How to Beat the Bugs During the Early Season

Early season deer hunting in the South is a special kind of misery. It’s hot and humid, and you sweat in places you didn’t know you could sweat. Plus, the bugs are still partying like it’s midsummer. Somewhere around the tenth mosquito bite, it’s easy to start questioning all of your life choices.

Mosquitos suck, and swatting at them in the treestand can blow your cover fast. But slathering yourself in bug spray can create its own set of problems, especially when you’re trying to keep a low scent profile. Thankfully, there are some solid strategies to keep the bugs at bay without ruining every early-season sit.

Avoiding the kinds of spots mosquitoes love is one of the easiest ways to skirt them. The boogers love stagnant water and thick, damp cover. Yes, big bucks like those kinds of places, too. But moving your stand 100 yards uphill can take you out of the swarms without taking you completely out of the action. Higher, drier ground often has fewer mosquitoes than a dank, stale bottom.

Getting up out of a low stand location can also get you into some moving air. Even a mild breeze can make a big difference when you’re trying to sit still in an oak tree. It probably won’t drive off every bug in the county, but it may help keep them from hovering around your face and ears the whole time.

It’s impossible to completely outrun mosquitoes in the South. They’re still pretty much everywhere in September, and deer seem to like the kinds of wet, nasty places where they thrive. Sit outside long enough, and the mosquitoes will find you. Luckily, permethrin can make it tolerable even in the buggiest conditions.

Permethrin is a synthetic form of pyrethrin, the chrysanthemum’s natural insecticide. You can buy pre-treated hunting clothing or spritz your favorite pieces down with a 0.5% permethrin product like Sawyer. Once it’s dry, it bonds to the fabric and offers long-lasting protection that even lasts multiple washes. It is also odorless once it dries. If you decide to go with pre-treated clothing, just know it will eventually wear off after so many washes. You can always treat it again after it fades.

I treat lightweight, breathable layers before the season starts. Then, I don’t have to reapply in the stand, even when I’m sweating through everything. Permethrin only goes on your clothes, not your skin. That means any exposed skin is still hanging out there, tempting mosquitoes.

So what do you do to keep exposed skin from becoming a mosquito buffet? Picaridin is one solid solution. It’s an effective mosquito repellent without the material-damage concerns or strong chemical stench that DEET carries. DEET works extremely well against mosquitoes, but it’s also a strong solvent that can damage synthetic coatings, rubber, vinyl, and plastic on everything from binoculars and GPS screens to rain gear.

DEET also has a pungent chemical smell that just isn’t welcome in a deer stand. A fragrance-free picaridin formula is a good alternative to DEET. Smear it on exposed skin before you climb in the stand. Your face, ears, and neck are obvious targets, but don’t overlook your hands and fingers, especially if you don’t wear gloves. Mosquito bites on fingers are a unique form of torture, especially when you’re trying to sit still with a bow in hand.

When I’m hunting early-season heat, I consider a Thermacell an essential piece of hunting gear. I’m a total Thermacell fangirl. I’ve used them for years. They are a simple way to make something close to a mosquito-free bubble around a deer stand.

These handy little devices use a butane cartridge to heat a repellent-treated mat. It takes a little time to warm up (about fifteen minutes), but once it gets going, it makes mosquitoes rethink buzzing in to snack on your skin.

But what do the deer think? The standard Thermacell mats do produce a distinctive odor, and a deer’s keen sense of smell is more than capable of picking it up. But the jury is still out on whether or not that odor will spook deer. I haven’t been busted with a Thermacell, but I play the wind religiously. In fact, the faint plume they emit can actually help me pick up slight shifts in air movement. You can also swap out the standard-issue Thermacell mat for an earth scent refill and use it as a cover scent.

Mosquitoes seem to have a knack for finding even the smallest patches of bare skin. Your fingers, ears, and the back of your neck are like rare delicacies to them. All three are also tough places to scratch when you’re trying hard to be a statue in a treestand.

A lightweight pair of gloves can keep your fingers and hands from being eaten alive. But make sure you practice shooting with them before opening day. If you aren’t used to handling a bow and manipulating a release while wearing gloves, it can take some getting used to.

A mesh face mask like the kind spring turkey hunters love can really help keep mosquitoes from attacking your face and ears. However, loose netting can get in the way of your bowstring and anchor point. It can also potentially catch on the string during the shot.

You can also cover your face, ears, and neck with a lightweight neck gaiter. They’re not as bulky as a mesh mask and still keep mosquitoes off those tender spots. You can even use a permethrin-treated gaiter to really deter those bloodsuckers.

Early-season bowhunting is a hot, sweaty ordeal across much of the country. There’s no reason to make it worse by donating a pint of blood to the local mosquito population. With a little thought and preparation, you can keep the swatting to a minimum and spend your sit listening for deer instead of the buzz of mosquitoes swarming around your ears.