Hunting with the skeeters.

[Scott K]

The mosquitoes have been nuts in my area. Who uses Thermacells, do deer smell them? Anyone had deer get spooked from the smell?

[fivebucks]

The deer upwind of you will not smell them I would not hesitate to use them as they work great. If a deer is downwind of you you are busted anyhow so why not use one if you have enough of a breeze to carry your scent where you want to. If it is calm I am not sure if I would use one or go the headnet route.

[nbadger23]

I started using Ultrathon Insect Repellant about 5 years ago and it's worked great for me. It's a cream so it's fairly easy to apply to the critical places - i.e. behind the neck, the ears, the face. It is 30% deet so it does a great job of keeping the bugs away.. just don't get it in your mouth :-)

As far as scent, I figure it's a chemical smell, not a true human smell so I don't really worry about it and as fivebucks said, if they get down wind of me, the insect repellant is probably the least of my concerns.

[creepworm]

The deer do smell them but have no idea what it is. The few I have seen that smelled it seem to sit there and sniff for a few moments, trying to figure it out, then go on their way. I know I will always use one while hunting when the mosquitos are bad.

[Scott K]

The last time I was out, I sat in stand for about 10 minutes, and I was driven to the point of insanity. In that 10 minutes, I did happen to see a nice 5 pointer, and I thought if I could only tough out the mosquitos, some bigger ones may be in the area as well. But I had to leave, I couldnt take it. I told myself that I was going to wait until a frost, but with the forecast, I cant wait that long. I know Thermocells work great, I have been using them for many years for fishing, but I was always concerned with hunting. I guess, I would rather try it, then not go out at all.

[BLACKJACK]

Before Thermacell came along I'd go with a full headnet, hat with a brim all the way around because they will bite thru it, then double layer of clothes all the way around, they will bite thru one pair of pants. Gloves with fingers cut off, bow hung so you can tuck your fingers away. Not fun on an 80 degree day but it worked.

[sticknstring]

Thermacell units work as advertised. I wouldn't go in the woods this time of year without one, that is for sure. Get a refill pack, because once you see how effective they are, you'll be using it all the time.

[Powerstroke]

I love my thermacell! You are never truly scent free so make sure you know which way the wind is coming from. I would rather be in the woods with a thermacell than sitting on the couch cursing mosquitos.

[Siwulat]

I use a thermacell virtually every sit in the early season and it works magic. I have never had an issue with it spooking deer, whether they are downwind it not. I will not leave the house without one.

[J48jake]

Hunted river bottom tonight and the skeets are about as bad as I have seen them. I had to put on a hood net just to walk to the stand but I got up there and there must have been a hundred skeets buzzing around my hood. I turned my thermacell on and it took about 15-20 mins and then I could lift my hood up. I have been skeptical about the thermacell after using it this summer fishing but I find that if I lay horizontal and give it time it does clear the skeets out. (Plus the little smoke cloud is a pretty awesome wind teller!) So long story short I had a doe come within about 10 yards and could have cared less. I practice drew on her and she froze broadside for a good minute. Always fun to just play with the little ones. So after that I had not had any bugs on me and I thought maybe they had moved on so I shut it off. within 5 minutes they were all over me. Turned it back on and 15 minutes later I was good again. I'm sold now!

[Scott K]

I was driven out of the woods by the skeeters last night. I brought the thermacell but I let my son take it instead. I was back at the truck by prime time.

[harvey lee]

Just got done with our Twist of Fate hunt in ND. The squatters there are probably 5 times worse than here Scott. Out of the 12 guides all use a Thermo cell And had zero issues with bugs or any issue with deer smelling it. Been using it for years and would not go without it. I have never once had a deer bust me due to the bugs.

[MNHunter65]

I used my Thermacell this weekend and had zero issues with skeeters. I would not have been able to stay in the stand without it. I was very skeptical a few years ago when I bought it, but I quickly became a firm believer that it works as advertised. Great product that I won't go into the woods without.

[Scott K]

I know they work well, I have used them for fishing for several years, I have just never used them for bow hunting, mostly because I never hunted until there was a frost. This year, I am just antsy to get out.

[crothmeier]

I used my thermacell saturday night, it took a little while but once it got going it cleared the skeets right out of there.