Protection in the wild in summer

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Mosquitoes are attracted to first, our (and other mammals) exhaled carbon dioxide and then to other odors on the skin.
So, while in mosquito country, don't breathe out.
Some people have skin odors intrinsic to them that mosquitos like, thus are 'mosquito magnets' and are pretty much doomed, for others, avoid perfumes, including in shampoos, deodorants, makeup, etc..
The other recommendations mentioned by others above are all good advice.
 
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Butlerkid said:
LOL! Dog is treated to repel ticks........ I am not! So the tick moved off the dog and apparently I was "good enough". I found it before it made entry....thank goodness.
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That happened to me many times with my golden retriever. Usually in May and June. They were usually lone star ticks and they leave a pretty good welt.
 
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I used to have a pair of outdoor pants I bought at LL Bean that had a "elastic sleeve "sewed into the bottom of each leg. That sleeve prevented any bugs, spiders or ticks from crawling up your leg. Wear long boot socks and tuck your pants into the top of the socks. And definitely treat and spray your clothes. I use a bug net on my outdoor Tilley hat and/or and use a neck gaiter to keep bugs off the back of my neck.

If you find anyone who makes outdoor pants with the anti bug sleeve, let us all know.
 
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joe43 said:
I used to have a pair of outdoor pants I bought at LL Bean that had a "elastic sleeve "sewed into the bottom of each leg. That sleeve prevented any bugs, spiders or ticks from crawling up your leg. Wear long boot socks and tuck your pants into the top of the socks. And definitely treat and spray your clothes. I use a bug net on my outdoor Tilley hat and/or and use a neck gaiter to keep bugs off the back of my neck.

If you find anyone who makes outdoor pants with the anti bug sleeve, let us all know.
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If you google for "elastic cuffs" you'll find some. Also note that there are hiking pants with drawstring cuffs.

Chris
 
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Slightly off topic, but IMO a bigger concern for me is skin damage from the sun. I wear arm sleeves, lightweight jogging pants, and a bucket hat. At 40 I've already had quite a few basal cell spots removed. I also religiously check myself for ticks afterward and immediately take a shower, though being nearly entirely covered probably offers some additional protection from them.
 
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Good advice on the hat. I had a cancerous skin area removed a few years back and the procedure is to remove some skin and then verify that all the cancerous ones have been removed or if not to cut deeper. As a result there were a dozen patients in the waiting area. All the women had bandages on their noses and all the men, except for myself, had bandages on their ears.

It was clear that the men who wore baseball caps were leaving the tops of their ears exposed to UV. I have always preferred real hats with a brim. The Tilly hats are good for travel as they can be flattened and packed and they have a neck strap to keep from loosing them when in an open vehicle or boat. I also use a special safety clip when out in a boat to keep my hat with me.
 
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Wade Abadie said:
The main pest I have to deal with in my area (SE Texas) is mosquitos….and I absolutely HATE using any type of insect repellent on my skin.

I always have long pants on when going into mosquito country, and I keep a “bug tamer” jacket/parka in my camera backpack during the warmer months. It is a double layer mesh top (camo) that can simply be worn over a t-shirt, with a face net that tucks into the collar as well. It will keep the mosquitos at bay. I also keep some heavy powderless nitrile gloves to wear as well, which the mosquitoes can’t bite through. Without this combo, there are certain areas I simply would not be able to shoot in.

Here is a link to the “Bug Tamer” products:

Bug Tamer Plus Archives - Shannon Outdoors

shannonoutdoors.com shannonoutdoors.com
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Hey Wade - I'm with you with your hatred of insect repellent on my skin. I'm curious about the 3D Big Leafy Bug Tamer Plus Parka (https://shannonoutdoors.com/p/3-d-big-leafy-bug-tamer-plus-parka/). Being from upper Wisconsin, typically we refer to a parka as a thick, insulated winter coat. Which would be kind of opposite of what you'd need for fighting mosquitoes! Is this just two layers of breathable mesh, or is it insulated? We have both mosquitos and ticks. Ticks I can try to fend off with permethrin, but those damn mosquitos are a different story.
 
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MikeJ said:
Hey Wade - I'm with you with your hatred of insect repellent on my skin. I'm curious about the 3D Big Leafy Bug Tamer Plus Parka (https://shannonoutdoors.com/p/3-d-big-leafy-bug-tamer-plus-parka/). Being from upper Wisconsin, typically we refer to a parka as a thick, insulated winter coat. Which would be kind of opposite of what you'd need for fighting mosquitoes! Is this just two layers of breathable mesh, or is it insulated? We have both mosquitos and ticks. Ticks I can try to fend off with permethrin, but those damn mosquitos are a different story.
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I believe their use of the word “parka” simply refers to the design/length of the garment. It is definitely NOT insulated….it is two layers of breathable mesh. It’s not as cool as having your bare arms exposed, but it’s not bad. Much better than being devoured by the skeeters! I highly recommend it.
 
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Turberticus said:
Slightly off topic, but IMO a bigger concern for me is skin damage from the sun. I wear arm sleeves, lightweight jogging pants, and a bucket hat. At 40 I've already had quite a few basal cell spots removed. I also religiously check myself for ticks afterward and immediately take a shower, though being nearly entirely covered probably offers some additional protection from them.
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This is absolutely an issue. I've been wearing the widest brimmed hat made by Tilley for more than 15 years - even if I'm only out for a short time period. In windy areas, I have a slightly smaller brim. I use sunscreen consistently when I will be out more than 30 minutes.

For both sun and insects, light weight long pants and long sleeves are useful. It's easier to spot ticks on your clothing with light colored clothing.

The other threat in my area is snakes. I'm especially careful in the late afternoon and early evening when snakes are active and often found on paths or roads warmed by the sun. When walking, my eyes are on the trail or path.

Finally - heat can lead to dehydration and cramping. It's important to have more water than you think you will need in hot weather.
 
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Thanks @Wade Abadie for the link to the Shannon Outdoors parka. I purchased the 3D leafy bug tamer parka last week, this morning I went out to some private land I'm privileged to have access to. I had the parka and some thin gloves. The mosquitoes weren't too thick, but bad enough (I hate the little blood suckers). The only bites I got were on my hands. That parka worked! And the netting over your face was actually pretty easy to see through. I'm thinking about ordering the mitts they offer, since the parka worked so well. For anyone that's out hiking and taking photos in mosquito territory, I can definitely recommend that parka.
 
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Not A Speck Of Cereal said:
What bear spray do you Wyoming folk like best?
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I've carried Udap and CounterAssault brands over the years. Never had to deploy it, but have had canister out of the holster a couple times. All the brands seem to be quite similar so I think it's commodity item. One thing to remember is that the canisters have expiration dates now. The actual active ingredients, the capsaicinoids, remain potent, but the seals on the canister can weaken over time and let slight amounts of the propellent leak out, so the canister won't fire as intended. Outdated canisters can be recycled safely at some outdoor stores like REI.
 
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jim0379 said:
I've carried Udap and CounterAssault brands over the years. Never had to deploy it, but have had canister out of the holster a couple times. All the brands seem to be quite similar so I think it's commodity item. One thing to remember is that the canisters have expiration dates now. The actual active ingredients, the capsaicinoids, remain potent, but the seals on the canister can weaken over time and let slight amounts of the propellent leak out, so the canister won't fire as intended. Outdated canisters can be recycled safely at some outdoor stores like REI.
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One use I found for the outdated canisters: practice. I went out to a clear cut area (so not fragile habitat) and tested to be sure I knew how they worked, distance they shot, etc. It's not a bad idea as it helps you have an idea how they work before a bear shows up.

One word of advice if you do this: wear disposable gloves. Because if you get some of that on your hands and then go to relieve yourself (and touch parts with your capsaicinoid soiled fingers), you will feel pain. And it lasts. A long time. Ask me how I know.

Chris
 
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