So I had always heard it worked well, but I am a born skeptic and like to prove things to myself (snow geese ARE good eating, gar backstrap IS good but not worth the effort, coot gizzards ARE tasty-but the only part I like and I ain't gonna kill a bird just for the gizzard, etc).
So I started treating last year before the season after the worst tick year I ever had - ticks every trip in 21. Lots of them. After two years of treated clothes (all with 3-4 washes maximum) I have not had a single tick on me this season while my son, son-in-law, brother and hunting buddy have picked them all year. If you are wondering, please try it. Cheap, easy and no more itchy tick bites - let alone serious tick borne illness.
The stuff just flat out works. I too have yet to get a tick off of me in the 3-4 years that I have been using it. For anyone who might be wanting to try it, put it on generously. Don't try to skimp on it. I soak my stuff and can sit anywhere in the woods and never find a tick on me and the guys with me who don't use it find plenty of them on themselves.
Lymes disease is no joke. I have a friend on permanent disability from it and it was sad to see such a vibrant person suddenly become one who struggles to just to get out of the bed each day.
Permethrin definitely works PERIOD. If you have ever been setting in the woods and seen them crawling on you with permethrin on your clothes, they move pretty fast at first then they start staggering and fall right off. As others have said, USE IT and prevent the neurological effects of Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
The ol' Permethrin shuffle I like to call it. They get crazy legs, flip on their back and fall off.
Going on 30+ years using it and it has never let me down! An undervalued use is for all upper body garments where it will repel normal mosquitoes, but probably not fully in a swampy situation.
Buy the water based concentrate (not the petroleum based due to the nasty smell) and dip, not spray your clothes,and hang to dry out of the sun. Sunlight and dryer heat will shorten the lifespan for effectiveness.
It has served me well. I may pull one off a season now where it use to be 10+ each outing.
And for those wondering, DEET makes my heart race. I can use the Family style for kids, but the Deep Woods Off type stuff is no bueno. Permethrin on the clothes have no side effects.
Pulled one outta my chin in my beard yesterday. Treated everything but my face net. Must have got on the net when I placed it on the ground for a min or 2. Spray everything!
X10, and boy do we have ticks in the Northeast. Lack of snow, they are out in force early this year. Spray, spay, spray!
I've been spraying my clothes for years. Just make sure to spray high enough on your pants to take care of walking in higher brush and for sitting. Great stuff!!
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I've been spraying my clothes for years. Just make sure to spray high enough on your pants to take care of walking in higher brush and for sitting. Great stuff!!
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I've been spraying my clothes for years. Just make sure to spray high enough on your pants to take care of walking in higher brush and for sitting. Great stuff
NOPE! Spray everything. Hats, facemasks, gloves, shirts, vests EVERYTHING! Don't take chances. Make sure you reapply about every week or two, to stay protected. Ticks aren't just on the ground and brush. They are in the trees, so if you brush up against a low hanging branch, they will be on your hat and shoulders as well. Stay safe and Good Hunting!
I was in a national forest for the past week & they have been doing controlled burns all over. Had everything sprayed down heavy with permethrin. Still managed to somehow have a tick embedded into the outer part of my eyelid. Doc said he was all the way embedded to his back legs. Doc got it all out & gave me a zpack & some kind of ointment to rub in it 3 times a day. Eyelid is swollen pretty good.
I thought I just got bit by a sketter or horsefly. Throughout the trip I had several of those hitting me around the eyes when I was trying to sit like a statue behind the gun. Heck they were even sitting on my thermacell.
From now on I'm also adding in some Picaridin cream to rub on my face, ears, neck.....in my hair....anywhere that can be exposed. Gunna order a small bottle, & a big bottle to refill. It will be in my vest at all times.
I never even thought about how to protect my eyelids & around those parts before. From now on I will.
I cut my hair because wood ticks were getting in it from the trees set against last season.
Quote from: bbcoach on April 07, 2023, 08:55:39 PM
I've been spraying my clothes for years. Just make sure to spray high enough on your pants to take care of walking in higher brush and for sitting. Great stuff
NOPE! Spray everything. Hats, facemasks, gloves, shirts, vests EVERYTHING! Don't take chances. Make sure you reapply about every week or two, to stay protected. Ticks aren't just on the ground and brush. They are in the trees, so if you brush up against a low hanging branch, they will be on your hat and shoulders as well. Stay safe and Good Hunting!
Great advice, more is better. I've got a buddy with Lyme's disease and it's horrible.
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I agree about spraying your clothes, i was mowing the yard yesterday and had a tick crawling on my arm... i usually don't get them while mowing etc....
Using "Sawyers" brand for quite a while. It works wonders! I never get a tick on me anymore hunting in the spring. I saw a tick once crawling across my hunting pants. He made it about an inch and then fell over dead! Good stuff! I don't hit the woods without it.
Simply....it works
I got Alpha-Gal approximately 20 years ago, had serious reactions to Mammal meat until I figured out was was happening and stopped eating it. I definitely use Permethrin liberally these days on my clothes for turkey hunting(Have used Sawyers as well) as I do not want to get bit again by any tick. I have not found a tick on me since I started with Permethrin many years ago.....Interestingly enough, I just started eating mammal meat again this year without any reactions, time has healed me....boy am I loving steak again.
Warning: do not pull a lame brain move and do what I recently did. I accidentally bought and sprayed all my gear with Picaridin not Permethrin. Picaridin is a deet type spray that they claim is safe for application to your bare skin. I think it's a newer product and I grabbed a can of it quickly thinking it was Permethrin which I have used for years. So when I realized my mistake I had to go back to the store and buy the right stuff and respray everything.
So far this year the permethrin soaked clothes are keeping ticks at bay but not the mosquitoes! In years past I haven't noticed mosquitoes that much as I felt the clothing kept them at bay.
I spray my clothes with Ben's
They also make a deet spray for mosquitoes
Trying to remember if you mix it with purified water or distilled water, anyone happen to know? Thanks.
Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 22, 2023, 12:01:33 AM
Trying to remember if you mix it with purified water or distilled water, anyone happen to know? Thanks.
Whatever comes out the sink works
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Almost done with Illinois season .... 1 more tag to fill .... calling for another gentleman this morning.... so far so good on the tick situation....permethrin works
I am a believer in getting the concentrate and doing the dip...last 6 weeks and 3 washings. After several years of dipping and zero ticks found on me, I am a strong advocate of permethrin dipping. I keep a spray bottle of it with me as well to spray around my ankles after putting boots on, and for hats, etc. Keep those disease carrying bloodsuckers at bay!
Quote from: krm944 on April 19, 2023, 07:38:17 AM
So far this year the permethrin soaked clothes are keeping ticks at bay but not the mosquitoes! In years past I haven't noticed mosquitoes that much as I felt the clothing kept them at bay.
An update to this- I had sprayed my clothes down with the aerosol Sawyers permethrin. I gave it what I thought was a good spray. After a couple washings and some mosquitoes I decided to spray down with some that I mixed myself- 10% permethrin and water added. NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE!!!!
An update to this- I had sprayed my clothes down with the aerosol Sawyers permethrin. I gave it what I thought was a good spray. After a couple washings and some mosquitoes I decided to spray down with some that I mixed myself- 10% permethrin and water added. NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE!!!!
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If you mix 10% permethrin with 19 oz. of water, you are getting the same concentration as Sawyers (.5%) solution. With the 10% permethrin, you can mix it to any strength solution you like. If you buy a quart of 10%, you will save a ton of money over Sawyers in the can. A 18 oz can of Sawyers will run you $11 at Wally World and a quart of 10% can be had for about $30 that will make (32) 20 oz bottles. Or you can mix it stiffer if you prefer.
Quote from: GobbleGitr on April 22, 2023, 08:38:21 AM
I am a believer in getting the concentrate and doing the dip...last 6 weeks and 3 washings. After several years of dipping and zero ticks found on me, I am a strong advocate of permethrin dipping. I keep a spray bottle of it with me as well to spray around my ankles after putting boots on, and for hats, etc. Keep those disease carrying bloodsuckers at bay!
Not trying to be insulting in any way shape or form, but to me something would seem like a waste cuz it would be so much left over and a big bucket or whatever you soaked it and that would be wasted. I don't know maybe it's me cuz I'm messed up and gimpy but it wouldn't seem like it would be easy to funnel back into the container. I can't put things the way I used to though.
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Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 22, 2023, 02:56:51 AM
Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 22, 2023, 12:01:33 AM
Trying to remember if you mix it with purified water or distilled water, anyone happen to know? Thanks.
Whatever comes out the sink works
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Okay thank you, I honestly thought you were supposed to use distilled or purified water for whatever reason though I can't remember why I just remember having to go out and buy a gallon of whichever at one point in time to mix it.
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Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 22, 2023, 05:59:29 PM
Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 22, 2023, 02:56:51 AM
Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 22, 2023, 12:01:33 AM
Trying to remember if you mix it with purified water or distilled water, anyone happen to know? Thanks.
Whatever comes out the sink works
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Okay thank you, I honestly thought you were supposed to use distilled or purified water for whatever reason though I can't remember why I just remember having to go out and buy a gallon of whichever at one point in time to mix it.
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No problem. Also, I use to do the dip and it does work great. But, due to the excess waste, I now make a mixture in a bug sprayer, hang the clothes on a line (usually just 2-3 sets for turkey season) and spray them down real good and let them dry. Saves a lot of chemical. What would take me 5 gal to soak just about takes about 1-2 now
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Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 22, 2023, 07:09:31 PM
Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 22, 2023, 05:59:29 PM
Quote from: sasquatch1 on April 22, 2023, 02:56:51 AM
Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 22, 2023, 12:01:33 AM
Trying to remember if you mix it with purified water or distilled water, anyone happen to know? Thanks.
Whatever comes out the sink works
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Okay thank you, I honestly thought you were supposed to use distilled or purified water for whatever reason though I can't remember why I just remember having to go out and buy a gallon of whichever at one point in time to mix it.
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No problem. Also, I use to do the dip and it does work great. But, due to the excess waste, I not make a mixture in a big sprayer, hang the clothes on a line (usually just 2-3 sets for turkey season) and spray them down real good and let them dry. Saves a lot of chemical. What would take me 5 gal to soak just about takes about 1-2 now
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Spraying is how I do it as well, I had to spray in the bathroom last night, finally got permission to go set up the blinds and I have to pretty roll around the blinds to set up as I can't kneel and I didn't want to get any ticks on me. I will be doing 3-5 pants, shirts, socks and underclothes through the week as the body and the dog allow. My spay bottle broke and I went to grab the backup bottle and the ex had filled it with ammonia so I had to stop at Tractor Supply after setting up the blinds and get two more, I will wind up bringing one bottle there with me and spraying the interior of the blinds before the season starts.
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Sir diealot I mix my own and the folks said to use distilled water. 18OZ of distilled to 1 oz. of Permithion 10.
krm 944 I make my own juice. When you say night and day difference could you define it a bit more. Did Sawyers work better or your homemade juice work better. Thx.
Quote from: Twowithone on April 23, 2023, 07:43:04 AM
Sir diealot I mix my own and the folks said to use distilled water. 18OZ of distilled to 1 oz. of Permithion 10.
Thank you very much.
Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 22, 2023, 05:58:21 PM
Quote from: GobbleGitr on April 22, 2023, 08:38:21 AM
I am a believer in getting the concentrate and doing the dip...last 6 weeks and 3 washings. After several years of dipping and zero ticks found on me, I am a strong advocate of permethrin dipping. I keep a spray bottle of it with me as well to spray around my ankles after putting boots on, and for hats, etc. Keep those disease carrying bloodsuckers at bay!
Not trying to be insulting in any way shape or form, but to me something would seem like a waste cuz it would be so much left over and a big bucket or whatever you soaked it and that would be wasted. I don't know maybe it's me cuz I'm messed up and gimpy but it wouldn't seem like it would be easy to funnel back into the container. I can't put things the way I used to though.
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Waste? There is no waste, you mix as much as you need...the clothes absorb it...a more thorough job than spray can do, and the little left in bucket is what I put in a spray bottle for boots/gloves. Cost effective as well, and funnels are cheap
Quote from: Twowithone on April 23, 2023, 07:47:20 AM
krm 944 I make my own juice. When you say night and day difference could you define it a bit more. Did Sawyers work better or your homemade juice work better. Thx.
The homemade mixture was better.
I think the homemade mixture goes further and is more potent.
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Quote from: GobbleGitr on April 23, 2023, 10:39:45 AM
Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 22, 2023, 05:58:21 PM
Quote from: GobbleGitr on April 22, 2023, 08:38:21 AM
I am a believer in getting the concentrate and doing the dip...last 6 weeks and 3 washings. After several years of dipping and zero ticks found on me, I am a strong advocate of permethrin dipping. I keep a spray bottle of it with me as well to spray around my ankles after putting boots on, and for hats, etc. Keep those disease carrying bloodsuckers at bay!
Not trying to be insulting in any way shape or form, but to me something would seem like a waste cuz it would be so much left over and a big bucket or whatever you soaked it and that would be wasted. I don't know maybe it's me cuz I'm messed up and gimpy but it wouldn't seem like it would be easy to funnel back into the container. I can't put things the way I used to though.
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Waste? There is no waste, you mix as much as you need...the clothes absorb it...a more thorough job than spray can do, and the little left in bucket is what I put in a spray bottle for boots/gloves. Cost effective as well, and funnels are cheap
Do you hang clothes over the bucket they were in to catch the drippings? I can't agree with a better job, I douse mine so the fabric is wet, not damp, inside and out. Again not Insulting, just seems more would be lost. By the way, the one place I could agree with you on is seam penetration.
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I have 2 methods-
Put item in a gallon zip lock bag. Pour in a heavy splash of the permethrin mix and squeeze.
The other is a squirt bottle from dollar store. I lay an item on the back deck and mist away.
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Exactly what I do put the clothes on the line and spray away my camo gets a good spraying.
I put them slightly staggered to the sides of each other one in front of the other so any mist that misses one will hit the other because there is a very strong chance I am a cheap son of a gun and don't want to waste any.
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My strategy for many years now: Tractor supply 10%, mix with 19 to 1 tap or bottled water for half percent spray, lay clothes on back patio close together and spray away, flipping once and getting them well damp all over. I have only been spraying my outer garments. I do try to keep my pants tied over my boot cuffs and shirt tucked in. Generally wear a non treated undershirt and commonly some light long underwear if it's cool out. I don't treat these under layers out of some concern of having increased permethrin contact on my skin, especially when sweating a good bit. Whether that is valid concern or not I can't say for sure. I don't often wash my outer camo garments unless they become heavily soiled during the season. Although permethrin effectiveness will persist over several washings it does diminish the effectiveness. For those close in mosquitoes, I keep a small bottle of 40% deet in my vest and will mist my ball cap and use my gloves to dab that on to my face/ neck/ facemask area as needed. Or a thermocell does work good too if the skeeters are savage. This has been very effective for me. Still using the same bottle I bought quite a few years ago.
JT
Pretty much if it is made of cloth and goes into the woods with me it gets sprayed....vest, boots, turkey chair, decoy bag, gun sling...everything but my underwear and socks. My pant legs are tied around my ankles over my boots. If I wear rubber boots, the top 3"-4" of the inside of the rubber boots get sprayed and my pants are tucked inside. Everything is sprayed until it is damp and I pay particular attention to the cuffs...ankles, wrists, waste and neck. I get 2-3 years worth of spraying from a quart of concentrate for mine and the wife's clothes/equipment. I don't waste it, but I also don't skimp on it. $30-$40 every 2-3 years is very inexpensive compared to the alternative of medical bills for treating the diseases these nasty things spread.