here is why my father taught me.

The ghillie suit's history begins during the 19th century in Scotland, where it was used by land-owners to capture poachers. Similar suits were used during the First and Second World Wars, however, in these conflicts camouflage was not a widely used practice, both among common soldiers and snipers. The first known unit to use ghillie suits were the British Lovat Scouts' Snipers, who came across the suits in Scotland.

The ghillie suit today is a specially made camouflage uniform which is given an irregular pattern and outline by the attachment of many pieces of garnish to a netting affixed to the base. The base is usually either a set of combat BDUs or a one-piece aviator type uniform. The suit is sometimes turned inside out so that the pockets are on the inside and protected from damage caused by crawling during stalking. The front is covered with a thick canvas or cloth to reinforce the front, and padding covers the knees and elbows for added comfort and to prevent being worn-out.

A piece of netting is sewed on to the back of the base. It is to this netting that strips of garnish are tied onto. This garnish comes in the form of colored burlap or torn cloth from BDUs, socks, etc. The color of this garnish must match the area the suit will be worn in. The garnish should be between one to two feet long and should completely cover the back, legs, and arms. While lying in the prone position, the garnish should reach down to the ground and cover most of the boots. A bush hat is "ghillied" in the appropiate manner, with enough garnish to cover the scope but not hinder vision. A veil can be sewed around the brim of the hat to cover the face.

Natural vegetation must be added to the suit for it to be completely effective. The vegetation can be tucked into the netting. However, the ghillie suit does not make someone completely invisible and special care must be taken when wearing the suit. The suit, because of its garnish, is a fire hazard and must be treated with a fire-retardant. Also, the suit can become extremely hot and bulky, so if it is to be used in high tempatures the sniper must do everything to avoid dehydration and fatigue. The ghillie suit also takes a lot of time to construct, and the materials needed can be hard to find.

Like I said it is hard to master, but a good skill to learn..

FS00008 · 06-10-2008, 07:36 PM

Same here Minionsram, that's why I made mine, but I only used it once... I didn't see any difference in the way the game acted and I was seriously uncomfortable.

lefty o · 06-10-2008, 07:48 PM

not really needed for deer hunting. movement is what will get you busted by a deer.

SwedeSteve · 06-11-2008, 12:50 PM

It is a little much for hunting. But would be fun to see what you come up with if you make your own.

SoDakHunter · 06-11-2008, 01:08 PM

Well, part of the reason i want to have one is for use in paintball as well. All Ghillied up with a tippman a-5 w/flatline = ownage. But also i have seen people that are able to use them well, get within 5 yards of some game animals. I think for stalking it would be a great tool. As far as the comments on covering scent, well, scent is always a concern no matter what camo you use, so its kind of a moot point. I am going down to the fabric store today. I am going to be using large BDU's for the base of the suit, these are a little big for me as i am 6" 180 lbs. But that way i can get layers under them when its a little cooler in the fall. (South Dakota gets pretty cold) I will be using Burlap and jute thread, the fabric store has both of these pre-dyed, and i am going to use my crappy volleyball net for the netting. I have no idea how long this project will take me but i'll post pictures as soon as its completed.

lefty o · 06-11-2008, 02:11 PM

it might be fun for paintball, but like i said not needed for hunting. back when i bow hunted, i used to wear tigerstripes, and facepaint and have gotten close enough to whitetail to literally reach out and touch them with my hands. lack of movement is the key to getting close to game animals.

Wingwiper · 06-11-2008, 03:39 PM

I agree with most here.. WHY would anyone want one unless they are hunting MAN???

Paintball....EXCELLENT

Hunting Wild game..... Kinda way too mcuh, too hot, too bulky, too much work and when you start to sweat your position in smelled before you need to worry about being seen.

Mike Franklin · 06-12-2008, 09:29 PM

Just using camo and sitting where my silhouette is against a broken background I've killed many deer at less than 20 yards with my best an 8 point at 8 feet. That'll make your heart beat hard! And as you said, hunting people is different.

GlennM · 06-13-2008, 07:47 AM

Made one years ago for winter coyote hunting. Used an old hammock for the frame and ribbing, cut a queen-size sheet into 2-inch wide strips and simply tied them on. Works great for coyotes if you're hunting in wide-open fields where there's a shortage of cover and trees. Find a little dip in the field, lay down a white trash bag on top of the snow, flop down on it and cover up with the G-suit. Technically, I don't know if it would fully qualify as a REAL ghillie suit, but it sure works well for this application.

SoDakHunter · 06-13-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron AKA

Ok, I've resisted responding to this thread for a while, but the title got the best of me. Hunting is kind of a macho man's sport. So, why would someone like that want to dress up in a "girlie suit"? It seems to me that there would be no need to make one. It must be just about time for Hillary to have a garage sale on hers, now that it appears she no longer has need for them...

Sorry, just a view from north of the 49!

Ron

Were you drunk when you posted this? What the hell does it mean...

Aaronb2245 · 06-22-2008, 01:47 AM

I made my own ghillie in the Corp for my trade, and I can tell you I mostly only wore the tops with the ghillie cover (veil). I wore as little of that thing as I could get away with (vegetation and terrain dictating). The reason is the thing is hot as hell even with all the vents I put in it, and you really don't need to ghillie your legs in a lot of areas. I suppose if you wear it in the winter its fine, but a ghillie needs to be something that has been stomped in mud and made dirty as possible to help make it blend in. Trust me this is not something I want to wear hunting. A matter of fact I threw my nasty ass ghillie away Apr 22, 2005 (EAS). In the Corp. we made ours out of shredding burlap (LONG PROCESS PAIN IN THE ARSE) and attatched it to netting on a set of cammie tops and bottoms. Then I covered the knee's and elbows with material from a sea bag. The ONLY time I wore that thing was for stalking, it's not something you want to be making movements through the woods for tactical AND sane reasons. Also to make the ghillie effective you need to work veg into the burlap from your surrounds making sure that the leafs and the such are facing the proper way. You don't want the underside of the leaves showing b/c it's simply not natural. At a certain point in a stalk (close to my shooting pos) I stop and set up a spot where I re veg my ghillie so that the veg is fresh and matching the area I have now moved to. You would be surprised how vegetation can and does change in a few hundered meters. As you can see there is more to a ghillie suit than putting the damn thing on and being invisible. It's a skill that has to be perfected, and using one for hunting is frankly quite retarded.

In my personal opinion if you want to make one go ahead, but be advised to do it properly takes ALOT of time. Time which is not worth the effort for your purpose (and store bought ones are bull crap). If you want to go out playing rambo go play paintball or join the Corp.

Aaron

toolman · 06-22-2008, 02:09 AM

Out where I hunt, I could probably use one because it's extremely open, the only cover is a fencerow w\weeds. We usually just set up a blind about 200 yds out from the corner of the field and install a feeder to pull them over the fence. I occasionally get to stalk, but it's pretty rare.

samuel · 06-22-2008, 07:37 AM

RONAKA:We have had 50 states for quite some time only two of them dont touch the other fortyeight.Do you have maps up there?One of the states is right beside you and the other one is out in the pacific where canadians should go in winter.Just teasing.Years ago I made a gilly suit as I had worn them while in the service and hunted varmints with others that used them.Basically if you take heavy duty work cloths and cut strips in them,using tan or green or both,it comes out pretty good and isn't that hot.Anyway I made this gilly suit and tried it on once in the house and was proud as he** of it but never wore it hunting.But I have one and am very proud and happy. sam.

Aaronb2245 · 06-22-2008, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuel

RONAKA:We have had 50 states for quite some time only two of them dont touch the other fortyeight.Do you have maps up there?One of the states is right beside you and the other one is out in the pacific where canadians should go in winter.Just teasing.Years ago I made a gilly suit as I had worn them while in the service and hunted varmints with others that used them.Basically if you take heavy duty work cloths and cut strips in them,using tan or green or both,it comes out pretty good and isn't that hot.Anyway I made this gilly suit and tried it on once in the house and was proud as he** of it but never wore it hunting.But I have one and am very proud and happy. sam.

Using strips of clothing is a good idea, however it's not near as effective as a burlap suit like we made/use in the Corp. For the purpose of hunting I'm sure it would work well, but b/c of my background I'm very picky when it comes to a proper ghillie suit. A trained pair of eyes could easily identify you in the field with a ghillie made from rags/strips of cloth.

06-10-2008, 02:11 PM	#1
SoDakHunter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 353	Ghillie Suit, Make or Buy? Hey Guys, Quick question... Has anyone out there attempted to make thier own ghillie suit? I'm really looking into using one this year, just because i thought it might be fun to try out. There are tons of How-To sites and such on the net and i'm wondering, who has made one? Or would you rather buy one (usually start around $100+ dollars) ? If anyone has a suit or knows of a good technique please share your information. (not sure if this is the right place for this, but it will be used for hunting, so there ya have it.)

06-10-2008, 03:21 PM	#3
SoDakHunter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 353	Well, you can buy them in color schemes to match your surroundings. Or you can make them. Like i said, kind of looking for someone that has experience with this. Plus... why would you hang out with professional poachers without reporting them? Last edited by SoDakHunter; 06-10-2008 at 03:22 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

06-10-2008, 04:01 PM	#5
Burke Ahh..Cordite. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gun City, Arizona Posts: 515 Images: 23	Yeah a G-Suit would be hot where I live..and the animals near me are not that bright.. __________________ As long as I have a gun in my hand..I control my own destiny.

06-10-2008, 06:32 PM	#7
Minionsram Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 71	I own and use a G-suit. check out Discount Hunting Gear, Discount Hunting Boots, Discount Shoes, Discount Ammunition, Discount Ammo, Discount Boots, Military Surplus, Outdoor Gear At the Sportsman's Guide for one to buy. My father taught me how to make and use them at an early age. If you can master the skill Nothing can see you, but as fs stated above, it will not help with the scent. and that is be primary scence the animals use. My father taught me because it is our heritage, I might not be able to live in scottland, but I do like to learn. Here is why my father taught me. The ghillie suit's history begins during the 19th century in Scotland, where it was used by land-owners to capture poachers. Similar suits were used during the First and Second World Wars, however, in these conflicts camouflage was not a widely used practice, both among common soldiers and snipers. The first known unit to use ghillie suits were the British Lovat Scouts' Snipers, who came across the suits in Scotland. The ghillie suit today is a specially made camouflage uniform which is given an irregular pattern and outline by the attachment of many pieces of garnish to a netting affixed to the base. The base is usually either a set of combat BDUs or a one-piece aviator type uniform. The suit is sometimes turned inside out so that the pockets are on the inside and protected from damage caused by crawling during stalking. The front is covered with a thick canvas or cloth to reinforce the front, and padding covers the knees and elbows for added comfort and to prevent being worn-out. A piece of netting is sewed on to the back of the base. It is to this netting that strips of garnish are tied onto. This garnish comes in the form of colored burlap or torn cloth from BDUs, socks, etc. The color of this garnish must match the area the suit will be worn in. The garnish should be between one to two feet long and should completely cover the back, legs, and arms. While lying in the prone position, the garnish should reach down to the ground and cover most of the boots. A bush hat is "ghillied" in the appropiate manner, with enough garnish to cover the scope but not hinder vision. A veil can be sewed around the brim of the hat to cover the face. Natural vegetation must be added to the suit for it to be completely effective. The vegetation can be tucked into the netting. However, the ghillie suit does not make someone completely invisible and special care must be taken when wearing the suit. The suit, because of its garnish, is a fire hazard and must be treated with a fire-retardant. Also, the suit can become extremely hot and bulky, so if it is to be used in high tempatures the sniper must do everything to avoid dehydration and fatigue. The ghillie suit also takes a lot of time to construct, and the materials needed can be hard to find. Like I said it is hard to master, but a good skill to learn.. __________________ be a part of the great outdoors.....wherethetrailends.com

06-11-2008, 12:50 PM	#10
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,396 Images: 1	It is a little much for hunting. But would be fun to see what you come up with if you make your own. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

06-10-2008, 02:22 PM	#2
wunhunglo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: currently "Sunny West Africa" Posts: 1,659	Why would you need one? I have never yet met a professional hunter or stalker who uses one. Not even come across a professional poacher who uses one! (& I know quite a few of those) Only ones I've seen used were by the Army. But to answer your question, if you really need one, I would make my own to fit in with the natural landscape of where I hunt. Not much use using a jungle camo in the desert or in the snowfields.

06-10-2008, 04:38 PM	#6
FS00008 Сергей Иванович Мосин Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 968 Blog Entries: 1	Well if I were to actually wear one, I'd make it (I've done so in the past). Why pay for one when you can make natively? I've only worn cammies once though and the same with the ghillie suit. I didn't notice any difference in ease or anything, so I normally go in what's comfortable and suitable for the terrain. I couldn't see the need for one if you weren't "stalking/hunting" men. Do worry about scent and whether or not your upwind or downwind however... I think that's a bigger deal than what you wear. I never could understand those people who felt it necessary to wear camo and then a bright vest over it...

06-10-2008, 07:36 PM	#8
FS00008 Сергей Иванович Мосин Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 968 Blog Entries: 1	Same here Minionsram, that's why I made mine, but I only used it once... I didn't see any difference in the way the game acted and I was seriously uncomfortable.

06-10-2008, 07:48 PM	#9
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,812	not really needed for deer hunting. movement is what will get you busted by a deer.

06-11-2008, 01:08 PM	#11
SoDakHunter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 353	Well, part of the reason i want to have one is for use in paintball as well. All Ghillied up with a tippman a-5 w/flatline = ownage. But also i have seen people that are able to use them well, get within 5 yards of some game animals. I think for stalking it would be a great tool. As far as the comments on covering scent, well, scent is always a concern no matter what camo you use, so its kind of a moot point. I am going down to the fabric store today. I am going to be using large BDU's for the base of the suit, these are a little big for me as i am 6" 180 lbs. But that way i can get layers under them when its a little cooler in the fall. (South Dakota gets pretty cold) I will be using Burlap and jute thread, the fabric store has both of these pre-dyed, and i am going to use my crappy volleyball net for the netting. I have no idea how long this project will take me but i'll post pictures as soon as its completed.

06-11-2008, 02:11 PM	#12
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,812	it might be fun for paintball, but like i said not needed for hunting. back when i bow hunted, i used to wear tigerstripes, and facepaint and have gotten close enough to whitetail to literally reach out and touch them with my hands. lack of movement is the key to getting close to game animals.

06-11-2008, 03:39 PM	#13
Wingwiper Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 789	I agree with most here.. WHY would anyone want one unless they are hunting MAN??? Paintball....EXCELLENT Hunting Wild game..... Kinda way too mcuh, too hot, too bulky, too much work and when you start to sweat your position in smelled before you need to worry about being seen.

06-12-2008, 09:29 PM	#14
Mike Franklin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 1,276	Just using camo and sitting where my silhouette is against a broken background I've killed many deer at less than 20 yards with my best an 8 point at 8 feet. That'll make your heart beat hard! And as you said, hunting people is different. __________________ Aim real good we're nearly out of ammo.

06-13-2008, 07:47 AM	#15
GlennM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 165 Blog Entries: 1	Made one years ago for winter coyote hunting. Used an old hammock for the frame and ribbing, cut a queen-size sheet into 2-inch wide strips and simply tied them on. Works great for coyotes if you're hunting in wide-open fields where there's a shortage of cover and trees. Find a little dip in the field, lay down a white trash bag on top of the snow, flop down on it and cover up with the G-suit. Technically, I don't know if it would fully qualify as a REAL ghillie suit, but it sure works well for this application. __________________ A Matter of Timing - A Novel for all Patriots. Sneak Preview & Links here: www.gmillercompanies.com

06-22-2008, 01:47 AM	#17
Aaronb2245 Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 68	I made my own ghillie in the Corp for my trade, and I can tell you I mostly only wore the tops with the ghillie cover (veil). I wore as little of that thing as I could get away with (vegetation and terrain dictating). The reason is the thing is hot as hell even with all the vents I put in it, and you really don't need to ghillie your legs in a lot of areas. I suppose if you wear it in the winter its fine, but a ghillie needs to be something that has been stomped in mud and made dirty as possible to help make it blend in. Trust me this is not something I want to wear hunting. A matter of fact I threw my nasty ass ghillie away Apr 22, 2005 (EAS). In the Corp. we made ours out of shredding burlap (LONG PROCESS PAIN IN THE ARSE) and attatched it to netting on a set of cammie tops and bottoms. Then I covered the knee's and elbows with material from a sea bag. The ONLY time I wore that thing was for stalking, it's not something you want to be making movements through the woods for tactical AND sane reasons. Also to make the ghillie effective you need to work veg into the burlap from your surrounds making sure that the leafs and the such are facing the proper way. You don't want the underside of the leaves showing b/c it's simply not natural. At a certain point in a stalk (close to my shooting pos) I stop and set up a spot where I re veg my ghillie so that the veg is fresh and matching the area I have now moved to. You would be surprised how vegetation can and does change in a few hundered meters. As you can see there is more to a ghillie suit than putting the damn thing on and being invisible. It's a skill that has to be perfected, and using one for hunting is frankly quite retarded. In my personal opinion if you want to make one go ahead, but be advised to do it properly takes ALOT of time. Time which is not worth the effort for your purpose (and store bought ones are bull crap). If you want to go out playing rambo go play paintball or join the Corp. Aaron Last edited by Aaronb2245; 06-22-2008 at 02:01 AM.

06-22-2008, 02:09 AM	#18
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,582 Blog Entries: 22	Out where I hunt, I could probably use one because it's extremely open, the only cover is a fencerow w\weeds. We usually just set up a blind about 200 yds out from the corner of the field and install a feeder to pull them over the fence. I occasionally get to stalk, but it's pretty rare. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

06-22-2008, 07:37 AM	#19
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	RONAKA:We have had 50 states for quite some time only two of them dont touch the other fortyeight.Do you have maps up there?One of the states is right beside you and the other one is out in the pacific where canadians should go in winter.Just teasing.Years ago I made a gilly suit as I had worn them while in the service and hunted varmints with others that used them.Basically if you take heavy duty work cloths and cut strips in them,using tan or green or both,it comes out pretty good and isn't that hot.Anyway I made this gilly suit and tried it on once in the house and was proud as he** of it but never wore it hunting.But I have one and am very proud and happy. sam.