mosquitos

[bwlacy]

For the first couple weeks in Colorado how are the mosquitos? What do most of you do to combat them? I really don't want to pack bug spray. I can't stand the thought of that on my hunting clothes. But if I have to I will. I can't even walk thru the woods around here right now without being swarmed. I would assume if you have water around and the heat there will be bugs.

 

[Ballew]

The mosquitos and flies are thick during early September. I strap my thermal cell to the outside of my pack and it does a good job keeping them off me.

 

[realunlucky]

Head net and gloves

 

[ChadS]

I have never really had an issue with mosquitos. black flies and knats some I think, but never had to use bug spray. Its usually cool enough up high by that time of year that they are slowing down. What part of west michigan are you from? I grew up in Caledonia

 

[Laelkhunter]

X2 for the Thermacell. Couldn't get in the woods in La without it. You can get earth scent also.

 

[bourbon]

X3 for Thermocell.

In order of best inventions of all time it goes something like this...

#1 meat
#2 electricity
#3 thermocell
#4 bourbon whiskey

And so on

 

[HunterHawk]

right now they are terrible... come sept at least around 10,000 never had a problem with them....but every year is different!

 

[fulldraw1972]

I haven't seen many mosquitoes during elk hunting in Co. The flys and bees are a different story. Nothing to get excited over though.

 

[husky390]

I'd bring a can of OFF just to be on the safe side. In 2011 on opening weekend they were worse than anything I'd seen in MN, WI, or FL. At camp, around 9k feet they weren't there but once we got up to 10k and above they were everywhere. The second day we went up I said screw it and soaked myself in OFF. I didn't think it mattered seeings how I had been busted by a cow that was downwind from me the day before and I wasn't wearing OFF.

 

[bwlacy]

I have never really had an issue with mosquitos. black flies and knats some I think, but never had to use bug spray. Its usually cool enough up high by that time of year that they are slowing down. What part of west michigan are you from? I grew up in Caledonia

I live in Grant, about 30 miles north of GR. My mom and step dad live in Caledonia, my brother and sister both live in Middleville. Small world.

 

[bwlacy]

I do have a thermacell but didn't think it would do much while walking and having it on my pack. I guess I'll add that to the pack list. Maybe at least for around camp.

 

[5MilesBack]

Lots of guys keep recommending a Thermacell but I've asked this question before and never gotten an answer. How do they work at 11k+ feet? Their site says they won't work above 4500 feet elevation. I've heard of guys using them at higher than that but no one at high altitude. Or is everyone hunting lower altitudes?

 

[JPD350]

My Thermacell experience;
I bought a Thermacell a couple years ago and tried to use it around 8,000 ft in NM, I hiked into an area and the Mosquito's were swarming, so I whipped out my new Thermacell and after about 10 minutes of trying to light it I had to give up and put on my rain suit because I was getting eaten alive once suited up I went back to the Thermacell and tried for another 10 or 15 minutes but all I could get was a glow for a few seconds and it would go out, I tried changing fuel canisters and everything else I could think of and ended up putting it away. I woke up the next morning and thought WTH so even though the Mosquitos were not out yet I tried it again and to my surprise it lit so I let it burn for a little while and then put it away, that evening I stopped to make camp and broke out the Thermacell, 30 minutes later I still couldn't get it to light, the next morning the dam thing lit right up! I don't know if it was temperature or elevation or a combo of both but I returned the thing.

 

[bbrown]

Thermacell works great for me as long as I am below 8k. It may light above that elevation but its a struggle to get it light and keep it going - not enough O2 I think. Was up fishing with some buddies a couple weeks back at a high mountain lake (@10k) and one guy was able to get his Thermacell lit (newest model) but his older model would not light. The other thing with a Thermacell is it really only works if you are stationary like sitting at the wife's softball game, hanging out on the porch at my house (@5k) or cabin (@7200k) or while fishing from one spot. If the wind is blowing then it blows the repellent away but at the same time the wind helps keep the bugs at bay.

I think they are well worth the $20 as long as you understand how and were they will work.

 

[njdoxie]

In unit 80 and 81, have yet to see a mosquito during archery.....guess it depends on where you're hunting....I'm sure there are mosquitoes in those units, just not where I was

 

[Vids]

I was scouting two weeks ago in GMU 551, they were horrendous. I'm sure that's due to how wet it's been this summer. My guess is that will continue until things dry up or temps get closer to freezing.

In the past I've purchased scent free bug repellent, I'm sure it's still around just haven't bought it in awhile. It worked well for early season archery hunting in MN.