Anyone use ghille suit for spring turkeys? Any success or close encounters?
I made my own. I've had birds close, but haven't closed the deal yet wearing this suit. All 5 of my birds have been without a blind, natural cover.
I am considering tying in some foliage this year---fake or real. Needs some brighter tones for spring.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HHkw2fQHbKhwY6tz9
That looks pretty neat there BRONZ. Nice job :thumbsup:
Deno
I have used my Rancho Safari Shaggie top, bottom and boonie hat for deer and turkeys for many years and it works outstandingly. If I ever need to re-purchase I would go with the Shaggie Longcoat with the hat. I'm not a fan of hoods. I usually don't wear the pants unless I am tree stand hunting. On a short stool, or on the ground the jacket and boonie hat are all I have needed.
OkKeith
I made my own and it as worked very well on deer. I have take two nice bucks, one at 6 yards and one at 4 steps. It is made like a hospital gown, with no arms. I used an old duck decoy bag for "frame". Tied in burlap that I dyed. I store it rolled inside out so it does not get caught on limbs while walking.
I ordered a long coat from 3Rivers. I'm looking forward to trying turkeys without a blind this year.
Fair warning.......they are a tick magnet!!!!!
MSwickard, Spray it very thoroughly with permethrin, and the ticks will be under control.
Ah yes life is better when pesticides are in use!!! LOL I don't use ghillie suits but my son did one spring in Kansas when I took him turkey hunting when he was 12 yrs old and he wanted to wear this Ghillie suit he had. I tried to tell him otherwise but needless to say that suit must of picked up every tick in Kansas!!!! Might have been a different story with chemicals. LOL
I've been using the ASAT 3d camo jacket and pants and I'm amazed how close i can get to animals..I got a second shot at a gobbler wearing it last year while sitting on a stool
I love my Rancho Safari ghillie for revolver hunting from the ground but I can't use it with a bow. If I hold everything just perfect it's fine but it restricts the awkward shooting positions that sometimes need utilized in the field too much for me to want to bowhunt with it.
I have a couple of the Marc Anthony suits by Bushrag, they're built on a lightweight mesh bug suit and are quite a bit lighter and cooler which is nice during turkey and early bow season in the South.
Not sure if they are still available, but I have one in reserve so I'll be using these for a good long time.
I killed my first gobbler years ago with a rancho safari ghillie and the hat . Wore a camo buff on my face . Shot at 10 yards .. didn't look at me at all . Gobbler focused on the decoy ... his mistake .
You def don't need one. Just stay still. Birds walk right up to you even not perfectly matching and vegetation. Heck for that matter not even wearing camo. Camo can't hurt though. I often wonder if we think cause it fools our eyes more if we assume that's what turkey see. I can assure you, there's no suspicion in the birds. If you move ghillie or not it'd not be unnoticed and the birds wouldn't walk closer to see what moved. They'd turn inside out most times trying to get away.
Now I'm referring mostly to easterns cause idk other subspecies. Fellows tell me some like merriams they tell me are likely to just run in after you find them they're that easy. Maybe an over exaggeration but idk. That being said if this is the case a ghillie is way too hot n heavy especially since unnecessary.
Fellas can use what they like though I wonder how many birds got away after a hunter trying a ghillie hit their chest or forearm with all the bulk hanging everywhere.
You guys will think I'm nuts, especially since you've been told your whole life how good their eye sight is. Maybe so but I've called in birds twice to 20-25 yards wearing a red n black woolrich jacket to prove to my buddy it wasn't a tough trick.
My daughters hunts w me. The older one hates covering her face. Never does, had a habit of whatever sweatshirt she's wearing hanging out of camo. She's shot plenty of birds at 20 years old and I remember one time I was heading out w them. We were undressed about 1/2 way. Just out of force of habit I cutt at em on a mouth call. Birds gobbled n a gobbler group came in yelping like mad.
As we were caught in a cut hayfield, wide open, no grass, the birds entered about 100 yards out. Those birds came in through the field right to us. We sat 1/2 camoed, no masks on as they approached. My daughter shot one as the other never looked towards the yelping gobblers. If she was ready she may have gotten a shot off too.
Now the birds came to about 20, totally exposed. Just sit still n learn when to draw. If a solo bird you'll have an easier time