No face paint, no mask?

[WhitetailAddict11]

I can't get over how many of these guys and girls on these hunting shows are bowhunting with nothing covering their faces or hands. Anybody that has spent any amount of time in the woods knows that eye contact alone usually means game over if your caught up in a stare down. I would have to imagine adding a bare human face to the mix is just adding salt to the wound. I'm watching Tammy Gregory get picked off by every dang deer that comes within 50 yards of her and I see it plenty on other shows as well.

[ATbuckhunter]

I rarely use a mask and never any paint and its not as bad as you think. I don't have loads of deer or very many deer spooking when they look at me. I probably will start using some face paint but its not as important as people make it out to be.

[philoshop]

A boonie hat to keep my eyes in shadow, and lots of facial hair.

[ants]

I went back to paint, a couple years ago.  Just a few smears on both cheeks, enough to break it up. Seems to work.

I got sick of masks. I would lose one or two every season, they get sweaty, they fall down over my eyes…..Just got sick of them.

[Fantail]

I like a boonie hat as well & usually use some form of mask because of the friggin bugs. Never liked bug spray on my face, especially when I'm at camp for days at a time.

 

Friggin bugs.

[VT Outfitter]

I think that those hunting shows film a hunt first, then film a hunter hunting after the kill. It all to make a show, and I have seen a few over the shoulder hunts that would be exceptions. But  for the most part, its for entertainment for hunters viewing and promoting products.

 

I use a mask while in stand until I see a deer that I want to shoot. Then I slide the half mask down and use my bow and gloves for break up. I am not sure why, but I have always squinted my eyes almost shut when getting stared at by a deer or turkey. Maybe it is a reflex to try and calm my nerves to prepare for the shot. I don't know if it even matters, because sometimes if the deer is close enough and I open my mouth, the deer must be able to hear my beating heart from excitement. Gotta love it!

[thphm]

I do as the title said, only time I wear a mask is when it is windy and cold.

Gloves are more important, they will pick up hand movement before staring at you face.

I have had them grazing as close as 10 feet from me wearing a bright orange slicker and an orange  cap.

[G-Man]

grow a beard, camo is truly unnessary..its lack of movement. i watch my neighbor hunt deer and turkey in blujeans and a plaid coat and be very sucessful, and he has taken some bucks of a lifetime and huge gobblers. lack of movement is the key.

[BKhunter]

I never wore a mask or face paint and haven't had a problem yet. As G-man said lack of movement is key as well as scent control. I have seen deer put there nose up and turn the other way due to scent or movement but never from looking at my face.

[jrm]

I think that those hunting shows film a hunt first, then film a hunter hunting after the kill. It all to make a show, and I have seen a few over the shoulder hunts that would be exceptions. But  for the most part, its for entertainment for hunters viewing and promoting products

 

Bingo.

 

I can't speak to a specific hunting show, but everyone should realize... there is no such thing as "reality" TV. All "reality" shows are scripted and produced for entertainment value (or to sell something). Camera shots are planned and executed with this in mind. In an editing room you can take a days worth of footage and put it together to tell any story you want it it.

 

That's not to say any hunting show won't have a good "tip," show good hunting practices or be promoting a worthwhile product. All entirely possible. Just that what you seeing on TV (whether hunting shows, "real" housewives, bachelor, whatever) doesn't necessarily take place as they lead you to believe.

[Lawdwaz]

Camo fools more hunters each year than deer.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Bingo.

 

I can't speak to a specific hunting show, but everyone should realize... there is no such thing as "reality" TV. All "reality" shows are scripted and produced for entertainment value (or to sell something). Camera shots are planned and executed with this in mind. In an editing room you can take a days worth of footage and put it together to tell any story you want it it.

 

That's not to say any hunting show won't have a good "tip," show good hunting practices or be promoting a worthwhile product. All entirely possible. Just that what you seeing on TV (whether hunting shows, "real" housewives, bachelor, whatever) doesn't necessarily take place as they lead you to believe.

 

We'll thanks for ruining the rest of my day, LOL.

 

[Terry]

I always wear one or the other. I hunt primarily from the ground and figure every little bit helps.

[Two Track]

I never used a face mask except in really cold windy weather to keep warm until I moved to NY.

 

I picked up a netting type of face mask because my face was getting so many bites and bugs heading for the eyes when started turkey hunting in NY.   I keep it with me in case it is buggy during warm parts of deer season.

 

Of course the deer I took before I moved here were all stand shots, 12 feet up a tree in hunter orange coveralls and hat.  Probably never saw me up there any way on those flat lands.

 

Had a fox come up to about 20 foot of me while sitting on the ground against a tree, orange hat and vest, no paint or face mask.   Didn't seem to notice me until pulled the gun up to my shoulder and leveled it at him. Then the fox paused a second and veered away from me. Fox was not legal game there, but I was not gonna let him get close enough to bite.

 

Movement is key.  Keep it slow and at a minimum.

 

Reality TV is real.  It is just that the premise and basic discussion is planned in advance with ad-lib's kept in the final cut to make it more realistic.

[Doc]

Whiskers used to do a pretty good job of camouflaging my face. ......Not so much anymore since it is starting to turn white .... lol.

[ants]

The old timer, I use to hunt with, never covered his face and always hunted in gray or green wool during bow and red and black wool, with a cheap orange vest over it during gun season. He did just fine.

[Doc]

Actually, the only reason that I wear camo is because that is what most of the warmer, better quality hunting clothing comes in. Grease paint all over my face ..... I can't stand the feel of it, particularly if it's hot and I need to be able to sweat. Of course I am not hunting in a tree stand and am usually quite well concealed. If a deer can see me, it is only as much exposure as it takes to get the shot off.

 

But consider gun season where I am pretty much mostly in the open sitting there like a big solid orange lump. No face paint or anything. I have never been picked off in that scenario even when deer were exceptionally close. So, I think maybe some of that stuff is more of a confidence builder for the hunter than it is an absolute necessity for success.

[growalot]

face mask and I hate it..every single year I end up with a raw upper lip due to moisture...but I have allergies and there isn't much that doesn't make my skin rash out....besides...bugs drive me out of my mind until the first hard frost...

I tried the facial hair thing...but alas...Mr B wasn't happy...hahahahaha

[ncountry]

I never wear a face mask or paint. Usually have a full beard + hunt 75% of the time from 30'. I''ve killed more deer in sweat pants and shirt than I have in my fancy camo.lol

Killed many from the ground, but being still is the key..

[fasteddie]

I wear the face mask . Don't care for the paint . My 2 sons that hunt use the camo paint .

[wooly]

Early bow season last year I was in my stand  watching deer pass by in my shorts and no shirt.

I doubt a facemask or paint would have done much good besides making me look like a super hero,lol

[Elmo]

One a scout once had 3 does eat their lunch 20 yards from me for 15 minutes before they noticed me. I was standing completely still like a statue wearing blue jeans, blue sweat shirt, face and hands uncovered. They only noticed me when my legs got tired and I moved a little. Still out of habit, I wear a mask and gloves when I bow hunt.

Edited July 29, 2014 by Elmo

[landtracdeerhunter]

Early bow season last year I was in my stand  watching deer pass by in my shorts and no shirt.

I doubt a facemask or paint would have done much good besides making me look like a super hero,lol

 

 

 

Think you posted this pick before going to your stand last year wooly,  LOL

Edited July 29, 2014 by landtracdeerhunter

[wooly]

Yep- that's about it,lol

Can't forget about my lucky hat though!

 

[landtracdeerhunter]

That's quite a hat. Where in the world did you find such a weapon? LOL.