Thermacell Bug Repellent

the first time I used mine, I was fishing at night, I had my lantern set on the tailgate of my truck about 20 feet behind me. I could see clouds of skeeters come out of the brush to my left and then they would open up, go around me and then engulf my lantern. I take mine out on the boat as well, and while my buddy swats bugs, I chuckle. I think I may have to get him one for christmas this year. They are well worth the money.
 
Do they work for biting flies or is that wishfull thinking?
Deer,horse,Black fly's ect
I got one from my daughter a couple years ago and never even tried it,silly me.
 
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does it matter if unit is in holster when its on,i have holster for mine but have never had unit on while in it,been afraid it would get hot and burn.have always takin it out of holster before turnnig on.
 
Since we're talking "keeping the bugs from biting" Yesterday (sat 7-18) I sprayed My pants and just my pants with permanone and sprayed my upper body with OFF.I didn't want to put Permanone directly on my skin. The chiggers are ALL over my lower body. Not a chigger bite above the waist. This leads me to believe Permanone works on ticks, mosquitoes and some other stuff but NOT on chiggers. It seems as though OFF or some other product containing DEET is better for the chiggers.
Is it safe to apply Off over Permanone? I would hate to cause some kind of chemical reaction and get sick or worse.
What has been your experience?

Guess, does the thermocell WORK for chiggers? Or, does it just SEEM to work? I'm asking 'cause chiggers have been my #1 Nemisis this summer.
 
I'm not sure, I scrub down after each hunt with good hot soapy water. This usually kills chiggers before they do any damage. I haven't had 1 chigger all summer but my son hunted with me one evening and was covered in them. We never cranked up the thermacell that day.

by the way according to the instructions the thermacell is supposed to be laying flat while in use. I have carried mine in my shirt pocket "on" so it could warm up before I got to my stand. Of course the grate part of it was sticking out of the pocket. I would imagine that more of the heat would escape out the end rather than the plate where the scent pad is in the upright position.
 
Chiggers/red bugs: Go to your local drug store (now called pharmacy), buy sulfur powder, it is not restricted and is not behind the counter. It is inexpensive.
I put some in an old sock and store in a small Ziploc bag.
Dust around top of boots and socks. Dust from about the knees down, or higher on the outside of pants.
Dust around top of pants and maybe some inside top of pants. It is slightly abrasive so you might not want to overdo it inside your pants.
In the southeast at least sulfur is common in ground water, therefore does not spook game.
It also works to keep off scabies. You really don't want scabies, a hunting partner of mine forgot to use his sulfur powder and got them.
They burry into the skin and Lindane ( an insecticide for boring insects) is used to kill them.
I didn't go by to check, but he said that he couldn't even stand any clothes touching his body.
In Florida before a freeze, you don't want to walk in a wet area without protection. I have used it for years, it works....
 
I have used permalone treated clothes and deet with no ill effect that I know of.
Keeps the chiggers away.
I went camping last weekend, but did see any thermacell before we went. Skeeters were not bad, but I had all the kids dope down with deet to keep the chiggers at bay.
 
And just FYI, the thermacell won't work at high altitude. My wife and I went camping last week, set up camp at 10,300' and we got ate up by mosquitos and flys, and my thermacell wouldn't lite. Got home, live at about 6300', and it worked just fine. I Emailed Thermacell and they are fully aware that it won't work at high altitude. Didn't sound like they(Thermacell) had any plans of building a high altitude model, said that there aren't that many biting bugs up there. I beg to defer!!
 
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Since we're talking "keeping the bugs from biting" Yesterday (sat 7-18) I sprayed My pants and just my pants with permanone and sprayed my upper body with OFF.I didn't want to put Permanone directly on my skin. The chiggers are ALL over my lower body. Not a chigger bite above the waist. This leads me to believe Permanone works on ticks, mosquitoes and some other stuff but NOT on chiggers. It seems as though OFF or some other product containing DEET is better for the chiggers.
Is it safe to apply Off over Permanone? I would hate to cause some kind of chemical reaction and get sick or worse.
What has been your experience?




Permanone works best when applied to clothing before the planned hunt. hang your clothes in the garage, on the porch, etc. spray all clothing until damp and let them dry overnight. treatments last for about 3/4 weeks (or in my case, all of turkey season), and will withstand a couple of washings (I use baking soda only during hunting season to wash with). I spray pants, shirts, socks, boots, gloves, cap, facemask, etc. had absolutely no problems with chiggers, ticks, or the like. I use a bug band on my gun sling for mosquitoes, biting flies, etc. they will come around for a minute or two, but then they are nowhere to be seen the rest of the stand.

The thermacell does put off an odor, and I am not completely convinced that coyotes/deer/other smell-sensitive critters don't get a bit nervous around it.

My .02

RB
 
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The chiggers are ALL over my lower body. Not a chigger bite above the waist. This leads me to believe Permanone works on ticks, mosquitoes and some other stuff but NOT on chiggers.



That's strange. I have used permanone on my hunting clothing for years and have never had a chigger or tick problem. As has been said, wet clothing w/permanone 24 hours before and let dry prior to use. Not sure it is effective for mosquitoes.

Hey, NCWhitetail, you know the good thing about chiggers? By the time they quit itching, it's nearly hunting season again. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Regards,
hm
 
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And just FYI, the thermacell won't work at high altitude. My wife and I went camping last week, set up camp at 10,300' and we got ate up by mosquitos and flys, and my thermacell wouldn't lite. Got home, live at about 6300', and it worked just fine. I Emailed Thermacell and they are fully aware that it won't work at high altitude. Didn't sound like they(Thermacell) had any plans of building a high altitude model, said that there aren't that many biting bugs up there. I beg to defer!!



TR I found out the same thing you did. The email I got back from the company stated that they dont work well above 4500 ft. Not many places on this side of the state that are below 4500!!! Mine did work at 10,000 but I had a heck of a time getting it lit. Once it lit it worked extremely well.

Guy
 
I just picked a Thermacell this week. I have not tried it out yet but everyone I know that has one LOVES it! I might have to grill out this week and sit out in the back yard to just test this thing out.
 
Sulfur powder is too cheap to worry about price, one container from your local pharmacy will last a real long time.
It will keep chiggers/red bugs/scabies off 100% if used correctly. I trust it to not have some yet unknown health risk more than a newer chemical spray.
 
Yeah Guy, the Email that I got back also said the 4500' was the working elevation, but mine works here at the house at 6300'. The funny thing is that they said that "there aren't many mosquito's at high altitude". I beg to differ, and would bet the farm that's there's a bunch of other campers/outdoors people that would disagree with them as well.
 
I've ordered a Thermacell because of all the good reviews here. Thanks for the tip. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 


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