not a full blown ghillie, but i have worn a leafy camo outfit. i looked like a bush! not the best for bowhunting, because all the leaves hook the bowstring. not good. for rifle hunters, a ballerina outfit would work, if you can shoot 300 yards.

my predator green camo works just as good, as a ghillie.

You're not supposed to walk around much with a ghillie suit, it is, as you say, for final approach from a finger tip crawl, or for laying in wait.

The original purpose of ghilli suits was to catch poachers.

Absolutely. The civilian equivalent doesn't even have the heavy chest, elbow and knee pads that would be required for this purpose. In fact, just a few hours ago I ran across what I believe was a gov't issue Marine suit (out of the way surplus store) and it was missing these factors as well- perhaps individuals are adding them afterwards. I'm not sure I like the way the new synthetic fibers sit or move.

Didn't know about the poaching bit.

The Ghilli suit was invented by Scottish game wardens called...Ghillies. Back in the 19th century, IIRC.

PS: Military ghilli suits come in kit form. Everything on them is added.

Slight correction.

Ghillies are not game wardens. There is not any public land open for hunting in Scotland (or anywhere in the UK) , which means there isn't any public hunting like in the States.

All hunting (called shooting or stalking in the UK, "hunting" is riding to hounds) is on private land. You are invited or pay to use the land.

Poaching was a crime against a landower until about the 1950's. Poaching was dealt with by the landowers without recourse to the courts up to the 1920's.

Ghillies were the "guides" used by the estates to facilitate hunting & fishing for the clients and owners. A small part of their duties were to deter poaching. And that is why they invented this type garment. To hunt men (by lying in ambush).

When did this happen? Our teams used to build their own from scratch- and I've only been out for ~12 years. Wonder if 2/29th still teaches soldiers to build their own.