Just another reason I'm glad to hunt in the northern end of the states . . . I honestly don't remember being bothered by a single mosquito last season. You southern guys can keep them, big spiders, snakes and gators. I'll keep the snow.IMO the animals don't seem to notice the smell.....I like when the mat is new and it's smoking a little heavy....nice visual aid with wind direction. I keep a bug head net in my vest also...I've been caught in weather and had the thermacell go out and fail to relight more than once. IMO u would be pretty foolish to hunt around here and not own 2 or 3 thermacell. I read on here that some people say permethrin works on skeeters but I haven't experienced anything like that. Keep skin covered, neck gaiter, head net, lightweight liner gloves
Amen.Best thing for most people's mosquito woes is to come hunt with me in a central Florida (legitimate) swamp for a day. You'll go home and not complain about mosquitos again for at least 2 seasons or your next central Florida hunt is free*
[*The cost of 1 Florida hunt with me is an unopened T-cell refill package; my stash can never be deep enough.]
On a serious note, if I drove the hour to my hunting location and forgot my T-cell I would turn around and go back home. If I drove there and forgot my bow but had my T-cell, I would sharpen a stick into a spear and climb a tree.
He’ll reply gently “it was part of the curse of original sin”.I have also been known to hold my breath, lean upwind, and give a squirt of 100% DEET center mass on my face. Usually when I have to take my next breath the mist has gone away and so have the mosquitos around my face.
We are all going to die someday, I am just shaping the fact that mosquitos won't be the reason why I do. I already know (and have rehearsed) my first question I will ask God when I meet him - [while kneeling, with head bowed] "Almighty God, why did you make mosquitos?"
PicAdvice from another CT deer hunter:
1. I don't use DEET anymore - I have no tolerance for the way that it can soften/smear/smudge some plastics.
2. I now use 20% Sawyer Picaridin when I spray down with insect repellent. Picaridin doesn't damage plastics, and it's just as effective as DEET, for just as long, in my experience.
3. All my clothes, boots, and packs are pre-treated ahead of the season with Permethrin, but like others have said, Permethrin doesn't repel mosquitoes very well in my experience. (It's by far the best product for keeping ticks off you though.)
4. When the skeeters are real bad (like now in CT!), I spray down with Picaridin when I leave my truck, and I turn on a Thermacell unit that I keep at or above my waist. Checking trail cameras in the CT swamps in August, I also wear a neck gaiter and ball cap that are sprayed down well with Picaridin, and the skeeters still buzz my ears and face but they don't land and they don't bite. If there's no wind and I'm standing still, the Thermacell keeps them from doing that - but the conditions need to be right for the thermacell repellent to linger and build up around your immediate space - it doesn't work as well when there's a breeze or when you're on the move.
As to your question about a chemical smell - yes, there is a smell ... DEET, Picaridin, Permethrin, and Thermacell units all have a smell. I have no way to know if it alerts *some* deer that avoid/evade me. But I still get kill opportunities, so it doesn't alert them all. As they say, you can't kill deer sitting home on your couch ... so when the skeeters are bad, I use the Picaridin and Thermacell and play the wind to my advantage as best as I can ... because otherwise I wouldn't want to be out there.
ask him about sand gnats (no see ums) too or as I refer to them death by a million bitesI have also been known to hold my breath, lean upwind, and give a squirt of 100% DEET center mass on my face. Usually when I have to take my next breath the mist has gone away and so have the mosquitos around my face.
We are all going to die someday, I am just shaping the fact that mosquitos won't be the reason why I do. I already know (and have rehearsed) my first question I will ask God when I meet him - [while kneeling, with head bowed] "Almighty God, why did you make mosquitos?"
The plague that never ended lolHe’ll reply gently “it was part of the curse of original sin”.
Mid Florida is bad. I grew up there. But Louisiana takes the cake. The mosquito is the state bird.The plague that never ended lol
That is completely reckless and I love it. We worry about some newbie choosing the wrong knot or using a ropeman out of spec. BUT, some poor newbie is going to have a cheekful of poison ivy. When this does happen, please please please take pictures. I love this freaking placeif ur thermacell and deets aren't cutting it search around in the forest till u find this plant. Take a handful and pop it in ur mouth and chew it up till it's a moist paste and rub on all exposed skin paying special attention around the neck/face/hands
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Encourages actual woodmanship. Me too I love it! Can’t wait for them to try it out.That is completely reckless and I love it. We worry about some newbie choosing the wrong knot or using a ropeman out of spec. BUT, some poor newbie is going to have a cheekful of poison ivy. When this does happen, please please please take pictures. I love this freaking place
ask him about sand gnats (no see ums) too or as I refer to them death by a million bites
Not sure about that, but unless I’m hunting wet sandy areas, they’re usually not around.No see ums here in North East Florida aren't effected by thermacell. Maybe they are 2 separate bugs called the same thing?
Bug Tamer while moving Thermocell when hanging