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Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Giggles on June 17, 2012, 08:29:06 PM


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Title: Bug repellent
Post by: Giggles on June 17, 2012, 08:29:06 PM
I did a little research to see if this topic had a previous post. I'm sure it has but, I couldn't find it.  So here it is.  Any suggestions on a good bug repellent.  They seem to be getting bad already.  How good are the thermacells?
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: h20hunter on June 17, 2012, 08:33:26 PM
A lot of good reviews of thermacell. Not so good if you are on the move....better once sitting.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: JCKILLSHOT on June 17, 2012, 08:33:41 PM
Best investment I've ever made. I don't hunt with out mine.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: sebek556 on June 17, 2012, 08:35:56 PM
thermacells take a little bit to get going, but once they do they work great. When you move they do not work as well, or when its really windy.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: Button Nubbs on June 18, 2012, 03:21:18 AM
I've had great results on the move with thermacell :twocents:
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: RadSav on June 18, 2012, 04:10:16 AM
I have not tried the Thermacell.  Guess I am old school or cheap, but I don't plan on spending my money on one either. 

I've tried just about all of the creams and sprays and most are worthless shortly after applying.  The old deet Muskol stuff was good, but so toxic the camo paint on your bow used to melt away under your grip.  Even the old plastic grip on my PSE Jet Flight had my hand and finger prints permanently melted into it because of that swill.  Naval Jelly had nothing on that stuff.

Up north the bugs are insane during July and August hunting seasons.  The best I have found under those conditions has been the wipes.  I prefer Ben's or Avon's Skin So Soft Bug Guard.  If bowfishing or hunting the open country in August Avon's Expedition Bug Guard has the added benefit of SPF 30 Sunscreen.  I've used all three with very good results. 

On occasion you find some big arse masochist SOB that seems to like the stuff.  For those guys nothing short of sucking them up and eating them will work.  I hate those guys!  Seems like I always eat just a few too many everytime I hunt up north.  After a couple of days you get used to the taste.
Title: Bug repellent
Post by: JBR on June 18, 2012, 08:51:21 PM
Put plainly, if I didn't have my Thermacell last year on my archery elk hunt, those *censored*s would have driven me absolutely bat sh!t crazy. Best investment I ever made. 100% Deet didn't touch them. Literal swarms would terrorize me at camp,while trying to eat, hang out at campfire etc. turned on my one Thermacell and within 5 mins I had a totally bug free camp. I'm buying 2 new ones for this year!
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: Giggles on June 18, 2012, 09:07:11 PM
Wall mart has them on sale for $20.  :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on June 18, 2012, 09:21:21 PM
Thermacells are fine if you're sitting in a spot with no wind or thermals.  It's an airborne anti-bug deterant that doesn't work worth a darn when the ambient atmosphere is blowing the active ingredients all around.  Long sleeves, gloves, facenet (yep, I know... with the lousy WA early archery season.. it's very hot) is the only true bug deterrant for the voratious WA black gnats and mosquitos after a late snow melt.  For those evening hunts, when you're gonna set youself up downwind in the area you're hunting anyway, I always fall back on some good old fashioned deet product to keep me from going insane and blowing my hunt  I've got a few cans of Robinsons No Stinking Bugs that I use when the situation dictates... Rj
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: jechicdr on June 18, 2012, 09:24:25 PM
Another vote for Thermacell.  When moving or if wind blowing, the bugs aren't that bad, so doesn't really matter if it doesn't work well on the move.  I usually turn it off while moving to reduce fuel and pad usage anyway.  Of course that came back to bite me once (pun intended).  I was crossing a smaller, open clearing with a trail going through the middle.  As I hit the middle, I saw a flash of brown and immediately crouched down.  Flash of brown turned into elk walking just on other side of clearing just behind some trees.  The second I stopped, mosquitoes started taking aim.  Too close to the elk to turn the Thermacell on, too close to move to swat away a mosquito.  Well, truth is, I never got an open shot, but got lots of bites while I was waiting.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: wackum on June 19, 2012, 08:33:00 AM
They work great, they dont seem to hold up to alot of use,but they do work and there cheap.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: bucklucky on June 19, 2012, 10:28:35 AM
I use the Scent Shield earth scent No Stinking Bugs  and it works pretty well. Early season archery elk hunting can be very buggy with them no see um's. I lived with this stuff on last year , I had a few days I decided not to put it on and paid the price. The  Bonus is that you smell like dirt too  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: Button Nubbs on June 19, 2012, 11:23:58 AM
No stinkin bugs is awesome stuff too
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: windygorge on July 10, 2012, 06:10:04 AM
i was in the woods last weekend and when i got back home i had to go get a blood transfusion cause them mosquitoes sucked me dry.  i will be buying me a couple thermocells since i have heard nothing but great about them.  not only that, but i will be wearing bug repellent as well.  its crazy how many mosquitoes are out.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: Sawbuck on July 10, 2012, 06:27:44 AM
On Thermacells website they say that they don't work above 4500', have you guys found this to be true?
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: ghosthunter on July 10, 2012, 07:39:50 AM
Well Wholesale Outfitters had them on ad for 19.99. I went in a guy handed me one and I went to check out. At check out they were scanning at 29.99. I said no way. She explained that I had the camo one and it was the plain green one that was on sale.

After they looked they were out of the cheap ones so they sold me the cammo one as advertised. Who cares if your Termacell is cammo?

Anyway use at the fireworks and around the house it seems to work well.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: CAMPMEAT on July 10, 2012, 08:07:04 AM
eBay has Thermacell for $21.99 with free shipping.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: Rainier10 on July 10, 2012, 08:27:38 AM
Used my thermacell on a spot and stalk bear hunt in Alaska and loved it.  It was slow moving and not windy.  Sounds like quick moving or wind may be an issue with some.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: bucklucky on July 10, 2012, 08:28:21 AM
Just roll around in some mud  :tup:
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: bench beast on July 10, 2012, 11:01:55 AM
Bugs only bother those who play with their pecker
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: Houndhunter on July 10, 2012, 11:16:10 AM
On Thermacells website they say that they don't work above 4500', have you guys found this to be true?
The highest I be been while using a thermacell is 7500', worked great. I use them plenty at 4500-6000' with no problems. What I hate are all those black flys that go ape sh!t in the heat and won't leave you alone. there's no escaping them :bash:
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: PlateauNDN on July 10, 2012, 11:21:35 AM
Bugs only bother those who play with their pecker

 :yike:  thanks bench, you didn't need to tell everybody! :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: 

Just roll around in some mud  :tup:

 :yeah:
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: pianoman9701 on July 10, 2012, 11:28:14 AM
Well Wholesale Outfitters had them on ad for 19.99. I went in a guy handed me one and I went to check out. At check out they were scanning at 29.99. I said no way. She explained that I had the camo one and it was the plain green one that was on sale.

After they looked they were out of the cheap ones so they sold me the cammo one as advertised. Who cares if your Termacell is cammo?

Anyway use at the fireworks and around the house it seems to work well.

Wholesale will also match advertised pricing if you bring in the ad or some info off a web page.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: Curly on July 10, 2012, 11:59:38 AM
I have not tried the Thermacell.  Guess I am old school or cheap, but I don't plan on spending my money on one either. 

I've tried just about all of the creams and sprays and most are worthless shortly after applying.  The old deet Muskol stuff was good, but so toxic the camo paint on your bow used to melt away under your grip.  Even the old plastic grip on my PSE Jet Flight had my hand and finger prints permanently melted into it because of that swill.  Naval Jelly had nothing on that stuff.

Up north the bugs are insane during July and August hunting seasons.  The best I have found under those conditions has been the wipes.  I prefer Ben's or Avon's Skin So Soft Bug Guard.  If bowfishing or hunting the open country in August Avon's Expedition Bug Guard has the added benefit of SPF 30 Sunscreen.  I've used all three with very good results. 

On occasion you find some big arse masochist SOB that seems to like the stuff.  For those guys nothing short of sucking them up and eating them will work.  I hate those guys!  Seems like I always eat just a few too many everytime I hunt up north.  After a couple of days you get used to the taste.
+1 on the Ben's. 

I picked up some Ben's wipes last year at Cabela's on Clearance and been using it recently with good results.  I can't remember the % of deet, but it is quite a bit if I remember right.
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: trophyhunt on July 10, 2012, 12:18:43 PM
Put plainly, if I didn't have my Thermacell last year on my archery elk hunt, those *censored*s would have driven me absolutely bat sh!t crazy. Best investment I ever made. 100% Deet didn't touch them. Literal swarms would terrorize me at camp,while trying to eat, hang out at campfire etc. turned on my one Thermacell and within 5 mins I had a totally bug free camp. I'm buying 2 new ones for this year!
:yeah: :yeah:
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: MR5x5 on July 10, 2012, 01:37:18 PM
Found this... Never heard of it.  Sounds interesting.  Wonder if it makes you lips go numb like DEET??`

"In 2005, the CDC began recommending alternatives to DEET for repelling mosquitoes. Picaridin, fairly new to the U.S., has been used worldwide since 1998. Marketed as Cutter Advanced, picaridin has proven to be as effective as DEET but is said to be more pleasant to use because it is odorless and contains a light, clean feel. Picaridin is safe for children older than 2 months."
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: windygorge on July 10, 2012, 05:13:19 PM
http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent/specials/hunters-starter-kit (http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent/specials/hunters-starter-kit)
Title: Re: Bug repellent
Post by: Big P on July 11, 2012, 08:35:34 PM
Get a thermacell!
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