Early Archery Mosquitos....Thermacell really work?

[Elkhound]

I think it is going to be a bad year for the annoying mosquitos and flies this September and would like some input as to what people think works the best while hunting and SLEEPING with these annoying creatures?  I have a Thermacell but have never used it....so what do people think?  I will be backpacking in and camping near a lake of course....

[CAMPMEAT]

A friend of mine has the mini thermacell that clips onto his belt, say's it works great. He bow hunts too.

[throttlejocky20]

Bought one when the oldest was baby. Put it by him when we were camping. 2 years later still using it with his baby brother.

[Elkhound]

Camp- I did not know they make a "mini" version.....I have one with a belt holster loop and did wish it was a little smaller.  I will have to keep an eye out for the smaller one.  I've heard the Thermacell will not be a scent issue.....I hope that is true as well.

[dirty24d]

broke mine out for the first time this year definitely a life saver... they need a few minutes to warm up and get that smoke rolling then they work like a champ!!!  best hunting investment ive ever made..

[CAMPMEAT]

Camp- I did not know they make a "mini" version.....I have one with a belt holster loop and did wish it was a little smaller.  I will have to keep an eye out for the smaller one.  I've heard the Thermacell will not be a scent issue.....I hope that is true as well.

His wife told me, "a small one", maybe she was referring too.................?

[christopheri]

Thermocell works great! Skeeters hate it and it will keep them away.

[colockumelk]

Let me put it to you this way.  While in SERE school in SE Alabama using 100% deet I would still get bugs around me.  THey may not have bitten me but they buzzed the heck out of me.  Plus 100% DEET has ALOT of odor.  Bad ju-ju for deer and elk.  While I have been hunting using my Thermacell on the other hand I NEVER have ANY bugs buzzing me.  NONE, NADA!!!!  Definately worth the investment.  On high wind days it wont work and if you are moving at a pace faster than Spot and Stalk pace it also will not work.  Although.... in those two instances (high winds, traveling) bugs really are not a problem anyways. 

Oh I also use it when I go camping, when I'm sitting outside having a BBQ.  Best hunting investment I've made in a long time.  And trust me you have not seen mosquitos or Gnats until you have come down to SE Alabama. 

[buglebrush]

What about scent though??? I am going to expose my ignorance, but I don't know how the thermacell works.  I go without meat for two weeks prior and during hunting season to help with scent, it really works too, and don't want to blow all the anguish on bug defenses.  I was scouting yesterday though, and the bugs are horrific this year.

[Hyde]

I don't have one yet, but I did see a cool youtube vid about how to refill them for a fraction of reg price. 

[DoubleJ]

The one I have must be an older model because it has to stay horizontal to work.  I have to carry the damned thing like a compass through the woods if I'm on the move 

[Houndhunter]

works great, but i seem to have trouble with mine always breaking or having mechanical problems

[adamR]

at the risk of sounding dumb, elk and or deer are not spooked by the scent? I've been considering buying one and I want to make sure I clarify this before hand.

[colockumelk]

I don't really know for sure if they are spooked by the scent.  I've used mine while out hunting and have had deer come out and I've seen them.  The only way to know for 100% sure if it would spook them is if you had a Thermacell out by itself and had deer walk down wind from it.  It doesn't really mattert all that much because after the second day of the season in your clothes if the animals are down wind of you they are gonna spook from you anyways. My advice its Western Hunting, Play the wind!

[NWWABOWHNTR]

The scent is barely noticable, and does not seem to bother deer or elk.  ( I think it something natural) as I have had cow elk walk within 10 feet of me when I was using it, and they never spooked.