Does anyone use bug spray?

[jadeball1]

I dont know why Im so popular with mosquitos and flies and noseeums, but they "bug" the sh!t out of me. Scouting this weekend, Im sure I looked half retarded trying to glass and swat bugs away at the same time. What can you use during early archery to "discourage" these little buggers away without smelling like a stripper on sunday morning?

[tlbradford]

If I am mainly stationary I use a thermacell.  Works like magic.

[rosscrazyelk]

I was just at a party this past weekend and when it started getting dark the hosts started giving out bounce fabric sheets. It smelt perfumey but worked.Maybe they make a unscented kind.

[luvtohnt]

Scent Block corporation makes a dirt scented bug spray, it works good and also works as a cover scent.

Brandon

[Curly]

It would be a good idea to use it.  Today, the first case of WNV (West Nile Virus) in Washington was reported.

[popeshawnpaul]

I got a lightweight Bug Off long sleeve shirt and lightweight pants.  The pants unzip to make them into shorts.  The mosquitos won't go near you with these clothes on.  I got mine at Kauffman's Streamborn in Bellevue.  I guess they are good up to 25 washes.  I regret not getting the hat sometimes...

[foambeetle]

I've faced the same dilemma and have had some success w/the following:

- a natural cactus product . . . http://www.cactusjuicetm.com/

- Cutter Advanced (active ingredient "picaridin")  

I've also coated my clothing (not for skin) with "permanone" (permethrin) in the past and had good long term luck with that in heavily infested areas . . . http://www.repel.com/ProductCategories/Insectrepellents/Permanone/

. . . and lastly (at least I 'think' it works, I have collected no empirical evidence and other people have expressed doubts) . . . http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0036704319090a.shtml  - - - I've used this while fishing . . . the high pitched sound it emits isn't really noticeable when you are wearing it . . . but I wouldn't consider this a good first line of defense

. . . just some suggestions

[Slider]

+1 what tlbradford said!!! 

[Skinner]

I was thinking the same thing after scouting for my peaches tag.  The bugs were biting the $#!+ out of me until I bathed in OFF!  The only problem is that it smells really bad and I'm sure elk could smell me for miles. 

[pendoreilleadventures]

i have a camo suit from bug tamer. works great here is the link to their web site http://www.bugtamer.com/

[Skinner]

Do you wear something under it or is that it?   I would be for that if I'm going to be sitting for awhile! 

[bam]

I sweat so bad climbing in elk country that i don't think a little deet hurts a thing, gotta keep the wind in my face.  Then at least i don't scare everything off thats ahead while i wave my arms and flap my hat like a madman to keep the bugs at bay!  That scentshield areosol in fresh earth will work, but when there real bad you just can't beat a high solution deet.  use with care!

[MountainWalk]

An old man once told me that any sort of mink oil dressing, for boots, is good stuff and not too spooky to game. Ive never tried it.

[MagKarl]

I'm also one of the unlucky few that seem to attract much more than my fair share of skeeters.  They are extremely distracting and in my opinion cause me to move and swat way too much, so I use spray pretty much every time I'm out.  My buddies all call me "Deet".  They hate the fact that I need it and stink.  I've tried the dirt scent spray, it seemed to work ok.  I've also used the Cutter picaradin stuff.  It doesn't seem to last too long, need to respray often.  Once it's dry, it's pretty much no scent, but the odd thing is when it's still wet, I think it smells like Frito's corn chips.  I don't really care, you have to play the wind no matter what, especially archery. I carry an army surplus head net for emergencies like dressing an animal in a super buggy spot. 

[Bronson]

I agree with Pope, that buzz-off clothing works awesome.  I have two shirts (got mine at Kauffmans as well) and they are great.  Only setback to them is that they only last for so many washes then they just turn into an expensive shirt.  I think you can get camo clothes with buzz-off now too. 

[jadeball1]

The thermacell, I think is a good way to go. Is it small enough to put in your pack, and does it have to be exposed to work?

[Todd_ID]

The Thermacell is a great way to go.  You can clip it to the outside of your pack or on your belt.  I generally just set mine beside me when I'm sitting and then hook it on my pack when I'm walking.

[Bscman]

As foambeetle said, permanone works well...but there are cheaper ways to get the same effect. Again, the active ingredient in Permanone is Permethrin at  0.50%.

You can buy bug-killer solutions with 10% permethrin at your local Ace.
Dilute it down to .5-1% (with water) and spray it on your clothes. When it's dry, it hardly has any scent at all (unlike deet). It's non-toxic to humans and actually KILLS bugs, where deet only keeps them off. You can fill a squirt bottle full of the stuff for less than a buck and it'll last about 2 weeks.
Just spray it one your clothes/gear/etc....it's not harmful to get it on your skin, but the chemicals/enzymes in your skin degrades permethrin and eliminated it's effectiveness.

Hi-Yield 38Plus is another product that is a whopping 38%. I was just told about this stuff. 2oz. of the stuff mixed with a gallon of water makes for a .60% solution...

Ortho makes a product "Basic Solutions Lawn and Garden Insect Killer" is inexpensive, and is also permethrin based, containing 2.5%.

Cheap, nearly scent-free,non-toxic and it'll actually KILL those darn mosquitoes (and everything else)!

[Intruder]

I agree with Pope, that buzz-off clothing works awesome.  I have two shirts (got mine at Kauffmans as well) and they are great.  Only setback to them is that they only last for so many washes then they just turn into an expensive shirt.  I think you can get camo clothes with buzz-off now too. 

This does work.  It is essentially off the shelf treatment of permethrin on the clothing.  You can achieve the same by treating your clothes yourself.  I do not know if there's much scent associated with that though.  There's also a natural plant oil called Neem.  It does work but it certainly has a scent to it.  Have no idea if it would spook game or not.  Being a natural plant oil, it may be more tolerable or even be a mask. 
It does need to be re-applied quite often.