Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Bearded Mountain Man on September 11, 2012, 10:39:54 pm

Title: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: Bearded Mountain Man on September 11, 2012, 10:39:54 pm
Okay guys I have got to know some good Mosquito repellant for early hunting. I live in NC and the little buggers are out in a feeding frenzy right now. I went out yesterday to hunt and only stayed for 45 min. I came in with about 20 bites. I was swatting so much I am sure every deer in the county saw me moving around.
        Just so you know I do not use any chemicals on my body, period, so the repellant will need to be natural. Any helpful hints would be appreciated! I don't want to walk into the woods with a citronella candle either. For some reason I think that would be a good deer attractant. 
     Thanks
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: osage outlaw on September 11, 2012, 10:45:15 pm
My thermacell unit works great.  It uses a small wafer that has some plant extract that repells them.  You don't put anything on your skin.  Walmart sells them for around $20.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: gstoneberg on September 11, 2012, 10:54:05 pm
+1 on the thermacell. Never go without it.

George
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: johnston on September 11, 2012, 11:03:43 pm
Thermacell. Period, end of discussion. Hunting stark naked takes about
two weeks for every possible place to get bitten but who wants to
waste that much time?
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: Bearded Mountain Man on September 11, 2012, 11:18:29 pm
Awesome. Thanks guys I will look into a thermacell. On a better note I did see a medium size buck on Sat. and 4 other deer running through my woods today. Now I just need to get close enough for a good shot.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: mullet on September 11, 2012, 11:41:50 pm
I carry two Thermocells down here. We hunt with mosquitos year round.

If nobody has seen them yet, Thermocell came out with a boot warmer insert that has a wireless remote you keep in your pocket for temperature control. A little pricey at $130 but would be real nice waiting on that buck to get closer than 50 yards with your toes stinging.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: osage outlaw on September 11, 2012, 11:46:11 pm
Eddie, I bet when the temp. drops to 65 down there in the florida winter your toes do get a little cold  ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: Pappy on September 12, 2012, 06:32:23 am
I have heard the thermocells work great,the skitters aren't to bad around here by the time hunting starts and my feet don't get cold ,so I guess I am good,better bring that foot warmer  in Nov. Eddie,I am sure it will be cold for you. ;) ;D ;D
   Pappy
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: skyarrow on September 12, 2012, 09:21:04 am
You could try some hedge apples I heard they can repel them little bothers. I don't know how you would apply it . I guess you could either rub the juice on your clothes or maybe just cut the fruit and hang pieces off your clothes. Iv seen it rid a house infestation of German roaches when I was a kid
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: mullet on September 12, 2012, 09:36:51 am
Steve;

A year ago we had a month of below freezing temperatures, a number of those days around 18 degrees. Take that after walking in wet grass and knee to thigh deep water and your feet get pretty cold sitting in a stand.

And take those pads off the Thermocells and they make pretty good hand warmers.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: Bearded Mountain Man on September 12, 2012, 05:27:38 pm
You could try some hedge apples I heard they can repel them little bothers. I don't know how you would apply it . I guess you could either rub the juice on your clothes or maybe just cut the fruit and hang pieces off your clothes. Iv seen it rid a house infestation of German roaches when I was a kid

 That is so cool. I have never heard that before. I will look into it. I have been leaning toward making a version of our homemade mosquito repellent with some cedar oil and pine oil. Since both are growing in my woods I figure the deer will think I am a tree. right?
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: JW_Halverson on September 12, 2012, 11:03:15 pm
We hunt with mosquitos year round.

Do you need a falconry permit to do that?  What kind of game to you take with them?  Are they legal to hunt with during tourist season?
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: osage outlaw on September 12, 2012, 11:19:07 pm
I don't know how well hedge apples work as mosquito repellant.  I stomp on them and smear them on my boots and pants legs for a little natural cover scent and I'll get ate up with mosquitos unless I have my thermacell.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: Bearded Mountain Man on September 13, 2012, 08:59:03 am
Well, I looked into the Thermacell and it is actually very much not natural. It is basically a synthetic (Chemical) pyrethrum soaked wafer that is heated by a Butane cartridge. So basically you are covering yourself with a cloud of invisible chemical vapor. I do think I want to do that, but I guess it does keep the mosquitoes away. I am going to try the essential oil mix and see how it does. Pine and cedar oils as well as lemongrass are supposed to repel the little buggers. I will let you all know how it works.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: madcrow on September 13, 2012, 09:59:52 am
I use skin so soft mixed with rubbing alcohol when I am just out messing around or in the shop.  For hunting, I use Deep Woods Off.  These Carolina deer don't seem to smell it at all.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: mullet on September 13, 2012, 11:07:23 am
You're either going to breath it or soak it in through your skin ??? I'll take the permithiam over the Deet. I've been working in Chemical plants and HazMat sites for forty years, anyway. ::)
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: madcrow on September 13, 2012, 11:25:39 am
No big deal, My third eye is coming in fine.  Waiting for the second nose to sprout right now.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: johnston on September 14, 2012, 02:36:42 am
I am typing slow so read it the same.....

THERMACELL.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: stickbender on September 18, 2012, 05:36:31 am
     Therma cell!  The deer don't mind it all.  Only slight odor.  Do not use it in an
enclosed area.  It WORKS!  As for the cedar, and pine oils, let us know they work.
Cedar oil, is a great flea repellent for pets. Caution, using that pine, and cedar oil, just might get you hugged, by a tree hugging  environmenta-lost ! ;) ;D ;D

                                                       Wayne
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: anasazi on September 19, 2012, 01:09:52 am
I have herd cloves work just string them like beads throw one on your neck maby one on each wrist never tried it skeeters never liked me much to begin with i guess im not as sweet as the rest of you
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: iowabow on September 19, 2012, 07:05:54 am
I carry two Thermocells down here. We hunt with mosquitos year round.

If nobody has seen them yet, Thermocell came out with a boot warmer insert that has a wireless remote you keep in your pocket for te ;)mperature control. A little pricey at $130 but would be real nice waiting on that buck to get closer than 50 yards with your toes stinging.
Hehe lol  :D :D :D :D :D I hunt in Iowa never needed a foot warmer when the temps are in the single digits. Going to have to invite you to a Dec hunt in the future.
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: mullet on September 19, 2012, 04:29:52 pm
I carry two Thermocells down here. We hunt with mosquitos year round.

If nobody has seen them yet, Thermocell came out with a boot warmer insert that has a wireless remote you keep in your pocket for te ;)mperature control. A little pricey at $130 but would be real nice waiting on that buck to get closer than 50 yards with your toes stinging.
Hehe lol  :D :D :D :D :D I hunt in Iowa never needed a foot warmer when the temps are in the single digits. Going to have to invite you to a Dec hunt in the future.

I'm game. Not as cold as working in Alberta and Manitoba at minus 58. ;)
Title: Re: Early hunting Mosquitos
Post by: agd68 on September 20, 2012, 08:39:07 am
Citronela oil works well and smells like lemons. Learned a tip from the mother in law. Put a bounce fabric softener sheet in yor collar and sleeve cuffs. Works pretty good, but it's no Thermo cell. Those little OFF belt fan jobies work well too.