How do you keep the bugs away?

[Kaluza]

I'm down in south Texas and the bugs here are thick. I don't have much in-the-woods experience yet and was wondering how you guys keep the bugs off when you are hunting. Does something like the Thermacell work pretty well for mosquitoes? What do you do for ticks and chiggers?

[Pat B]

Thermacell for flying/biting insects, Permanone for crawlers.
Permanone is a brand name for premethium(s) a product you spry your cloths with and let it dry before wearing them. It kills any insect that touches it.

[bruinman]

Same as Pat.

[el chupa nibre]

Have had good experience with Badger Anti-bug Balm. A good alternative to permethrin

[Diamond Paul]

I use the 100% DEET liquid.  Just a tiny drop around the ears and face; I rely on the thickness of my clothes to protect the rest.  Do not get it on your bow!  It will take the finish off.

[dbd870]

Thermacell for me.

[David Mitchell]

Originally posted by dbd870:
Thermacell for me.

Me too.    

[MnFn]

This won't help you but I just wait for a good frost.

[Charlie Lamb]

Exactly what PatB said. don't get no better.

[ChuckC]

I don't shower for the months of September thru January.  After a while they stay away from you.

CHuckC    

[Sam McMichael]

DEET works well for mosquitoes, but ticks use it as dipping sauce. ALWAYS use Permanone or one of the other permethrin based products for the ticks. There are some very nasty tick borne illnesses out there, so take ticks very seriously. Do not spray permethrins on your skin, but, rather, spray your clothes and let it dry. Also, tucking your pants into your boots helps.

Thermacell is as good as it gets for skeeters!

Bisch

[DeCurry]

+1 on some form of a Permethrin product. Spraying the outer part of your clothing is good, especially upper body garments, but for your pants, I recommend also turning the lower leg inside out and spraying there too in case any ticks/chiggers get inside your pants there.

I almost always use a neck gaiter, shemagh or some other item to cover my neck. They're also treated with Permethrin.

One last tip: work on your scent control, and I don't just mean spraying something on your boots before walking to your stand. I mean taking a shower with either a scent killer soap or no soap at all before going out hunting. This is a tip I learned from some hardcore hikers/campers years ago to ward off mosquitoes, and I have found it works.

Mosquitoes track you down by scent first, and by body heat once they're close to you (most people seem to think mosquitoes just aimlessly wander around and jump the nearest body heat, that is not correct). Whenever I make sure I'm controlling my scent, I have almost no issues with mosquitoes. However, when I've been at camp a few days without a shower, they start to hound me -- that's when the Permethrin comes into play; they may be buzzing me, but it will take care of them if they land on me (though they're still annoying).

[beaunaro]

What Pat B said.

Just be sure to let the permethrin dry before donning clothes.

And do not spray it on your skin.

[Krex1010]

I remember a salty old fella who ran the boat ramp on the marsh on the Delaware bay where we used to crab telling me that he drank a shot of vinegar with breakfeast and a shot with lunch and the bugs left him alone. I never tried it but figured I'd throw it out there

[Stump73]

What Pat said