Chances are good that you watch bowhunting content on TV or online. Assuming that’s true, you might wonder: Why don’t more archers wear a face mask or face paint in the field?
While the reasons are no doubt varied, I think the main one is for brand recognition. In other words, their face is a big part of their brand/image, so wearing a face mask or even face paint dilutes their brand identity, especially to casual viewers who might be channel/show surfing.
In my opinion, there’s no reason to wear camo head to toe and then have your bare-skin face shining in the sun for all animals to see. It makes no sense.
I understand that shooting a bow while wearing a face mask requires a bit of planning and practice, but it’s not difficult, especially if you choose a thin, tight-fitting face mask. You can also go the face paint route, and it works well. The only hassle is washing off the paint after the hunt.
Many clothing companies offer bowhunter-friendly face masks as well as neck gaiters that can be pulled up over your nose to cover your face. Check online and you’ll see offerings from Buff, Cabela’s, Sitka, Under Armour and many more.
I rely on two designs for bowhunting from September through December in the Midwest. When temps are 60 degrees and higher, I wear a Spando-Flage Allusion face mask/head net. This lightweight design is great for warmer temps, and I like that I can cut out eyeholes and a mouth hole so it fits my face perfectly.
When I want a face mask for colder conditions, I switch to an Under Armour ColdGear Balaclava. This form-fitting balaclava is very warm, and I like that I can have the mask portion covering only my mouth, or my mouth and nose.
The only time I wear face paint is if the air temp is 80 degrees or more. In these hot conditions, even the Spando-Flage face mask is uncomfortable.
As I stated previously, you should practice shooting your bow while wearing a face mask and/or neck gaiter. If you choose a face covering that’s too thick, it will affect your ability to find your anchor point at full draw, which will hamper your accuracy. Work all this out before opening day of turkey or deer season.
