ghillie suit recommendations

[mazzgolf]

(cc @Greybeard, our ghillie suit afficiando)

Well, I lost another private land spot.... Don't want to get into it, too depressing... But I'm gonna concentrate on public land more. I did score a nice buck on public last year, but that was with a climber. I would like to not have to always carry a bunch of stuff on my back, and I'm not putting up any stands on public.

So to hunt from the ground, I'd like to invest in a ghillie suit for better concealment. I avoided them up to now because I wasn't sure how easy they are to clean, and I wonder how much the leaves get in the way (do they get caught in briars and brush? Do they get in the way of drawing back a compound?). 

Recommendations for a ghillie suit? A full suit or just a shirt? Do you buy them oversized so they fit over cold weather coats and bibs?

 

[Bucndoe]

ASAT. They are all cut generously to go over other clothes

Edited October 22, 2023 by Bucndoe

[Buckeyes11]

North mountain gear makes some real good stuff 

[BHC]

https://northmountaingear.com/

 

very happy with their products

[Greybeard]

If you're walking in through burrs and briers definitely strap the suit to your pack.  Briers will suck you in like a fly in a spiders web.  Burrs will stick on the leaves and stick them together.  I get backpacks with bottom straps for the suit, and also for a faded camo 6'x3.5' movers blanket that matches the grey color of rocks.  You might want to trim the leaves off the inside of the bow arm.  When you're ready for a crossbow you will find they give you a lot more options for concealment on the ground.  Cabela's suits are garbage anymore.  North mountain leaf suits are a good choice.  Stay away from the string suits.  They wrap up in everything.  I wash mine in the machine like anything else.  Clean the drum before the wife sees all the stuff that came off the leaves.  Spray them good with permethrin before the season and again around mid season.  You won't see if a tick is on them.

[Bucndoe]

I use a bow sleeve. No need to trim anything off the suit

[mazzgolf]

2 hours ago, Greybeard said:

I get backpacks with bottom straps for the suit

Funny you mention that - I just (in the past couple weeks) had to throw away my one backpack that I loved because it had bottom straps for things like this - the stitching on the main zipper just unraveled and the zipper half-fell out. It was a Cabelas backpack (what was that about Cabelas is garbage anymore?  )

The North Mountain gear looks nice and not all that expensive.

I can't tell here - those bottom straps you see here, are these to hold the bow/gun pouch only? Do I see an extra pair of straps to attach things to the bottom?

https://northmountaingear.com/collections/sale-items/products/waterproof-daypack-fall-brown-hunting-backpack

For those with North Mountain gear - do you buy oversize to put over your normal cold weather clothes? I'm looking at one of these two:

https://northmountaingear.com/collections/north-mountain-gear-suits/products/guide-series-leafy-suit-brown

https://northmountaingear.com/collections/north-mountain-gear-suits/products/premium-solid-shell-brown

[megavites]

Leafy ASAT. I have never been busted in this suit. They look thru you.

[Greybeard]

1 hour ago, mazzgolf said:

Funny you mention that - I just (in the past couple weeks) had to throw away my one backpack that I loved because it had bottom straps for things like this - the stitching on the main zipper just unraveled and the zipper half-fell out. It was a Cabelas backpack (what was that about Cabelas is garbage anymore?  )

The North Mountain gear looks nice and not all that expensive.

I can't tell here - those bottom straps you see here, are these to hold the bow/gun pouch only? Do I see an extra pair of straps to attach things to the bottom?

https://northmountaingear.com/collections/sale-items/products/waterproof-daypack-fall-brown-hunting-backpack

For those with North Mountain gear - do you buy oversize to put over your normal cold weather clothes? I'm looking at one of these two:

https://northmountaingear.com/collections/north-mountain-gear-suits/products/guide-series-leafy-suit-brown

https://northmountaingear.com/collections/north-mountain-gear-suits/products/premium-solid-shell-brown

Get your size. They come big enough to fit over  a coat. Ill look at your links later on pc. I get packs from army surplus. They usually come with straps and ways to attach other gear

[Greybeard]

Mazz, looks like there are 2 straps on the bottom besides where the pouch connects on that pack.

[mazzgolf]

30 minutes ago, Greybeard said:

Mazz, looks like there are 2 straps on the bottom besides where the pouch connects on that pack.

That's what I thought, too. That's what you were talking about right? A couple straps underneath you can use to strap on the suit while walking in.

[mazzgolf]

Oh, and do you wear/recommend a whole suit (pants and top) or just the top shirt? I'm thinking get the whole suit, but not sure if it really makes a difference or not.

[Greybeard]

1 hour ago, mazzgolf said:

Oh, and do you wear/recommend a whole suit (pants and top) or just the top shirt? I'm thinking get the whole suit, but not sure if it really makes a difference or not.

Depends.  If my legs won't be seen they aren't needed.  Sometimes I just drape the pants over my legs when sitting.  You'll most likely have to be sitting up higher to shoot the compound so I'd get a pair.

[fdsmiles]

we made are own in the corp.takes some time 

[Kayak Ken]

First Lite leafy suit is well made.