Deer Fly Repellent

[JimBuck]

I'm heading to Ontario in a few weeks for the annual trip and want to keep those pesky deer flies off of me. Can anyone recommend an effective method for keeping those buggers at bay? Thanks!

[pushbutton]

I know it looks goofy, but give it a try

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2865640/all/Horse_Deer_Flies

[Mike Wallace]

When up in NW Wisc the week of the 4th, I tried something I saw on YouTube:

I took a product called Tanglefoot Insect Barrier and smeared it on a duct tape patch I made and stuck the tape with the Tanglefoot on my hat. Since the deer flies go to your head, they would get stuck on the Tanglefoot pretty quickly.

In the three days I wore these patches on walks, I caught 22-23 deer flies. I actually started looking forward to having them buzz around because I knew it was just a matter of time and then they would be stuck.

My first attempt was with a mouse sticky trap duct taped to my hat:

It doesn't keep them away, but they don't fly around your head too long.

[fishrhunt]

I've worked in the woods a lot as a forester during fly time (that's why I like it on the lake!). When it was toughest, we would go to a headnet with cotton gloves, long sleeves and pants. A few would still get your wrists from time to time but you could get the job done. It does restrict your vision some but works. Also, a Deet soaked bandana under your hat and hanging down over your neck does wonders.

None of the above looks as cool as the sticky patch though!! About 6 dozen dragon flys you've reared from pups can do wonders too.

[JimBuck]

Thanks gentlemen for the response. I ended up doing a little more digging and found this HSOforum. She uses the same theory essentially that you guys are describing. Pretty interesting read for those who hate Deer Flies as much as I do.

http://deerflytrapumbrella.blogspot.ca/

[reinhard1]

why not put a plastic bag big enough to cover your hat and tuck the excess under your hat and then coat the top with that stuff and go about your activities. cant see walking around my boat with an umbrella, but it works for her on her property and i give her credit for what she did. good luck.

[hydro]

The flypaper around an old hat does the trick. It will kill most of the deer flies in your area and you will seldom get bitten. Best of all the flypaper is very inexpensive. In Pushbutton's link (above) you can see my latest revision that uses a "cowboy" hat with a wide brim to catch the ones that almost got away and keep them from falling on your shoulders.

Give it a try, you will be amazed!

[JimBuck]

I agree. While the umbrella may be effective in attracting deer flies, I think the concept could be applied in other more fisherman friendly ways. I think the plastic bag (shower cap?) around the top of the hat and then coating that with Tanglefoot would be pretty effective. It's not the most elegant solution but I'm not trying to impress anyone out there...except the muskies and smallies.

[WillCFish]

We had pretty good luck with the propane bug repellant units that you insert the pad into. Not 100% but pretty good.