Horse/Deer Flies

[fishersofmen]

Deer flies are under the order of Satan for sure. I have worked outside for years so my co-workers and I have exchanged stories of horror many times. Its always funny when one of the other guys comes back to the shop in tears after having been victimized by these flying beasts from he!!, but when its you that has been chewed on its no fun. I was at a property this week where a flock of them sniffed me out. They were trying to fly in my mouth, inside my sunglasses, biting me on the neck, back, and scalp. One got me on the hand and it was swelled up until the next day, felt like it got hit by a hammer. With my arms flailing all over the place and begging for mercy I ran for the work truck just to get a break. There are times I want to pour gas over my head and light myself on fire just to escape the torture that these filthy, despicable creatures can bring upon a person. I'm done here.

[flipper]

If you don't bother them, they won't bother you.

[Trashguy]

Here is what I use when out hunting mushrooms. Use the blue cup mounted (velcro) on an old hat. The cup is coated with "Tanglefoot". Google Tanglefoot and you will see it's very sticky goo used as an insect barrier on the trunk of trees. This works very well for me. The photo below is from only a few hours in the woods. I just scrape them off when full and redo the Tanglefoot. The other day it was pretty cool and windy and I thought I wouldn't need the hat, but wore it anyway. Never noticed any deer flies at all, but when I got back to the truck I took it off there was at least 50 stuck to it.

Deer Fly cap by trashguy9, on Flickr

[Stick in Mud]

Well I wish I'd've discovered this thread a few hours ago; my mushroom foray today was cut short due to extreme deer fly-induced agitation. That Tanglefoot stuff looks like it works amazing, but for the time being, I think I'll be heading to the store to buy some fly strips.