Had enough with deer fly games

[calvertbrothers]

I was checking trail cams this evening and had 2 deer flys hit me in the back of the head still! Normally late August they ran there course and I can get back to work in the woods and keep my insanity. I stayed away from dark clothing when they are out and still get nailed. Anyone have information on how to reduce the population or keep them away from you?

[Mead Maple]

Wow I'm very surprised to hear that! Ours are gone. Really not much in the way for flies at this point for us other than the occasional mosquito but we're just about into perfect outdoors living time.

One thing I found that works really well (although not super convenient to drag into the woods) are those yellow tennis racket battery powered fly zappers available from Harbor Freight. These things work extremely well and have a large surface area. Even my kids who are younger use them while we're camping in less than ideal outdoor conditions for the flies. Simply press the red "kill mode" button and swing over your head. Rarely does a deer fly escape. As soon as they hit the charged wire, they're dead. They seem rather ridiculous but it's amazing how well they work. If you're gonna spend some time in the woods and don't necessarily need both hands like working on lines, it wouldn't be bad at all to lug around.

[Zucker Lager]

Look into "Tread Not Deer Fly Patches" they really do work. But if you check online there are tons of ideas for using a product I buy from ACE "Tanglefoot"
https://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/pestalert/deerfly.htm
its a really super sticky paste. Some tape blue plastic drinking cups upside down to their hats coated with it. (yes it sounds silly but works) I have a blue flower pot attached to the roll cage of my gator coated with it and after driving through the woods it looks like it was dunked into a box of raisins. They like the color blue and seem to be attracted to the side view mirror area of the gator. It takes a little time but after a while the numbers of biting flies are more tolerable. I guess I "collect" most of them on my traps ha ha Jay

[wobbletop]

https://www.amazon.com/12-Deerfly-Pa.../dp/B0038RO1YI

The sticky patches for the back of your hat work very well.

[DrTimPerkins]

"Tanglefoot"

That brings back memories from field work during my Masters and Ph.D. research...not all of them particularly fond memories.

Tanglefoot sure is sticky stuff. Wear disposable gloves and even then just assume you're going to get some on you -- because you will. Works good to keep woodpeckers away too.

[calvertbrothers]

I’ll be stocking up on the hat sticky strips and driving around on the side x side with a blue bucket on it come next July. Thanks guys!

[Zucker Lager]

One more trap you can make your own and place in open sunny areas. Jay

https://www.amazon.com/Bite-Lite-Pro...a-568287578630

[Zucker Lager]

I mixed some tanglefoot with habanero pepper powder once put it on a bird feeder pole and the squirrels had a rough time cleaning (licking) off their feet..........didn't feel sorry for the little seed thieves. Jay

[calvertbrothers]

I mixed some tanglefoot with habanero pepper powder once put it on a bird feeder pole and the squirrels had a rough time cleaning (licking) off their feet..........didn't feel sorry for the little seed thieves. Jay

That is hilarious!🤣

[DrTimPerkins]

I mixed some tanglefoot with habanero pepper powder once put it on a bird feeder pole and the squirrels had a rough time cleaning (licking) off their feet..........didn't feel sorry for the little seed thieves. Jay

Ingenious!