Permethrin on Merino?

[Jellymon1]

Anyone have any issues with using permethrin on merino wool with regards to your skin? I know its not supposed to get on your skin and it seems like when the merino gets wet with sweat it could cause the permethrin to “bleed” onto your skin? Thanks!

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I do it all the time and have for a long time. Once it’s dry it supposedly doesn’t leach. I’m sure it does to some degree but you have to pick your poison. Ticks seem like a bigger concern.

 

[PoniBoy]

I’d allow it to dry first if possible before wearing it. Like Turkey said…pick your poison

 

[ODB]

99.5% of Sawyer permethrin spray is carrier. the permethrim itself is a milky kind of solid that will settle out of the spray (which is why you shake often) and that is the active ingredient. bear in mind OG permethrim is made from chrysanthemums and is made by drying the flowers and turning them into powder. It's all been synthesized now, but same basic stuff in a yellow bottle. In the old days Kenya grew acres and acres of it for just this purpose.


Spray on the outside of clothes, let dry, go hunt. All good.

 

[Dave0317]

Do some research on it. Don’t take my word, but to summarize what I remember finding:
-The bond of the permethrin to the clothing is strong enough that it won’t easily leave the fibers and be absorbed in your skin.
-if small amounts get absorbed by your skin, your body is capable of metabolizing or neutralizing it in some way. Don’t ask me the science, but I know it also said cats lack the enzymes that do that. And out of caution, maybe don’t spray the stuff around small children.

Seemed safe enough I actually prefer to heavily treat clothes with permethrin and then I avoid DEET. Thermacell helps too.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

Spray away. I've done it with
merino everything . Like was said better than the ticks.

 

[Luked]

Use it on mine all the time.
Spray all my stuff then just let it sit and dry overnight or for at least a couple of days before wearing it.

 

[RELIANT]

I always spray down my merino base layers and outer pants with permethrin. I let them dry for an hour or two in the sun until they are completely dry before wearing them.

 

[Schism]

I've been spraying it on my merino base layers for years with no ill side effects. I let it dry over night before I wear the clothes and it works great.

 

[Jellymon1]

Thanks everyone! Got into an area last year where we were out scouting for turkeys, and ended up with about 50 ticks on us in the span of an hour. Just walking a logging road! So Im getting my pre battle plan ready, which includes not going to that particular spot again. Lol

 

[ScreamingPotato]

We hunt an area in deep South Texas that's infested and we absolutely soak literally everything we wear in Permethrin. No issues for wife and I so far but we generally aren't that sensitive or allergic to things.

 

[Weldor]

Good info.

 

[Texasbuckeye]

Just FYI, permethrin is great and I highly recommend, but it is not fool proof. Ticks will occasionally still come thru and onto the skin. So you still have to be checking your body after going out this time of year especially.

I am dealing with a tick bite, not sure how it even got where it was, but on the inside of my ankle. Was wearing high snake boots and ankle socks, so it was just above my ankle sock. But not sure how it got into the boot but could have been from changing out batteries in trail cams or something and I knelt down close to the ground. I also shot once and was kneeling on the ground for a few minutes.

It was a small tick, so far no rash, but I am just waiting for the day I get one of those blood suckers and it gives me the red meat allergy...that would mess me up something fierce!