The heat this month is so miserable that you don’t want to leave the house for the store, never mind play soccer with your very eager 7-year-old son. And yet, when it comes time for bow season, we are compelled to get on our camos and hit the woods – even if it is sweltering outside.
 

Early season bowhunting issues are numerous, but I can think of three (3) major ones that have haunted me since the very early 1970s – staying hydrated, cooling off in the heat, and fighting insects. I believe all three (3) areas are a lot easier today to deal with than they were 35 to 40 years ago.

The heat issue is the most important and needs to be addressed first. With the heat being as it is, you will loose extremely large amount of bodily fluids through sweat. Stay well hydrated because failing to replace the fluids can lead to heat stroke/exhaustion.

Hydration: I always have plenty of coolers filled with ice, water, and Gatorade. I have purchased a Cabelas backpack that holds a hydration reservoir. I also purchased and numbered three (3) hydration reservoirs. I mix each reservoir with a mixture of 50% water and 50% Gatorade. I constantly fill the reservoirs, place them back into a well-iced cooler, and rotate them by number throughout the hunt so as to start each outing with the coldest mixture before entering the field. I am the type who likes to get in the stand before sunrise and stay until after sunset, so I need plenty of water.

Odor and Chaffing: Cornstarch and baking soda help control odor. I also use cornstarch in my socks and boots. I prefer cornstarch because it helps with both odor and chaffing. Chaffing in this heat can ruin a hunt. There are also scent controlling sprays, deodorants, soaps, and laundry detergent you can use. I wash my hunting clothes in a scent controlling detergent and pack each set of clothes separately in a two (2) gallon bag. This way, I can grab a bag and pull out a fresh set of clothes for each morning, day or evening hunt. (You think my wife has clothes? Her closet is nothing compared to my hunting wardrobe.) If necessary, I will also use a scent-controlling spray and deodorant. Purchase fresh, don’t buy the Wal-Mart clearance leftovers from the previous year. Also, don’t forget to apply on your hat and gloves.

Glasses: I try not to wear a pair if I can get away with it. If you must wear glasses, then try the no-fog spray, or use a black, green or brown cloth to clean your glasses. I prefer black. You will also find that certain types of face masks allow for greater ventilation, which can reduce glass fogging. While I have not used the no-fog glass spray, I do have a number of face masks that I know work best in different situations, and, like I said, I also use a piece of black cloth from one of my old T-shirts. I have a cousin who resorts to all three (3) options because he is full of hot air. Seriously.

Staying Cool: If you don’t have the ultimate recreational vehicle and you don’t mind listening to the sound of a lawn mower generator running at high speed, then try using a generator with an air conditioner and/or fans for your hunting camper. If you are in an area that does not allow generators or you can’t afford one, then try a battery-operated fan. You don’t have to hunt all day. Try a few hours in the morning and then a few hours in the evening. Or try a shower or bath with that cold water from the coolers.

I think the main insects we bowhunters have to deal with are mosquitoes, horse and deer flies, chiggers (I hate chiggers the worst), and ticks.

Mosquitoes, horse and deer flies: I immediately go to my Bug Tamer suit (pants and jacket) combined with my ThermaCell. I turn on the ThermaCell approximately 15 minutes before I arrive at my stand so as to allow the unit some time to begin working. I also closely check my ThermaCell to ensure it has a reasonable mosquito repellent mat and butane cartridge before each morning/evening hunt. If either the mat or cartridge is even close to expiring, I will change it out immediately. Under my Bug Tamer suit, I wear a short-sleeved Cabelas’ Pocket Camo T-Shirt with a pair of long very light camo pants. The pants can be camo or jeans. If you are looking to save money, then you can go with jeans as long as you have your Bug Tamer pants over the jeans. It is a little warmer, though. I tried shorts when I was 13 and was laughed out of the J.W. Corbett area. I use the above double-edged method because the bug suit is somewhat cool, and I don’t like mosquitoes on me. I absolutely despise them buzzing around my ears -- I want to be able to hear. I use an off-brand set of gloves and face mask because I could never get the Bug Tamer gloves or face mask to work the way I like. So, I suggest you try a number of styles in these two (2) categories.

Chiggers and Ticks: The best recommendation I can provide for chiggers and ticks is to tuck in your shirt and socks tightly and place rubber bands around your wrists at the point of where your shirt/Bug Tamer begins. The same can be done at the point of where your pants meet your socks. These methods are not 100%, but they will help to cut down drastically on you having to deal with these pests. Also, don’t sit on the ground. Carry a small fold-up stool to sit on if you don’t have a designated stand or hunting area. Sitting directly on the ground is one of the fastest and easiest ways to allow entry of these nuisance pests.

If I do end up with chiggers, I will take some of my wife’s clear fingernail polish and paint over the entry hole. I leave the polish on for approximately 24 hours. This method is a sure way to smother and eliminate the chigger. With ticks, I use a tick puller purchased from a local veterinarian. Be sure to get the head of the tick out of your body. After extracting a tick I use pharmaceutical alcohol and hydrogen peroxide for approximately 48 hours and watch the bite carefully for approximately 72 hours.

In conclusion, stay well hydrated, stay cool, have a good time, take your time, enjoy, and white tails.

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