Ghillie Suits are camouflage suits used by hunters, snipers, and even paintball and birding enthusiasts to provide as much coverage (or invisibility) as possible. As a hunter, a Ghillie Suit can make the difference between your being able to get close enough to get the perfect shot, or spending the entire day flushing out pheasants and deer before you ever get close enough to begin taking aim. As a result, it’s worth considering using a Ghillie Suit, especially if you hunt skittish creatures or are having exceptional difficulty getting close enough whenever you manage to find time to get out and hunt. The following guide will provide an overview of hunting Ghillie Suits and how to choose the perfect one for you.
Ghillie Suits are designed to conceal the identity of the wearer. A hunting Ghillie Suit may use twigs, moss, leaves, and mudd to camouflage the wearer as much as possible. Mud and manure may be used to conceal the natural scent of the human being inside the suit. This helps keep animals from detecting the human smell, as many animals have a stronger sense of smell than humans, and will avoid territories once humans are smelled.
A Ghillie Suit for hunting may come in different sizes, including pants, a hat, a full body, or a poncho top. As a result, they may weigh between two to ten pounds. Hunters who simply wish to blend into their surroundings many not wish to use a Ghillie Suit due to the extra weight. However, with practice, maneuvering in a Ghillie Suit can be learned. Nonetheless, a determining factor in choosing the perfect hunting Ghillie Suit is the amount of mobility you will need while out in the field. For example, if you plan to stand for dozens of minutes at a time, or will be moving frequently, a Ghillie Suit poncho may be your best bet, as your legs will remain uncovered, increasing mobility. A full length poncho Ghillie Suit is also an option for hunters who need a lightweight Ghillie Suit yet also want complete coverage over the body. These ponchos are adjustable, and may be trimmed to suit your body size.
You may plan to do a lot of crawling on the ground. For example, perhaps you are in areas without much foliage cover but long grass, and plan to sneak up on prey through crouching or crawling for extended distances. In such cases, you may wish to consider a Ghillie Suit with velcro closing mechanisms instead of zippers and buttons. Zippers and buttons are fine for most Ghillie Suits, but if you will be crawling or lying down for extended periods of time, buttons and zippers can become painful or at least annoying, while closures made from velcro will allow greater mobility.
Beyond mobility, you should also consider the climate in which you plan to hunt. For example, if you will be hunting in warmer climates, you will benefit from a lighter Ghillie Suit, or else you will run a greater risk of overheating. In contrast, if you will be in a colder environment, you may want a thicker Ghillie Suit to keep you warm, particularly if you intend to be out in the field for hours at a time without heating.
Remember that in the end, no Ghillie Suit, no matter how much you pay for it or how highly it is touted by its manufacturers, will offer perfect invisibility all of the time. The biggest determinant in whether or not you take home whatever game you’re after will always be your skill level, and arguably the amount of luck blowing your way that day. That said, you can always give luck a hand by using all the options available to you, and a good hunting Ghillie Suit is an option that may tilt the odds in your favor the next time you’re out in the woods.