It’s about more than just that skin-crawling sensation when you feel those little insect legs creeping up inside your pants or down your neckline; ticks and other biting insects can pose a real health concern. Addressing biting insect and tick protection as part of your hunting and outdoor activity prep is vital to avoid a multitude of diseases.
Throughout human history, mosquitoes carrying disease have killed way more people than any war or natural disaster combined. And even with our modern medical technology, we’re still not out of the woods yet. In my home state of Michigan, ticks currently carry Lyme Disease, as well as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tularemia, and Ehrlichiosis to name a few. Mosquitoes carry the West Nile Virus in the US as we speak. In Africa, Malaria spread by mosquitoes is still alive and well. Many young children are harassed while playing outside each year by biting pests. Even if these kids do not get some sort of sickness, the bites itch and the kids scratch them. This generally leads to scarring of the skin and often infections as well. Hunters or not, everyone that steps outside needs to be protected from biting insects and ticks.
I’ll never forget the moment I realized I needed to bring bug spray with me while turkey hunting. I was perched along an old fence, overlooking a spring wheat field. The wise old tom had earned his stripes, and wasn’t coming in without a fight. As he grew closer and closer, I could feel the horde of hungry mosquitoes feasting on my back. He’d turn now and then, allowing me a chance to quickly swat at my back in the name of personal defense. I had things under control and thought in a few moments this bird would be slung over my shoulder. But… we all have a breaking point. As I felt the familiar creepy crawl of a multi-legged tick making his way up my calf muscle, it was all over. Simply put, I get creeped out when I have a tick on me. They are so nasty and carry so many diseases that I just can’t stand it. I tried to remain calm, while rolling up my loose pant leg to get at the unwelcome parasite. The old turkey caught my movement, and headed for the hills. I cursed my luck, and happily squashed that tick between two small rocks.
After the hunt, I returned home and took off my shirt. My wife gasped, and said, “you’ve been shot!”. There must have been a hundred red mosquito bites on my back left shoulder blade.
“Nope… mosquitoes,” I sadly replied. Never again will I turkey hunt without bug spray. Worse, while walking through just about anywhere these days I seem to pick up ticks.
ScentBlocker realized the need for biting insect and tick protection, and formulated two new Bug Blocker series of insect and tick repellent. Both have been tested by outfitters from Alaska, where bugs reign supreme, to the deep south of Florida and Alabama. Feedback from the folks who work in the thick of the outdoors for a living was hands down, “outstanding performance” and requests for more product. The aluminum canister even features a quiet spray to application in the field – at any angle.
Bug Blocker Insect Repellent contains 25% DEET for 6-8 hours of protection. It is also formulated with two special ingredients specifically designed to repel biting black flies, horse, and deer flies, as well as ‘no-see-ums’.
For ticks, Bug Blocker is a Permethrin-based treatment for clothing, backpacks, tents and gear that repels and kills ticks for up to two weeks. It also repels spiders, chiggers, mosquitoes and black flies as well.
Want to sleep easy, hunt quieter and scratch less? Make sure insect and tick protection is high on your list of priorities.