Got eaten alive yesterday while clearing rides.
Now that we"re coming back into the season for flying nasties, what does everyone use for insect repellant? or do you use a veil? I find the veil hard to get used to, but re appplying insect repellant requires a lot of movement. I"ve tried running round in circles, flailing my arms, spitting and screaming obscenities, but that does"nt work either.
In Scotland i used to eat a load of raw garlic, which seemed to help a bit.
Any suggestions?
good shooting

Oh, Yes, it's THAT season again!



Whatever brand it is must be Industrial strength IMO. Basically I am pretty American product oriented. Products I've found to have really worked are; Ben's (Tender Corporation), Maxi-DEET (Sawyer), ULTRAthon (3M) and of course, OFF (Deep Woods Off). Most all available in sprays, creams or stick.

Be careful with the eyes & mouth, watches, eyeglasses and of course gun metal & ammo when using these products. I usually apply to exposed skin areas, collar, cuffs and then clean/wipe hands.

If my hunting hats and caps are any indication of the strength of these products - they turn funny colors after prolonged use. But it sure beats getting eaten alive by the midges.

Most of these all have an odor but I figure if the wind is wrong I'm gonna get found out whether it's my personal stink or the bug juice - so what the heck - it teaches me to pay extra special attention to the breezes.

They're not all bad . Black flies actually pollenate blue berry bushes !!

Ahhh yes - the joy of being eaten alive whilst staying immobile as a deer looks at you!

I've ended up going for a combo attack.

Industrial strength bug repellent on wrists, forehead, ears and back of neck.

Gloves and flat cap cover the white and balding bits, a net half mask pulls up to protect the bits in between.

A good squirt of deet on the underside of the hat brim helps as well.

All this goes by the wayside as soon as you perform a gralloch. At that point I just get eaten alive - apparently a little fresh blood is the midgy equivalent of relish on a burger!!

rgds Ian

Not yet here, but I know they´ll come , ecpesially the gnats.
As soon as the breese die off they swarm out of the heather and grass....

The most effective repallant I have tried is the Lifesystems Expedition, 100% DEET.
It is a though sucker but it works.
Bought it in Edinburgh...banned in Norway

Another is Johnsons Autan Active Insect Pepellent, also effective,but more human to use.
No DEET in that one.

I have never used the net or veil...fint it to cumbersom when hunting or vorking in the fields, but the salmon and throut fishermen use them occationally along the rivers...

In my opinion none of the repellents offer a decent solution. I've found that one of the Bug me Not pull over nets with a zipped hood provide brilliant protection but obviously impairs visibility especially in low light. These are available from Bushwear amongst others.

The best solution is to do what we've resolved to do this year and that is just to shoot does.

Regards,

We have lots of very small ticks this year, very few however from the larger ones. Neither did I find on so far 2 pieces of game any of those ugly, nose-inhabiting larvae.

You guys be careful with that 100% DEET. That stuff is actually kinda harmful if you are exposed to it a bit too much.

I use Off or Repel. I am thinking of trying some of the chemical the military uses to treat its clothing. Its supposed to be good for several washes and is not applied directly to clothing. Anyone try any products like this?

Those of us that reside in Scotland don't have a problem with midges

We have tried quite a lot of products, jungle formula/autan, dynamite etc..
The best so far is "Avon skin so soft", works for the majority of those nasties..

Regards
griff

O'h forgot to tell you, It make you smell like a tart..

griff

I echo Griffs reply re the Avon "Skin so soft" works a treat, as does Repel 100, but you have to be careful on sensitive skin - fortunately, mine is like leather!

Now all I need is to find a cow repellant - spent two hours this morning in a favourite hollow awaiting a cull buck, only to be surrounded by dairy cows at the most inopertune moment - they picked the wrong time to wake up