I hope I don't wear you all out asking all these questions. I know they are at a very Rookie level for most of you all, but I really don't know what is considered to be the Best.

I've used a Facemask while Rifle/Revolver Hunting for so long(maybe 40yrs) that I do not even remember when I began using it. I do know that I picked up on using them in a "Bow Hunting" article. Got two and gave one to my best Hunting buddy. Our actual Deer sightings went up so drastically that we sure felt bad about not using them sooner.

I get a few local Hunting/Fishing shows(no cable) and I've noticed some of them DO NOT use anything to hide their Faces.

Question:
What do you use to "mask" your Face?

Choices:
1. Nothing at all.
2. Face Mask. Light weight summer, heavy winter.
3. Camo grease face paint.
4. Southern Camo(mud to knock off the shine).
5. Other

 

Unless I'm hunting from a ground blind, I'm wearing my camo face mask. It doesn't matter whether I'm hunting with my bow, rifle, handgun or muzzleloader, I'm wearing a face mask.

Lightweight--hasn't been cold enough (central Tx) to need a heavyweight one yet.

None at all....heck I don't even wear full camo. I do all of my hunting from 20 ft+ up a tree.

Lightweight, even in WI one winter at temps in single digits... exhaled breath kept my face completely warm.

Nothing in the woods looks like a big round "white thing". And if you think deer don't look up, watch a few hunting shows!

Cover your face; it makes all the difference in the world.

quote:

Originally posted by Shof:
Unless I'm hunting from a ground blind, I'm wearing my camo face mask. ...

Hey Shof, Why don't you wear one in a Ground Blind? Is it dark enough to completely hide you?
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Hey Ted, That Beard does provide some concealment, but I'd feel something was bad wrong if I didn't have mine on.

By the way, you all probably know this, but as the Camo "Fades" due to washing, the Whiter the Mask or Hunting outfit becomes. Never really thought that could be an advantage, but I see where it would be for you all that Hunt in the Snow like Doubless.

I spotted something "White" in a Stand we call the Boat Seat from waaaay across a field, long ago. Couldn't even tell what it was in the 10x50s, but I knew it was White. Figured it might be a Plastic Sack that somehow got blown into the tree.

Mentioned it to my buddy John at dinner and he said he had been "sitting in the Boat Seat Stand". After a bit of discussion, we realized his Camo Face Mask had Faded to the point that it was pretty much White.

We got that corrected in about 20min.

Yeah, the ground blind I have is fairly large, so I can sit at the back wall and shoot my bow through the windows without my face being shown. I know this because I've video'd the blind and it's hard to see me in there.

I really like my face masks, if I get deadly serious I'll use face paint and the mask. I usually wear the mask backwards rather than looking out hole they leave for your face.

I use a light weight one, it's the same one I use for turkey hunting. I don't really think it makes a big difference deer hunting from 20+ feet up a tree, but it keeps the dang no-see-ums and skeeters out of my ears during the early hot weather part of the GA season.

Face paint/make-up. No loss of perif. vision and we do a lot of spot and stalk. The face mask gets caught up in the brush.

Perry

Hey Shof, There are a couple of "local" TV Shows which use a Pop-Up Ground Blind a lot. I noticed they didn't have a Face Mask on too. Plus Tim at the Gun/Bow Shop recommends one. Thanks.

Hey Chief, I got you about the Backward Face Mask. I'll try that for sure. I always pulled it up so I was just looking over the edge of the eye-hole and then pulled the Brim down low on my Boonie hat. But, Backwards would be an enhancement over what I'm doing as long as there is enough light to see through it. Thanks.

Hey Adam, Man-O-Man, you nailed it about the Skeeters. What a HUGE difference the Mask makes.

Hey Perry, I see you and the Chief both use some Face paint. I did too in the CORPS and just haven't done it since I've been wearing the Face Masks. I'll need to give that some more thought. Thanks.

Another thing to think of, is even if you cover your face, and remain completely still, your eyes are still big white flags that will keep moving no matter what you do. Course, it's not really a problem for those of you that turn your mask around.

Speaking of concealment, any of you remember that hide a draw contraption from years ago? What a piece of crap. That pop-up blind that attaches to your bow and pops up as you draw. All it did was create even more motion to give you away, and get caught up in the branches. I never had one, but knew some who did. They threw them away after one or two hunts.

Nothing at all works for me these days, although when I started bowhunting I tried a few different things and didn't like them. However, if I am hunting down in the desert country where the flies are most friendly, I will wear a mosquito net to keep them off. I seem to be able to still shoot my longbows and recurves with a mozzie net on.

IF I could grow a decent beard, that would solve my problem. But alas, I cannot so
I like a face masks, if it is too warm, I use nothing.

Mesh 3/4 mask hot or cold, bow & gun - I wear glasses, & the cold weather fabric masks fog up my glasses.

Ever caught a face mask in a string??? Me either.. camo paint is the only way to go. I've got VERY close to elk wearing nothing on my face. I even had a bright orange stil label on my base ball cap..I've worn every design of camo there is. Which brings me to believe elk are color blind. Cammo does not really matter if you're immage is (broken) They will not see you. Elk and deer can smell!! With the products we have today,They dont smell me!!But any reflection or glare off of ANYTHING will spook them. I wear glasses. all I can do is not look directly at them. sometimes it works sometimes they win.A face mask is worthless crap to carry!!

I've killed probably a dozen deer and one bull elk wearing a face mask and have never caught it on my bow string. I think it's just a matter of shooting style/form and personal preference.

I like to use Span-do-flage. I'm sure the spelling is wrong!! Same weight all year round, deer, turkey and duck hunting.

rudyc

Full beard only.

I wear a face mask,,and always a hat, I have a few with facemask/hat combo that work well. My hair is very shiny silver, so is my facial hair. I literally glow in the dark it is so silver/white. I stick out like a sore thumb without the mask/hat combo,, even in a pit blind. Wear the camo! In a pit blind I wear very dark colors as well. In Africa in a pit blind I wear black shirts and hats, mask etc. Here in north America in a tree I wear whatever camo that correspondes to the terrain I will be in.

Ballcap with real light mesh mask. Drop it down or stuff it in the hat. It's just thick enough to break up the glare from my face.

Use a suitably coloured 'Buff' neck tube when hunting for deer.

Can be shucked down around your neck in a second, doesn't catch, rustle & keeps bugs off your neck, face & ears.

My reasoning is simple, if that deer spends a couple more seconds trying to figure out what it is looking at - that will be enough for me to get a shot down-range!

Rgds

Ian

It is amazing how far away one can see a uncovered face. I aways wear a face mask of some kind.

I never fully understood the whole scent-lock, expensive camo deal. I guess in some areas it might be warranted but for me I use the Wal-Mart special camo with NO Face Mask and have been able to consistently get within 20 yrds or less without spooking the deer. I pay more attention to my movements and where the wind is blowing my scent.

A bit o grease under the eyes for me. I feel a little silly though, because then I think about guys like Howard Hill, Fred Bear and Fred Azbel. Sheesh!