Part 5*: For the Hunter with Everything, Including UV Brighteners!

Last time, I shared with you the brand names of the detergents that do not add UV brighteners to your hunting clothes.

Today’s Discussion…

Taking Care of Your Hunting Clothes!

Is for those of you who have clothing  purchased with UV brighteners in them or you have washed your hunting clothes in the wrong detergents.

Now, What do You Do?

I hate to admit it, but I haven’t found any product — or washing process — that will remove UV brighteners except Atsko’s UV Killer. *

Believe me, I’ve tried everything: multiple washings with concocted brews and a variety of products. Repeated washings will not remove the brighteners, once added.

OK, I Surrender…

If you have brighteners in your hunting togs, there’s only one way to remove them.

However, after removing the UV brighteners, save some money by using the products mentioned in the last posting (Part 4*: Approved Detergents for Hunting Clothes).

These will not replace the UV brighteners in your hunting goods:

Country Save
Bold Powder
Cheer Liquid (all versions)
Cheer Powder (all versions)
All Powder (all versions)
Surf Powder (all versions)
Woolite (all versions)

Two Others I’d Like to Add: **

20 Mule-Team Borax (although not a detergent in the normal sense, this product has had the same ingredients for over 100 years.)

baking soda (same reason)

Other Tips to Disguise Your Scent from Deer & Turkey

- Lots of hunters put their hunting clothes in plastic bags with leaves, conifer cones, etc., from the area they plan to hunt.  The clothes absorb the odors of the plant material.

– Wash yourself with non-scented soaps.

- Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages before hunting.

- Some hunters clean the clothes washer before washing their hunting things by washing a short wash with baking soda (as the detergent). This cleans the tub of all detergents, so no trace of UV brighteners will stain their clothing.

- Some hunters swear by “earth scented” dryer sheets.  Others dry their clothing outside.   I tend to err on the side of caution and avoid the dryer, if possible.  If there can be detergent residue in the wash tub, can’t there also be softener residue in the dryer?

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Next Time: More Tips and Washing Soda/ Baking Soda as Washing Products

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Part X*: = This year’s report, versus last year’s info.

** More info coming soon on these cleaners.

Disclaimer: I don’t sell any products I will mention in this series. This is strictly educational information.

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This blog is a companion to my website: EasyOnlineOrdering.com

Six Clothing Tips for Turkey Hunters

These are 6 clothing tips for turkey hunters.

Camo Wear Patterns

 

Hunter's Face Veil

 

Found some camo wear in the “Clearance” section of your store? BEWARE! Some of those ‘3-D camo’ and ‘movable leaves’  wear that you will find on clearance racks are a bad investment. Why?

If they move on a still morning, turkeys don’t wait to see why they moved. They quickly make tracks — in a different direction!

New Clothes Shine

Shiny new clothes may be great for church, but are a poor idea when hunting turkeys. Why? Turkeys have sharp eyes.  A shiny watch strap, glittery watch and reflections off of clothing are dead give-aways!

Keep in mind: Turkeys that survive the first weeks of hunting learn about shiny objects and hunters. They get smarter as the season wears on.

I’ve already written lots about what to use when washing your hunting wear. Mosey on over to “UV Brighteners: We’ve Got the News,” (published here in November 2008), where I name names of the  products that will not add UV Brighteners to your clothing.

Critical Elements of Hunting Clothing

If your hunting clothing meets all of these criteria, your clothing will not impede your ability to  snag a turkey: comfortable, safe (nothing to hang up on branches, gun barrels, etc.), and silent (no noise, no matter how slight).

As a test:  Rub your clothing (pants legs or sleeves) together. Well-washed cotton garments generally are silent. However, some garments with lots of polyester can sound very loud!

Outerwear for Hunting

Some guides suggest “mix-and-match”  – green camo over brown camo (pants). In other words, they are suggesting you wear the same pattern, with differing colors.  There’s a lot of controversy about this idea.

I’m going to side-step it and suggest coveralls. They are versatile; on hot days,  wear a single layer cotton coverall.

On cold days, wear underlayers (of wool, cotton, whatever) for extra insulation.

Pockets

Another reason I like coveralls, is that they seem to have an endless supply of pockets — deep and roomy — to carry the endless list of “must-haves:” gloves, turkey tags, shells, calls, etc.

Face Nets vs. Black Make-Up

A few years ago, everyone wore black face makeup – to reduce face shine. Now, however, the trend is towards face veils or face nets.

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This blog is a companion to my website: www.EasyOnlineOrdering.com

It’s Friday. Some Absolutely Worthless Info!

Kid's Paintball or Ghillie Suit

This has been a hard week.  Since Friday has FINALLY arrived, let the silliness begin!

As I have mentioned before, WordPress has a nifty tool that tells us how people find our site.  Usually, seekers enter words into the search engine, and Google, or others, try to find a page with info to help.

Real Ghillie Suit

I certainly hope the seeker does not find a real ghillie suit.  About 20 years ago, MDH Richard brought dozens of burlap bags to me and asked if I’d make him a ghillie suit.

Obviously, I wasn’t in my right mind when I said, “Sure!” At that time, ghillie suits had just become available to hunters. The price tag was way outside our budget.

So I started to cut, stitch and itch!  The burlap bags reeked; the stray fibers filled my sewing machine and lungs.

When I finished, I took a much-needed rest cure in a German sanitorium for folks who have taken in more dust particles than brain cells.

As they carried me off, I yelled to Richard, “I’m sure it looks great. As soon as my eyes stop oozing and my face shrinks back to its normal size, I’ll take a look! Have fun hunting.”

Actually, I learned that the original isn’t always the best. Those suits were hot, itchy and stank! It didn’t take long before manufacturers changed to lighter, washable fabrics …. And, I learned they were well worth the price!

Hunting Clothes for 7 year-olds

This is the second Wordopress item of interest.  Even though there are fewer kids out hunting, they are dressed better than ever before!

Until this past holiday season, I didn’t even try to carry kids’ ghillie suits. Why?

No one could keep ‘kids hunting wear’ in stock! I don’t think manufacturers had an inkling how hot (popular) these suits would be!

If you are planning to get one of these suits for your junior hunter this fall, buy it out-of-season.

Ok, so today won’t be a total loss, here’s a hunting joke. I found it @ http://huntingjokes.thejokeindex.com

Today’s Joke:  He Walks on Water

An avid duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him.

He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, the eternal complainer who refused to be impressed with anything. This, surely, would impress him. He invited him to hunt with him and his new dog.

As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by.  They fired, and a duck fell.  The dog responded and jumped into the water.

The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet.

This continued all day long.  The complainer watched carefully, saw everything, but did not say a single word.

On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, “Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?”

“I sure did,” responded the complainer. “He can’t swim.”

2008 Round-Up: Ghillie Suit Info!

Bow Hunters Need Special Suits

At one point, I thought I was an “expert” on ghillie suits. Hah!

Innovation is happening so rapidly that it is now hard just to stay up with Ghillie gear!

This Year’s Articles:

A Few Tips on Buying a Ghillie Suit       posted 6 November 2008

More Tips about Ghillie or Camo Wear                    10 November 2008

Matching Your Ghillie Wear to Your Hunting      11 November 2008

What Your Mama Taught You about Hunting      12 November 2008

Matching Your Ghillie Wear to Your Hunting (Part 3 of 4)

Bow Hunters Need Freedom of Action!

The type of hunting you do will determine what kind of camouflage or ghillie suit you need. Do you plan to stalk game?  Are you more comfortable lying down or moving?  What is your weapon of choice?

The Special Needs of Archers

Bow hunters have rather specialized needs. It is critical for archers to have their shooting arm and chest area free of extra material.

Having freedom of action is critical.  In order to be successful, nothing can interfere with the action of their bow string. Archers are usually within 20 yards of their target; there’s little room for error.

Whether you are in a tree stand, hiding in a blind or stalking, safety and flexibility are your watch words. Generally, bow hunters are covered from head to boot.

Most ghillie suits appropriate for archers have additional jute, burlap or synthetic netting/fabric. The purpose to to give each hunter enough material to individualize his suit for his unique needs.

If the ghillie suit is made of jute or burlap, it has been treated with fire retardant. If the suit is washed off (natural fabrics generally won’t withstand washing in a machine), be sure to retreat the garment with the extra retardant supplied with the suit.

The Name of the Game is Mobility

The sharp-eyed turkey offers a special challenge. Many hunters like poncho-type gear. Because only the top half of the body is covered, it gives the hunter the flexibility to stalk his game.

Another product for the upright stalk is something called a “flange suit.” It is a one-piece ghillie suit that hangs from the shoulders to the boots. The body is totally encased in the suit and usually has 2 lbs. of extra material.

Camo Blankets & Netting

The first time I saw the item below, I was convinced it was a product for the funeral industry!  MDH* explained that a goose hunter might use this to lie down in a field, waiting for geese.

Hunter's Blanket

These camo blankets and netting are an improvement over the old do-it-yourself methods of hiding yourself and your equipment.   I look at them as portable hunting blinds.

They can be hung from trees and draped between upright posts, so you can rearrange your temporary blind to meet your changing needs.

Keeping Your Rifle Undercover

In my last report (coming soon), the issue of covering yourself and your equipment will be discussed. You may be able to use the excess materials from your ghillie suit to cover your weapon. However, each month more companies develop camo especially for the gun. The designs are getting more complete all the time.

It makes little sense to buy a ghillie suit, yet leave your hands, face and gun shiny. Light will reflect off each of these surfaces. And your quarry will thank you, as he races away to the next county!

Paintballers and Ghillie Wear

Military snipers and hunters aren’t the only folks who’ve developed a fondness for ghillie suits.  Paintballers have joined the fun; they tend to choose suits in the new synthetic fabrics. Generally, the materials are rot-proof, easy to wash, mildew resistant and the threads used to stitch the garment are synthetic (because cotton threads would rot in the rough-and-tumble world of paintballing).

Finally

Well, these 3 posts have been offered to give readers an overview of what’s available for the hunter. The final posting will be different: “What Your Mama Taught You About Hunting.”  See you soon.
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A Few Tips on Buying a Ghillie Suit

Click for Info!

Originally, ghillie suits started out as low tech garments. All you needed were several burlap sacks, nylon thread and some patience. But take it from me, those suits were awful! How do I know? MDH* talked me into making one – perhaps 20 years ago.

At the time, the ghillie suits were horribly expensive to buy. We learned the hard way — you REALLY had to love hunting to wear one of those things. They were very hot (we live in Texas), incredibly itchy and stank. Heaven help you if it rained; the stink turned rotten.

The Origin of the Ghillie Suit

Scottish gamekeepers were the first to use ghillie suits, to help them catch wild game for the table. Along with the bad smell, itching and heavy weight, they were flammable. With all these negatives, it’s hard to imagine anyone wearing these concealment suits willingly!

The good news is — all that is behind us. Ghillie garments now come in a wondrous array of fabrics and weights. The camo suits vary between one and four pieces!

Want to Make Your Own Camo Suit?

You may be thinking about making your own ghillie. There are places on the Internet that offer directions. Having done it myself, let me give you a tip. The materials will cost as much as a fully constructed suit – and you will still face dozens of hours of construction.  If you use burlap sacks – please make sure you use fire retardant each time you wear them!

Things to Consider

Under what conditions will you be hunting?  If you mostly hunt in warm weather, choose a light weight garment.  On colder days, you might need to wear a jacket under your camo.

What will you be hunting?  The game you’re going after has a large influence on the camo you wear. Many smaller animals have poor eyesight. As long as your shape is broken up by pattern and you blend into the background – fine.

However, deer and sharp-eyed turkeys require more careful pattern selection and color choices. Deer only see two colors: blue and yellow.  They do not see blaze orange, but do notice patterns that are not consistent with the background. In other words, if you stand out from the background – it’s a bad plan.

Turkeys, unfortunately, have wonderful color-distinguishing abilities. Therefore, the patterns and colors must make you part of the background.

What will be the dominant colors of the terrain?  You will be the loneliest hunter around if you are walking around in Advantage Classic when the terrain looks like Realtree Hardwoods Snow (click on the words to see the patterns)!

By the way, you don’t have to be a fashionista while you hunt: Matching jacket and pants are not required! In fact, if you are moving around, it is better to have differing patterns for your top and bottom halves. As long as you are quiet, the break in patterns will make it harder to catch your movements.

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As usual, this subject is longer than I thought. Next time, I’ll address: noisy hunting clothes, having leaves in your suit, ’scent-lok’ camo – and a great deal more. See you soon!

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* MDH = My Deer Husband
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This blog is a companion to my website, EasyOnlineOrdering.com
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Anyone Out There? Questions for My Reader(s)!

Calling All Readers!

Just want you to know that it gets mighty lonely in my Ivory Tower, issuingCalling all Readers! pearls of fascinating lore.  If there is anyone in cyberspace who has read my article: “Hunting News: Why You Just Might Not Get a Turkey or Deer this Year” (dated 1 October 2008) or “A Few More Facts About Deer Hunting” (dated 3 October 2008) — I’d love to hear how you are handling this issue.

Hey, I’m even willing to listen to anyone who hasn’t read either article!

Briefly, hunting clothes purchased from China AND/OR washed in detergents have UV brighteners. This is a real bummer if you are hunting either of the two species with extremely sharp eyes — the turkey and deer. Essentially, folks with brighteners in their hunting clothes “glow” — making it very easy for the turkey and deer to elude those hunters.  Either of the mentioned articles has a photo of the “bright, blue, glowing hunter.”

What I’d like to know is –

Are you concerned about the issue?

Have you tried the product mentioned (UV Killer)?

Did it work? As well as advertised?

Have you discovered an alternative method of removing (and keeping out) “the glow?” What is it and how does it work?  Inquiring minds want to know!

I appreciate your input; thanks for taking time to respond. (No Mom, you don’t need to answer these questions. I want to see if I have any readers besides you!)

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Please Note: There’s an update on the UV Brighteners issue on my blog dated 4 November 2008
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This blog is a companion to my website, EasyOnlineOrdering.com

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