How to Keep Mosquitoes from Ruining Your Hunt

If you grew up in a low, wet area like I did in rural Arkansas, you know how annoying mosquitoes are. Whether it was hunting, fishing, or any other outdoor activity as a kid, I can remember them ruining the occasion over and over again. One or two mosquitoes can be ignored, but we all know that you seldomly just encounter a couple. And with the archery season opener approaching, I’m starting to sort out the issue of mosquitoes in my head. 

Mosquitos are just downright annoying to deal with. Not only are mosquitos annoying, they can carry disease. While that is not as common here as it is in some other places, it is something I think about every time a mosquito bites me. Plus, the bite of a mosquito leaves an itchy, sometimes painful welt. It really begs the question “is hunting during the early season even worth it?”

On the topic of mosquitoes being an annoying, biting nuisance, they can definitely increase your angst in the stand. If I’m swarmed by mosquitoes, I constantly find myself brushing my face and arms trying to get them off of me. This obviously creates the problem of increased movement. Nothing is worse than having deer in shooting range and not being able to move. I feel like I’m basically just offering myself as a sacrifice to the mosquitoes, which is not fun. 

While mosquitoes negatively affect hunter movement in the deer stand, they can however affect deer movement. Deer don’t particularly like getting swarmed by bugs either. While they are more tolerant and tough than us, mosquitoes will indeed drive their movement. Those low, wet bedding areas often need a break during the day for deer to get out of the mosquitoes. Knowing this, it could be good idea to hunt early season and capitalize on predictable deer movement. 

So, when it comes to deciding if hunting the early season is worth it or not, I would say if you can mitigate the mosquito torture, it absolutely is! If you do decide to give it a go, I suggest you read further to make your hunt more enjoyable. 

Tips and Tools to Combat Mosquitos

• The most obvious tip would be to hunt where the mosquitos aren’t. Now you probably won’t find a place completely devoid of mosquitos, but some areas have less than others. Hilly, rocky areas tend to have a more manageable population of mosquitos than say the low swamps or river bottoms. Maybe it is worth focusing your efforts in the hills early. 

• Full coverage clothing also makes a big difference. I know in the early season it can be hot, and many of us push the limits of camo and wear short sleeves. If you can stand it, the less skin you having showing the better. Long sleeves, gloves and a netted facemask might feel a little warm, but it will definitely help lessen mosquito bites. 

• Please take advantage of aerosol sprays when hunting as well. I swear by permethrin. It’s a clothing treatment chemical that is designed to repel mosquitos and mainly ticks. The amount of tick bite reduction I’ve had with this treatment is insane. Don’t forget DEET containing sprays like OFF! They work very well too, but don’t forget to play the wind, because they can contain odor. 

• Lastly, when hunting in the early season, a Thermacell is a must. I’ve used them for years and swear by their effectiveness. Does it completely eliminate mosquitoes? Absolutely not, but it definitely puts a dent in the swarms. Once again, there is a mild odor involved so hunt on desirable winds. 

There is no one solution to fending off mosquitoes in the early season. A combination of the above-mentioned suggestions can put you in the best position possible. Like I stated earlier, it can be worth it to fight the mosquitoes to get a chance at an early season harvest. But if isn’t something you want to deal with, there is plenty of good hunting after the first frost. That is probably the choice of the wise man, but as for me, I’ll be putting these tips to use on opening day!

Published August 20th by Will Bowen, Okayest Hunter Contributor