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Spring means gobbling turkeys, pleasant temps, and more daylight. It\u2019s also the start of a long offseason of whitetail scouting that spans the summer months and into fall openers. Unfortunately, it\u2019s also the time that insects, spiders, snakes, and a host of other critters resurface.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Depending on what part of the country you live in, these critters might not pose much of a threat to you. If you live in states that serve sweet tea or promote dry, arid temps, you probably think about them a lot. While the odds of getting bit by a snake remain low, and even lower for death-related bites, I\u2019m willing to bet most hunters would still rather exercise a bit of caution when it comes to creepy crawlies. Even if you aren\u2019t worried about snake bites, no one wants to give up red meat because they forgot their tick repellent.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
For many hunters out West or down South, there\u2019s a long list of critters that bite and sting. A lot of them can be venomous, poisonous, or carry diseases. Here are a few.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
You don\u2019t need to develop a phobia, or even expect to see these every time you hunt, but a little awareness and a few helpful pieces of gear can save you a headache\u2014or a trip to the ER.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I prefer to hunt in hiking boots, but the vast bottomland habitat and swamps of the South don\u2019t make that feasible. Nor do the cottonmouths, eastern diamondbacks, or copperheads that call it home. I\u2019m fascinated by snakes, and I love seeing them in the wild, but I\u2019m not interested in paying for antivenom. Snakes are mostly docile. You have to agitate them (or mistakenly sit on them) for them to strike at you. But if you\u2019re frequenting areas where they live, consider investing in a pair of snake boots.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Lacrosse Alpha Agility Snake Boots make a great option. They\u2019re uninsulated, and I don\u2019t mind covering several miles in a day during turkey season because they\u2019re relatively lightweight for rubber boots. The uppers are also plenty stiff enough even if a snake were to strike. So far, I\u2019ve logged dozens of miles in a single pair over the past four years, and they\u2019re still going strong.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
If you hunt in dry, arid parts of the country, a pair of gaiters can serve the same purpose as snake boots without the added weight or sweat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Along with transmitting diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and a host of others, ticks (lone star tick in particular) can even transmit alpha-gal syndrome, which causes an allergic reaction to red meat in those affected. Luckily, there are easy, cost-effective ways to combat these pesky parasites.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
You can treat your clothes with permethrin prior to a hunt or scouting trip to repel ticks and mosquitos. I\u2019ve used Sawyer permethrin in the past. You spray it on your clothes the night before, and it supposedly lasts six weeks before you need to reapply. My hunting clothes usually go through several washes within a few weeks, so I end up reapplying sooner anyway. For around $15, it\u2019s a budget-friendly way to make sure you don\u2019t leave the woods with any unwanted guests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
If you\u2019re in the market for new hunting clothes anyway, consider gear with built-in insect repellent. First Lite\u2019s Yuma synthetic hoody incorporates Burlington No Fly Zone to repel mosquitos and ticks. This means you\u2019re covered if you happen to forget your Thermacell or spray back at the truck.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Clothes with built-in insect repellent are typically rated for so many washes. This means after a certain amount of washes or time (whichever comes first) the repellent wears out. So, you will have to invest in spray or treat the clothing again at some point.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Whether you\u2019re visiting a buggy destination for hunting or scouting, here are a few things to keep in mind when the temps rise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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