Post by: Doc Nock on July 29, 2008, 08:22:00 AM
Any repellant's work?
I didn't think Penna had chiggers, but... we were out of a friends acreage he has for hunting and cutting brush, and chainsawing down ilanthis trees Sat for 10 hrs and we both ended up with fiery red welts that itch worse than any skeeter bite...I'd even sprayed my pants and ankles with permanone in the AM before we started...
If these are chiggers, is there a "cure" and I'd be interested what works best to keep them off in the first place.
How do you guys hunt where they are! Gads! :knothead:
Post by: fatman on July 29, 2008, 08:37:00 AM
I normally spray every article of clothing, including socks and underwear with Permanone, and pay special attention to waistbands. It's still not 100% chigger-proof, but it sure helps. Cuts down on ticks as well....
I have heard of people taking a bath in hot water with a little bleach in it when they get back...never tried it myself, but they say they can see the chiggers "jumping ship"....
Good luck!
Post by: madness522 on July 29, 2008, 08:44:00 AM
Post by: hawksnest on July 29, 2008, 08:51:00 AM
Post by: Lost Arra on July 29, 2008, 08:55:00 AM
If you're afraid of Deet, plan on scratchin' for a while. I love my thermacell for mosquitos and other flying bugs but chiggers will laugh at it. :D
Post by: Tom Anderson on July 29, 2008, 08:57:00 AM
There's a sure-fire treatment for chiggers in the groin area. I dont' share with everyone, but here goes:
First, you need to get some Ronsonol lighter fluid. Then, you must shave all the hair off one side of your crotch and douse the remaining hair liberally with the lighter fluid. Next, set fire to the soaked hair and stab the critters with an ice pick as they run out of the forest to escape the flames. Yes, it does hurt, particularly the ice pick, but it's not as bad as 2 weeks of itching. :biglaugh:
Post by: indianalongbowshooter on July 29, 2008, 09:55:00 AM
Post by: WildmanSC on July 29, 2008, 09:58:00 AM
The only solution I've found that works 100% is don't go into the woods or fields until after you have at least one heavy frost. If it doesn't frost where you live, be prepared to suffer. The tiny red chigger is all mouth!!! At least that has been my experience!! :scared:
!["[dntthnk]"]("graemlins/dntthnk.gif" "\"\"")
:mad: Bill
Post by: Doc Nock on July 29, 2008, 10:11:00 AM
I have the "bites" (whatever they are) bad...all around the top where my high top shoes were...and up the legs of both legs to the knees.
I did spray permanone when I got there but it was not a real "dampening" since I was wearing the gear already... never thought there'd be chiggers and a light application has disuaded ticks w/ permanone for me for years!
I did some searches ...yup,, chiggers is gone but the spit is what's raising cane... and they, as someone above said, recommend the nail polish to reduce the itching. I've done benadryl gel so far and it's only good for 2 hrs.
Tom, ya onery buggar! :) I remember that "treatment" for crotch crickets, but never redbugs! :D
My "system" has worked well for ticks and skeeters over the years...never knew we had these red devils!
Thanks for the iput on the Thermacell not working... not sure why the permanone didn't do more...likly wasn't enough when I started and we sweat like banshees out there for 10 hrs.
From the reading I did today, we were neck deep in where they like to be! Great news is that they stopped mostly at knees and a few mid thigh.. Wow. You guys where they're plentiful have my admiration!
Wildman, your description of a chigger sounds a lot like my Ex! :)
Post by: bloodyarrow on July 29, 2008, 10:25:00 AM
Post by: Roger Moerke on July 29, 2008, 10:56:00 AM
But once you got the infestation its just plain miserable.
I lived in MO. and they have plenty of all the nastys.
The worst I have gotten was in southern TX got a dose of every biting bug known to man.
Post by: Eric Krewson on July 29, 2008, 11:28:00 AM
Spray permanone on yourself and you might produce two headed kids somewhere down the road. Always let it dry on your clothes before you wear them as it is absorbed through the skin.
We had a bad ice storm here in N Alabama about 20 years ago. On our lease we had as many as 75 pines down across the road in a 100yds, we leased 4000 acres. I cleared roads by myself for 6 months during one summer with a chainsaw, probably cleaned up about five miles worth.
I treated my clothes with permanone thoroughly every evening before I planned to cut the next day. I picked up one tick in 6 months and no chiggers that I remember. Use the stuff correctly and it is amazing.
Post by: snakewood3 on July 29, 2008, 11:57:00 AM
Post by: BenBow on July 29, 2008, 12:05:00 PM
I have rarely had chiggers but I remember it well enough that I saved a copy of that thread, which isn't here anymore.
Post by: Gary Logsdon on July 29, 2008, 12:18:00 PM
Post by: jhansen on July 29, 2008, 12:33:00 PM
John
Post by: Clay Hills Bill on July 29, 2008, 12:43:00 PM
Once you have the bites, my favorite treatment is to take McCormicks Unflavored Meat Tenderizer( it comes as white powder in a plastic spice bottle), take a teaspoon of it and mix it in 1 oz of water. Use cotton balls and swab it on the bites liberally. There is an enzyme in it that gives you almost instant relief. Do it a couple of times then repeat if they itch again. My Pharmacist put us on to that and it is the best relief that I have found. We get into those little suckers down here in GA even with DEET and othe precautions.
Bill
Post by: eaglefeather on July 29, 2008, 01:20:00 PM
Post by: Doc Nock on July 29, 2008, 01:30:00 PM
I'd read about Meat Tenderizer before...but never tried it for skeeter and even bee stings... might have to try it and some other.
I didn't have any fingernail polish around the ole bachelor pad, so I used some fly tying head cement! Same thing I think! :)
I swear by permanone and glad to see you all think it works. I just didn't take enough time to use it right... and as some shared, yes, it has to dry to not be absorbed and it's bad juju if it gets in you... (permanon) so I just sprayed around the cuffs and stuff lightly.
Next time, I'll know better! ChiggeRX is likely the same basic compound a meat tenderizer! :D
I'm not dead certain its what I got all over me, cause the websites show some pustule looking thing almost like impantago or something... :( but these bites are different that skeeters and such... they're deep red, to purplish welts... some are the size of a freakin dime! Just the itch like fire part is what makes me think its something way different and how they're clustered around the tops of where my shoes were on ankles and at knees where the pants were tighter...
Where we were cutting was along a "boggy" area and in briars up to our heads, chopping them with chainsaws and then cutting down the trees.
It was still fun...but danged if I'm not going to prepare like going to war next time!
Thanks for all the ideas on treatment, learning the Thermacell doesn't affect them, and that permanone is good, if used diligently. I was losing faith there for a moment! :)
Post by: Mr.Magoo on July 29, 2008, 01:46:00 PM
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/arthopo/chiggers/
Post by: Molson on July 29, 2008, 02:21:00 PM
I thought tucking my pants in my boots would be good protection but they just got right in and bit me all over right at the top of my boots up to my knees.
I just kept rubbing them down with Jewelweed and they were pretty much done itching in a few days. Some were more macho than others though and would still itch off and on for two weeks. Been two months now and I still have a few purple spots here and there from them little buggers.
Next time I'm trying eveything listed here and then some.... at the same time!!!
Post by: Roadkill on July 29, 2008, 02:25:00 PM
Post by: JEFF B on July 29, 2008, 03:13:00 PM
Post by: Michael Pfander on July 29, 2008, 04:14:00 PM
MAP
Post by: Doc Nock on July 29, 2008, 04:27:00 PM
Molson, yep, they sure got the hard center... I forget what Magoo's article called them...sounded too ugly to learn! :)
Roadkill, that PH stuff ain't cheap and I'm not working...but have some meat tenderizer somewhere in the kitchen...
I'm amazed that I wiped down after showering the bites with alcohol and then used the fly tying head cement... kinda odd feeling with all this hair I got, to be "varnished" but... :) It did help. I don't think I dare ask the women neighbors if they got an PH I can borrow a dab! :)But I'm not doubting it works...
Took 2 days to show up on me...buddy lit up the next day big time! Whew...
Now I know they exist hereabouts in PA, I can avoid them. I do all suggested in tick country and just dind't cause they dont' have many ticks up at this place... they got better...Chiggers!
You all have been very helpful. I'll dose up good with permanone, tuck in, use DEET and avoid the suckers...and have PH /meat tenderizer on hand "in case!"
Thanks for all the education, guys! Not knowing is the worst part...and dumb is as dumb does. I didn't even know they were around these parts...I guess being prepared for ticks kept me from being bitten in the past! :)
Post by: beyondmyken on July 29, 2008, 05:44:00 PM
Post by: bretto on July 29, 2008, 06:08:00 PM
Post by: paradocs on July 29, 2008, 07:41:00 PM
Post by: LocDoc on July 29, 2008, 07:55:00 PM
Old military trick works for me.
Buy a Hertz 3 in 1 flea collar for
each leg and wrap it around your
ankle before heading in.
Post by: TNstickn on July 29, 2008, 08:06:00 PM
Post by: Full Quiver on July 29, 2008, 08:55:00 PM
Post by: Doc Nock on July 30, 2008, 11:28:00 AM
All I can say is "Thanks!"
You've all been so helpful, well, all but Nativecraft! :biglaugh:
That article link was very educational and I've sent it on to my friend who was bitten. His buddy was there a couple hours with us and had on shorts and low socks/shoes! He got none...but he wasn't with us on another side of the property. I knew I was getting bit by something up there but thought it were skeeters.
As I've shared, I just didn't know in all my life we had chiggers in Central PA! Do now!
All medical reviews i can find clearly identify if there is a hard center part, it was a chigger bite. Mine are way ugly... but that is cause I tend to have a allergic reaction to most bites. So ti's worse.
I went to store and Roadkill said about Prep H, but it was expensive while meat tenderizer was only $.85. I went that route as I'd read it works on bee stings and other insect bites.
Wow. I'm betting PH works too, but I made the paste and tried it...did it 2x before bed and for the first in 3 nights, slept like a baby! Course, tenderizer never really "disolves" it's more like salt...and now the bed is full of sandy grit, but I slept!!! whew...
After shower, reapplied and it looks like the worst might be over... looks uglier'n sin though.
I agree with ya'll. Prevention! Prevention! Prevention! Can't prevent what ya didn't know was! :) I'd have been dosed up good and pre-sprayed clothes if he had any ticks in his area, but doesn't so I relaxed. Big mistake. Won't happen again.. I'll likely duct tape by pants to an outer set of 2nd socks dosed with Permanone AND DEET spray
Full Quiver, I used so much DEET guiding in MT flyfishing, I now break out instantly if I apply to skin. We used Muskol from CN which was 100% DEET. I apply OFF or Cutters right to clothing like Permanone and it doesn't sweat off as easily obviously and doesn't make a rash.
thanks for all the help, suggestions on prevention and treatment.
Still itch...but it's manageable. Thanks!
Post by: WildmanSC on July 30, 2008, 12:41:00 PM
Chiggers tear me up! About 20-21 years ago we had gone back home to KS to visit my parents. They rode back to SC with us to spend a week or so.
On the way back we were on the Interstate in TN when the kids saw blackberries along the road. They started begging me to stop so we could pick blackberries so Grandma could bake a cobbler when we got home. I told them that Mom's best cobbler wasn't worth the chigger bites I would suffer in picking the blackberries.
They finally convinced me to stop, I would stay in the car and they would get out and pick the blackberries. Suffice it to say, when we got home only one person had chigger bites on him. You guessed it, the one who stayed in the car, ME!!!! :knothead: :banghead: :mad:
Bill
Post by: Roadkill on July 30, 2008, 01:16:00 PM
Post by: Pig Sticker on July 30, 2008, 01:29:00 PM
Pouring sulphur powder in a gym sock and beating it all over your shoes and pants can help some but stinks to high heaven. Good luck guys.
None of the wives-tale cures works. Only anti-itch cream can stop the symptoms.
Post by: Pig Sticker on July 30, 2008, 01:39:00 PM
The "reaction" itchy, red welts usually occur 4-6 hours after the bite and the chigger has moved
Post by: Don Stokes on July 30, 2008, 08:30:00 PM
When the first ones show up, I go to the dollar store and buy several 2-packs of 6% deet Cutters, at $4 per 2. Before I go to the garden or into the yard, I sit on the back steps and spray my shoes, socks, and pants up to the knees or waist, depending on what I'm up to. If I get good coverage, the 6% DEET works for me, and is much cheaper than the higher-strength stuff. I rarely get one once I start spraying, but typically the first dose is 50-100 of them. I don't treat them, and the itch subsides after about two days.
If you like garlic, they don't bother you as much. You can also take sulfur pills, available at the pharmacy.
When it rains, or when the dew is on the grass, you don't have to spray for the chiggers or ticks, either. They don't like the wet, and don't come out to look for a victim as long as the grass is still moist. Don't sit in the pine needles, though!
Post by: Doc Nock on July 30, 2008, 08:40:00 PM
Roadkill, I feel your pain, brother! :)
Was pleased the Meat Tenderizer worked so well at $.85/jar and now have some for an ole rutty buck if I get one! :)
Dang sure going to try to NOT get more chiggers to need more paste made up! :)