Deer flies and horse flies

blackpaws · Post by **blackpaws** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:09 pm

Does anyone know of a magic remedy for controlling deer flies? where we are, you can hunt till about 9:00 in the morning and then it is impossible to even step in the woods without being killed by deerflys. they swarm like killer bees. you can make one swipe in the air around your head and catch a whole handfull. any info or secrets would be greatly appreciated.

pete richardson · Post by **pete richardson** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:27 pm

i hear ya--- i try to get out before the deer flys get violent-

moveing thru thick brush will keep them from killing ya-

avoid all clearings -

always bring somebody with you that has lighter skin or is younger

if u break a leg or something -build a fire -- and stand in it --

if no matches .. maybe you could hang yourself with a dog leash

- - be lot better than being killed by deer flies :oops:

i just take cover when they are at their worse- --if i get caught, i fight em off with limb --

ive killed a lot of them and they havent killed me yet but its been close -

i have a few deer fly stories that are stranger than fiction

one time in the early morning , i saw about million deer flies setting on a dirt road---

its was still pretty cool out --

my buddy asked me what they was doing-

i said warming up and organizing - lets get out of here - :shock:

another time-- dogs had been walking a bear around for hours-- and we just walked along hoping they would bay solid or tree

i told my buddy , we have made a huge circle--- we already been here once--

he says you sure ? -- -- YUP

no joke ,

,you could see the deer flies on the ground that we had killed earlier -- :!:

i mean there was a LOT of them -

lot of days- i have to use the beeper just cause cant hear a thing over them buzzin-

you must have the black varity of deer flies -

- i swear , 10 years ago all i saw was yellow deer flies-

they were bad enuff
but these black ones we have now are ten times worse -
:twisted:

Jason Waterhouse · Post by **Jason Waterhouse** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:40 pm

Rick Anderson · Post by **Rick Anderson** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:06 am

Joe, what are deer flies??

Mt Goat · Post by **Mt Goat** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:00 am

For Flys here at my kennel we use an equal part mixture of Dawn Dish Soap and Apple Cider Vinegar and Water and put it in a spray bottle. Normally a cup of each. It will keep the flys off the horses and dogs for a couple days. They smell like vinegar but its better than seeing them fly bite. We used to use Horse fly spray but at $15 to $20 a bottle it can get expensive. With this mixture its costs about $2-$3 to fill a spray bottle. It does work too. I've used it around the outside of the house too and they fly off and go somewhere else. When I'm spraying the dogs it gets on my hands and I rub it on my arms and shirt or shorts and the flys stay away from me too.

blackpaws · Post by **blackpaws** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:34 am

haha rick, they are the worst i have seen. when i am talking deer flies i am talking hundreds flying around your head at once. if i could find something to cut that number in half i would. i have also heard that if you take listerine mouth wash and spray it on you that they will leave you alone. i will try all of these though.

pete richardson · Post by **pete richardson** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:11 am

Dawn Dish Soap and Apple Cider Vinegar and Water and put it in a spray bottle.

i tried this yesterday ------

, caught in thunderstorm and was already cool to start with -

wasnt any deer flies ---didnt see one--- worked 100%

went fishing last nite --it was raining lightly--- skeeters didnt seem to mind the rain

it seemed to help alot with mosquitos -----will try it again

deet makes me sick and doesnt work that great anyway

Mt Goat · Post by **Mt Goat** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:54 am

We've never used it for anything but flys, but hey if it works on mosquitos too great.

Just remember if your using it in the rain. That the mixture is 1/3 part deluted dish soap. My wife tolded me yesterday that she was spraying down our porch, and around the outside of the house, windows doors, chairs and table, potted plants etc... and she got to laughing because everything stated foaming up. At first she couldnt figure out what the heck going on, because everything was foaming up, then she remembered I went crazy with the spray bottle.

pete richardson · Post by **pete richardson** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:55 pm

ok i tested this out further today- the dawn and cidar vinegar- deer flies were bad by 730 --

i pored this stuff all over dogs and rubbed it in-- poured it on me- got bit a dozen times while doing it---have to breath very careful to avoid inhaling them

---- it dont work on these killer deer flys -
worked other day for skeeters =

i had a cloud of deer flies following truck when rigging-- - every rough spot in road i couldnt out run them - dogs were covered with them-

they look like they been shot with birdshot -

i werent hunting today ,,i was just roading my deer flies -

will try listerine next time