Bowhunting: Face Paint or Face Mask?

I'm sure this has been kicked around in the past but I can't remember how long ago.

Which do you prefer: a face mask or half-mask, or paint/dirt/beard? Or, nothing at all?

I'm not a paint guy but will grab a handful of dirt or whatever and smear it on my mug to knock off any shine. Cheap, too. I always figure a face mask might get hung up on the string or release and be a hinderance.

After I grew out my beard, I started using paint. Easy to get off, and I don't feel constricted.

If any of you paint guys don't mind, recommend a few brands of paint that are good. And by good I mean scent-free, mess-free, easy to wash off, etc...

Any one you like to use I like face mask dont like haveing to wash paint off my face every time I come out the woods

I use Carbomask.

Carbomask hands down.

Nothing at all

Face mask

Face mask. Tried paint once and took me three days to get it off.

Paint cause my 8 year old thinks it is cool to look like a sniper. Buy the liquid kind. Not the women's eye shadow container kind.

Full face mask

Nothing, I'm in a tree.

Carbomask paint for me. I can't stand a face mask when bow hunting.

mask keep skeeters backed off

Face paint and keep wet wipes handy to remove it.

No mask, no paint. (No camo bout half the time)

Krylon or Sharpie pen?

Whatever Home Depot had on sale.

Carbomask

Beard for most of the face, use black paint for what the beard doesn't cover. And no fancy designs like all the goofy TV Hunters , just kinda smear it on.

I love a thin mesh facemask for turkey hunting, but tried one for bowhunting once and couldn't stand it.

The wet wipes are a must.....I forgot to pack them once a couple seasons ago, figured I'd just wash my face when I got home. Well I decided to stop to grab a drink at a gas station in predominantly-black Greensboro, AL and forgot that I had black paint smeared all over my face. After noticing the 3rd or 4th black person staring at me with a weird look on their face, I realized why....I immediately went straight to the bathroom and washed it off.

I use carbon mask as well. It is more a of ritual for me once I get everything situated and I am ready, I pull out my tube and begin whatever design I am feeling that day.

It's just not necessary in a tree IMO. Maybe on the ground, but situational. Hunters have let deer see them and over time, may have thought it was due to not having a mask or face paint. We always want a good excuse. But it was most likely due to something else - being a blob, getting skylined, out of place in the environment, etc.

I guess a lilly white face glow from some of you office workers could be considered a blob - so maybe get some paint. My face has got enough weathered wrinkles along with ugly facial hair most of the time - it's already a work of art!

Just rub some deer poop on your face its free and helps hide human odor

Face paint... Most of my hunting is archery elk. I toted around a face mask, got too hot wearing one, and lost a couple. I switched to paint. Not hot, doesn't interfere with shots, or cover my ears up. I use the make-up removal wipes which have worked better than wet wipes for me to get the paint off.

You will attract flies using poop/pee. If ya gonna do that, get the yellow stuff off ya dogs pecker and wipe behind your ears. Will keep the flies away...

Camo Buff

Hood/mosquito net on leafy suit or bare face for me.

Facemask

Don't use either.

Dog Smegma.

I think you may have a new business opportunity. Start collecting and let us know how it turns out!

X2

102 deer with a bow never knew the difference.

Dog Peter gnats are gonna be all over this...

Registered: 11/19/13
Posts: 24
Loc: Jefferson Co, AL
Not a fan of using paint, too big of hassle to remove. I do however use a burnt cork I save from wine bottles. Real easy to remove. Just light it for a few seconds and blow it out. Longer you let it burn, the darker it goes on. I just use enough to dull my skin tone down. I don't get all fancy and draw little tree branches and birds like some I've seen. lol

I've heard of the burnt cork deal, but I just can't bring myself to, essentially, rub carcinogens directly into my skin. Just seems like a less-than-great idea.

Considering the carcinogens in the beer I'll have for dinner, the deodorant I wore today, and the steel I'm milling on at work.. I'll take my chances on the cork. lol, not sure what kind of chemicals they mix up to make that facepaint but I'm sure it's got charcoal and a few other spices in it that would qualify as a "less - than-great" idea.

The beard chooses the man. It's nature's face mask

Carbon Mask. Best price I've found is on Amazon

Net.

Mask. Half mask if I wear a hat, full if not.

I use the black, brown, and green face paint they sell around Halloween. It's 98 cents per tube and will last a long time. It has no smell and comes off super easy. I just keep some non scented baby wipes in the truck and it wipes right off.

Paint here- brown, grey, and green

Paint during bowseason, mask when rifle hunting

X2...I like doin a grim reaper style paint job on the face haha

Facemask all the way. Keeps the deer from seeing you and the Mosquitos off as well.