Hunting with a thurmaCell?

[huntinfool87]

I live in Nebraska and bow season starts September 1. Needless to say its still hot and the mosquitos are still out in full force. I do have and use a thurmaCell but I guess what I want b to know is this. Do the deer smell it? I go through a huge effort to cover/eliminate my older. Just to have this very needed tool puffing smoke out that I can smell. Imwould also like to know it there is any alternative ways of keeping the bugs away while hunting.

 

[osprey176]

I've used Thermacells since they first came out,mostly in Florida and in western Nebraska. I usually used them in a tree stand,tied down with a small bungee cord. If you plan on using them while still hunting,you will need to find a way to keep them horizontal,like strapping them to the top of your backpack.The deer don't seem to notice the smell,but if you get upwind of a deer,he will smell you with or without a Thermacells,no matter what you do do eliminate odor.The bottom line with them is that they WORK. They allow you to be still, I instead of swatting mosquitos when you hunt. I used them during archery season in Florida. Make sure you keep plenty of refills with you,as you don't want to run out during a hunt.

 

[osprey176]

As far as alternatives for keeping the bugs away; I have tried most. From name brand sprays,100% DEET,face masks,Bug Tamer suits, thick clothes,to eating lots of garlic.Most helped some,but none worked nearly as well as the Thermacell.

 

[Captcurt]

Back to Basics.

If they can smell the thermacell, they can smell you. Set blind or stand down wind or stillhunt into the wind.

 

[courtgreene]

the extra benefit of that wonderful puff of bug-eliminating smoke is that it shows you (constantly) where even the faintest air currents are going. Thus, you can hunt the wind even if you can't feel it. I had one come in down wind of me this weekend and he never smelled me but he was distracted by a smaller buck he was trying to evict (effectively). The smaller one smelled me and took off after about ten minutes. The big guy never seemed to pay any attention to me, the thurmacell, or any scent. I will add that if you put the thing under your seat and breathe it in for two hours you'll get a headache so be careful with placement.

 

[herkyguy]

Never had a headache from a therma cell. They work like a charm.

 

[Patocazador]

Never had a headache from a therma cell. They work like a charm.

One of the 5 best hunting inventions since 1920. I put it at #2 right behind a GPS and in front of a range finder.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Never had a headache from a therma cell. They work like a charm.

Never had a headache either, but the air did get mighty thick. Sometimes I have to prop open the door to get fresh air if the air isn't blowing through the small windows of the stand.

Thermacells work great for flying bugs, no doubt.

 

[MCgunner]

I go sit in my box blind, hear all the buzzing in there. I fire up the thermocell and start watching the mosquitoes fly out the windows, leaving Dodge. Within 30 minutes my box blind is mosquito free. It's miraculous. I can detect a faint scent of the stuff, so I'm sure the deer can, but what are the alternatives? You have smelly as hell repellents which I don't like on my skin, anyway, or you can slap and fidget, or in south Texas, both. Besides, human scent is worse, I'm sure, than the thermocell.

The one thing I find lacking in the thermocell is that sitting in an open blind with a breeze, it only seems to work on one side of me. So, I guess if I go back to my tripod stand hunting, I'll need one for each side of my body. In the box blind, not a problem. The inventor of this thing should get a friggin' Nobel prize!

 

[havack]

Bugs cause you to move and deer see movement. Thermocell stops the bugs but gives off a smell. The upside is that Thermocell comes in dirt scent and you can get a scent dispenser to snap onto the front and it will disperse something like doe-n-heat faster.
Check out the Dispenser

 

[huntinfool87]

Havac... I have never seen scented ones! I will look for those. Where I hunt the wind swirles a lot tjis time of year and you really cant set up according to wind. I use my thurmacell a LOT.

 

[matrem]

I've used a themocell for about seven years to keep mosquitos away, and it sure works better than I'd imagined it would when I paid for it. Far better.

I know they make the scented wicks for them to "attract" deer, but pretty sure they don't even attempt to discourage bugs with those.

I think it's a one or the other deal.

 

[ICE1210]

I've had the ThermaCell for years. It works even on the swarms of sparrow sized blood sucking helicopters we have in the SC low country. It's worth every cent I paid for it.

 

[Citadel99]

That was enough convincing for me. Just ordered one from Cabelas. They are on sale with the holster thing right now.

Mark

 

[41 Mag]

I carry two of them just in case like mentioned, the breeze seems to be up a little and one only helps out with one side. I have had one on both sides of my bow stand and had a black cloud within a few feet just waiting on something to give. They DO work and work well.

Another product we started using a few years back is No Stinkin Bugs, but it looks like it was discontinued. It worked GREAT. Similar to Permethrin in that you treated your clothes. It contained 25% Deet which was the most active ingredient. What was great about it was you only needed to apply it after about every forth wash.

Looks like I will be trying out some of the Sawyer Permethrin again this year too. I tried it for a limited time last year but wasn't during deer season and it seemed to keep the biting critters away. It hasn't got a smell to it once it dries and like the other can be washed several times before needing a reapplication.

Here is a good write up on it,
Insect Repellent - Permethrin [Long but Info-packed]

I used it years ago when we were hunting in a VERY tick and chigger infested area, and never had issues with them or the deer winding me. It works for mosquitoes and other irritants as well.

 

[gonefishin1]

I just used my thermacell for the first time had 3 deer 30 yards from me eating. No wind blowing and they didn't even know i was there