Early season hunting has its challenges, beyond wind direction and the effective killing range of modern weaponry. Hunters must battle sweltering, hot weather and an entire army of annoying mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers. They must come prepared with the latest gear and protective devices.
Beyond the annoying itch, tick bites can be debilitating and deadly if not treated effectively. At a minimum, hunters need to invest in a rich formulation of tick- and chigger-prevention spray. Hunters should spray tick and chigger repellent from their boots up their pants legs and then around their waistband for the best protection. Products should be chosen that are high in Deet or even a harsher chemical known as Permanone. Repellents containing Permanone are very effective but should be only applied to clothing and allowed to dry before use. Repellents containing Deet can be spraying on both skin and clothing.
Mosquitoes and even a cloud of harmless gnats can make it difficult to remain motionless on stand in the early season. Luckily, breakthroughs in repellent technology over the past decade have made it easy to sit quietly and peacefully without having to swat at an army of blood-sucking mosquitoes every few seconds.
ThermaCELL mosquito repellents are a must-have for every bowhunter. Using allethrin, a copy of a repellent naturally occurring in chrysanthemum flower, ThermaCELL repels flying insects without the worry of spooking deer or other game downwind. Until recently, ThermaCELL appliances were only manufactured in a personal-sized package. Now, ThermaCELL (www.thermacell.com) has its insect-repellent technology engineered into a small compact lantern. The lanterns can also be used for tracking wounded game or to provide light for leaving the woods on dark evenings. Both the personal-sized appliance and the new lanterns provide a 15-by-15 foot area of protection that is perfect for creating a mosquito-free zone around the deer stand.
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