I didn't think there really was a Mos. Dope that didn't smell,but read a book by an expert the other day that said to be sure and use a non- smelling dope. Is there such a thing and if so what and where do you get it?
I'm in the deep South and opening bow season will be hot and have lots of mosquitoes if you go in the "bottoms", particularly if damp.
Now I know you tough guys will say don't use any and just tough it out - like a true indian. Well,first, you ain't got my kind of skeeters. Second, I've done that plenty and its miserable-especially if you don't see any deer.
Third,I'm older now and want a pleasant hunt. Fouth, lots of Indians used bear grease and other smelly stuff and just stayed downwind. Problem - in my area the wind shifts too much to get away with that for very long most days.
So, what systems do you guys use? Does that electronic dragon fly sound really work?
Charles in Louisiana
Thermacell first and last word
works very well
Second the Thermacell for skeeters, knats, and other annoying flying critters.
For chiggers and ticks I use Repel Permanone.
That shows you how great this site is. I went into a Cabela's store and a Bass Pro store within the last 2 weeks and asked the clerk (in bow hunting dept.) if there was anything new in non-smelling mosquito repellant or something deer didn't notice and both told me nothing was available yet!!
The people at Bass Pro stores (never been to a Cabela's store) have never impressed me. Nothing against BP, I just stopped asking questions about ANYTHING there a long time ago.
The Repel Permanone is GREAT stuff for non-flying pests. It's OK for the buggers that fly, not nearly as good as the 100% DEET stuff that smells to high heaven though.
You can make your own too...go to some store that caters to people who raise livestock. Ask for "permethrin" a cap full to a whole spray bottle is plenty. It's neat to watch two clear liquids combine into a milk-like white.
I use to just spray it on my skin...then I read up on it!!!! Now I just spray on my clothes and it works fine.
I'll be buying a Thermacell very soon as well, since I've not heard a bad thing about it yet on outdoor boards.
Thermacell works, friend. in S. AL and S. MS., it works. it'll work in LA too.
Another vote for Thermacell, I used it while I was stationed in Missouri and now that I've moved back to Alaska, I am sold on it. I also agree about the Permanone, just use it on your clothes. Thankfully no ticks or chiggers up here in Alaska
Thermacell.
THERMACELL....
Thermacell
I will add cutter advanced to the list, you can apply it to your skin, after it dries no odor and works fairly well, but not as well as deet. Apply before heading into the woods for the walk to your stand before you fire up the thermacell. Permanone is great applied to clothing ONLY for ticks and redbugs.
It really doesn't matter. If he smells your bug dope, he's gonna smell you anyway........
Another vote for Thermacell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
do the thermacells make a scentless insert??? because the thermacells i have had in camp had such a strong odor. i hear they are great for repelling the bugs but id rather eat a mouth full of skeeters than spook a big buck. the insert was "earth scent", the only problem is that "earth" in georgia or california or wherever doesnt smell like earth in mn. i hear good things about peramone...Barry Wensel had a post about the stuff a while back
I agree with Biggie. If the wind is wrong your busted no matter what you use.
A $9 mesh face mask/hood. I was never a fan of them until the mosquitoes went crazy this year. That's presuming that the skeeters can't bite through your clothes.
The Thermacell does work...
However, the odor it gives off will spook hogs and probably deer..
Wind direction has a lot to do with how bad it spooks game, --- how's that Biggie?
Around here a lot of hunting is done over "bait stations", generally corn feeders.. Most mature animals quickly learn to circle downwind before coming in... In other words, if the conditions are wrong, you're screwed ! Unless you set up a stand 60-70 yards downwind of the bait even then the TCell may give you away! But I've often been in the woods when the mosquitos were so bad I wouldn't have been able to sit had it not been for the TCell...
Thermacell dont leave home without it....
Thermacell works great in south georgia and alabama for me. And to be redundant, if they smell the 'cell, they have smelled you. :)
I've had great luck with the Repel Permanone. Particularly effective on ticks and chiggars. Unfortunately the local WalMart stores do not have it in stock. It appears that a 40% Deet repellent made by Repel has taken its shelf space. Makes me think there is a problem with Permanone and they had to stop production. Who knows. Find something that works on the bugs and the enviromental folks look for ways to ban it. Is anyone else having a problem finding Repel Permanone?
Soilarch...
"I use to just spray it on my skin...then I read up on it!!!! Now I just spray on my clothes and it works fine." Good to hear you are still with us....
Off has a pump bottle with 7% DEET, familycare brand, unscented. Just bought a bottle at WalMart in the bug killer section, but haven't tried it yet for smell. Bugs don't like me much, so 7% DEET works for me.
Was bear hunting in North Minnesota using a thermacell and after an hour suddenly had skeeters all over me. Looked at my thermacell and saw it had run out of butane. Put a new one in and in a matter of minutes the skeeters were gone!
Paul
I personally use Illinois Fall after a good frost.
:rolleyes:
1. Thermacell
2. Bug Tamer Suit
3. Both
Permanone doesn't work for mosquitoes. Its the only thing I've used that works for ticks. I buy it by the case. The thermacell is simply Awesome for mosquitoes. I use it for hunting and fishing or just sitting out in the yard in the evening.
Thermacell here.
Update on that 7% Off "unscented". It's not. In fact, it has more perfume than others that don't address scent on the label.
There must be a perfume that's called "Unscented". :confused:
For early season when the bugs are the worst I do 3 things.
1. Use my Thermacell. It works.
2. Spray the leather part of my LL Bean boots with Permanone and tuck my pants in my boot tops. This keeps the chiggers off of me.
3. Wear lightweight cotton camo made with Insectshield fabric.
The insectshield clothing is pretty good stuff. The mosquitos here are plentiful and it keeps them away. Insectshield (also known as Buzz Off) isn't easy to find. I bought mine from Orvis on sale and I like it a lot. It isn't warm enough for the cold part of the fall, but by then the thermacell is all I need, if that.
Joe
I used combo of Permetherine (sp?) and Thermacell during spring bear hunt in Quebec this year and it worked very well. Didn't have any real issues with skeeters while hanging stands etc so the permerthrine must have worked.
I use a bug suit top and a face mask. I also use light weight cotton gloves. This way, the only thing exposed to mosquitoes is the area around my eyes, requiring only 2 or 3 drops of repellent. There I use a liquid product called Natural Causes. It is Deet free and uses cedar oil and citronella oil. It does not have such an objectionable odor to me. I don't worry about what it smells like to the deer , because Biggie is probably right (did I just agree with Biggie on a national forum?). If they smell the bug repellent, they smell you.
You just made my day!!
Thermacell... only way to go
I will be trying the Thermacell this year, but have relied on various brands of clothing soaks/sprays that include Permethrin as the active ingredient. Though not as great as Deet against skeeters, it still makes a significant impact. And it's awesome on ticks and biting flies. One more product not mentioned yet is a lotion-type skin protectant made by Sawyer, sometimes available in WalMart, etc. that has a time-released Deet and something else aimed at biting flies...I'm all out, and can't look at it right now? It's at least odorless to me after it dries.
No Sam, You just agreed with Biggie on an international forum.
Thermacell here when they are thick, but I try to get by without it when I can.