Who here has shot a bow with a poncho? Does it interfere with your shooting at all? Are they practical for hunting?
I'm looking at buying a wool poncho from Asbell wool, but I don't want to spend the money on something I'm going to end up finding out is in my way or hampering my shooting.
Appreciate any advice y'all can give.
I'd recommend that you go to WalMart & buy one of those cheap rain ponchos they normally have in the sporting goods section, & try it. A ponch is a poncho, & what may work for others may or may not work for you-other than borrowing one from someone, or cutting a head hole in an old sheet just to wear it like a poncho & try shooting with it, that's probably your least expensive option.
Longrifle makes a good point. I might add that if ponchos made a good hunting garment, we'd probably see people wearing them in hero pix. I can't remember ever seeing one.
I have used one and followed Fred Asbell's suggestion to just flip the poncho on the bow arm side up over the shoulder to shoot. Worked for me.
I tried the cheap Walmart poncho, was too baggy and I had to belt my waist so it wouldn't whip in the wind. What works good for me is one of those soft shell waterproof jackets from Walmart for $20 on the occasion I hunt rain. Fits closer to form so it stay out of the way and not so noisy when you move
I don't understand the poncho thing, unless it is in a pack just in case a rain shower is coming. I like wool sweaters from Norway, my Swandri wool, and my camo Filson double mac. I light spray of Scotch Guard on wool coats, jackets and pants is as much as need for light rain situations. I try to avoid down pours, but did find that a junked 55 Pontiac in the woods makes for a wonderful reprieve when a surprise thunderstorm came through.
Quote from: Larry Dean on February 16, 2022, 04:18:12 PM
I don't understand the poncho thing, unless it is in a pack just in case a rain shower is coming. I like wool sweaters from Norway, my Swandri wool, and my camo Filson double mac. I light spray of Scotch Guard on wool coats, jackets and pants is as much as need for light rain situations. I try to avoid down pours, but did find that a junked 55 Pontiac in the woods makes for a wonderful reprieve when a surprise thunderstorm came through.
I donno, some of us just want to look like the man with no name ;)
That is a movie thing I am guessing. I don't watch movies. Nor do I try to make fashion statement when in the woods and field, but I have yet to find a pair of long johns that good with my kilt.
Quote from: Larry Dean on February 16, 2022, 06:46:18 PM
That is a movie thing I am guessing. I don't watch movies. Nor do I try to make fashion statement when in the woods and field, but I have yet to find a pair of long johns that good with my kilt.
You must really not watch movies. It's a classic western.
(https://www.hleatherjackets.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Dollars-Trilogy-Man-With-No-Name-Clint-Eastwood-Poncho.jpg)
Quote from: Elsecaller on February 16, 2022, 10:00:52 PM
Quote from: Larry Dean on February 16, 2022, 06:46:18 PM
That is a movie thing I am guessing. I don't watch movies. Nor do I try to make fashion statement when in the woods and field, but I have yet to find a pair of long johns that good with my kilt.
You must really not watch movies. It's a classic western.
(https://www.hleatherjackets.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Dollars-Trilogy-Man-With-No-Name-Clint-Eastwood-Poncho.jpg)
I don't think he gets it so don't worry about it. Me I still watch them every
time they come on.
My MIL actually brought me back one from Mexico with the tassels and all. It's wool and warm an ugly as a red headed step child. I own some decent and quality rain wear. It never gets used.
Figure rainy days are for in camp with a Crown and Dr. Pepper . . .
Quote from: GCook on February 16, 2022, 10:55:01 PM
Quote from: Elsecaller on February 16, 2022, 10:00:52 PM
Quote from: Larry Dean on February 16, 2022, 06:46:18 PM
That is a movie thing I am guessing. I don't watch movies. Nor do I try to make fashion statement when in the woods and field, but I have yet to find a pair of long johns that good with my kilt.
You must really not watch movies. It's a classic western.
(https://www.hleatherjackets.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Dollars-Trilogy-Man-With-No-Name-Clint-Eastwood-Poncho.jpg)
I don't think he gets it so don't worry about it. Me I still watch them every
time they come on.
My MIL actually brought me back one from Mexico with the tassels and all. It's wool and warm an ugly as a red headed step child. I own some decent and quality rain wear. It never gets used.
Figure rainy days are for in camp with a Crown and Dr. Pepper . . .
I can't argue with that. Pepper and crown is one of my favorites.
Depends how hard it's raining, but I'll agree with you there.
Just kidding around and I don't own a kilt, I just hate it when a cold Iowa wind blows up my skirt. Considering some of the rose thorn thickets that sneak through, I can just about imagine what would happen if I have a loose fitting blanket wool thing on. Now if I am riding my horse into Dodge City in the middle of the winter and did not want Matt or Festus to see my Henry mare's leg 45, I may consider a poncho.
No worries if you wear a belt on the outside. Asbells ponchos are nice.
Asbell's wool poncho. does not hinder my shooting and is a good camouflaged. Also it keeps the weather off of me.
[attachment=1,msg2992167]
Quote from: Ron LaClair on February 17, 2022, 09:57:18 AM
Asbell's wool poncho. does not hinder my shooting and is a good camouflaged. Also it keeps the weather off of me.
[attachment=1,msg2992167]
Looks like a guide way to disguise the human form.
Asbell's poncho is designed for bowhunters by bowhunters. Like most things it will take a little practice to make it work for you. One thing I like about the poncho is in bad weather you can protect yourself and your bow and arrows by covering them with the poncho. Call Teresa direct if you have questions. She is great to work with.
Ron you our the Clint Eastwood of traditional bow hunting for sure. Lol.
Nah, Ron reminds me of Bear Claw in the Jeremiah Johnson movie. By the way Ron, that is a compliment. I am just not sure I could make the poncho work. I'm with the crowd sipping the goodies in camp. Make mine Scotch, though.
I'm not a believer in bowhunting in the rain (poor blood trails... :nono:) and so haven't used a poncho much over the years for bowhunting, but when I have used them it helps to use a design that keeps the 'front' sides of the poncho short to avoid bow arm interference when drawing and that allows pinning/bottoning the draw arm side to behind the draw shoulder before settling on stand/taking a shot. They aren't the best gear to have on for actually shooting a bow (especially if in a tree), but in the right circumstances they do make a nice outer cover for protecting against snow, wet foliage and wind.
I'm wondering if some of the naysayers have even tried a poncho .....works good for me
:dunno:
My only issue is, I prefer still hunting and stalking with a back quiver. When I see a pheasant land anywhere near me, to heck with deer, there is a pheasant over there and I am off. I take the back quiver off at times, like if I am leaning against a tree, but when I am on the move or sitting up on a stool, I have it on.
I used to use a poncho in the rain but now I don't hunt in the rain. I never had a problem shooting with one. Jawge
I use to carry a rain poncho when it looked like it could rain, I had recurves with bow quivers back then. Even use a Big Jim Bush In A Bag for turkeys and sometimes deer, but it is for stationary use only, no running around. Something that completely changes the human outline works.
Few people probably like to hunt in the rain, but when you are out all day it happens. I lost a chance on a nice bull elk because I had rain gear on and couldn't get out of it in time to work closer for a shot. He would have heard me coming. If I'd had a poncho I could have gotten it off in a couple of seconds. I carry a plastic one occasionally, now.
I have switched to Frog Togs for rain. It is quiet and packs small, plus I can wear my back quiver. I have a Frog Tog hood made from a torn Frog Tog pants to put over my arrows and over the top of the back quiver.
Before spending alot of money on one you might try making your own...lots of DIY vids for that on U-Toob. Can get a blanket at Harbor freight or a surplus store. Like buying a pricey bow, best to try before you buy.
Light synthetics won't react like wool . Good weight wool will insulate , move natural , blend into the envoiroment....as Ron has so graciously shared. Looking Good Ron ;)
Some of us naysayers have worn ponchos more than we'd like. As a matter of fact they were standard issue.
Wool ponchos are warm, versatile and useful for many situations. I just wouldn't use one for bowhunting unless I were in a pinch.
I have a whole tote (two actually) of other warm clothes that do a great job that are more suited to movement and hunting.
I really like a poncho when camping. Also work great when your sleeping bag isn't adequate for the temps at night. Did I mention versatile?