Best mosquito repellant?

Took the family for our first camping trip of 2012 this week.
We had a blast other than the mosquito bites. We have always used the OFF and Deet type sprays.
Unless coated in it at all times, they still swarm. Anyone tried the thermocell type? I was told they don't work very well at high altitudes. We live at 7000 and camp higher than that. I can deal with them and don't mind being doused in spray, but my little guy sure got bit up this trip. We kept a good eye on him and sprayed often but still got bit. Thanks for any suggestions!

Bfunk, I remembered this thread from a while back and was able to find it for ya. They discuss the Thermocell. Someone in the thread called the thermocell 866 number with questions..might be a good idea for you to do with your question before purchase. Dennis is a firm believer of them. Seems like some good info for ya. Here is the thread.

http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/mosquitoes.69955/#post-881480

Thanks for the info!

Just don't get one of those electric bug zappers. They kill many beneficial predator bugs. Because they generally have a longer life span, it takes their populations longer to recover than the prey bugs like mosquitoes. Therefore, you end up with more pest bugs.

Makes sense.

12 gauge with bird shot, that's how we tackle the ones here... !!

Try repel, get the good stuff (there are 2 or 3 strengths) with all the warnings that it gives you cancers, makes you sterile, and you go blind. It works well, and I can still see.

Somehow i have a problem spraying toxic chemicals on myself or my kids. Cant be a good thing. perhaps theres a natural repellent.

True that. The insect is benign in comparison.

Probably true.

If you had to deal with the bugs we get here, I don't think you'd question it too much to be honest. It's either that or get aten alive.
I forget to bring a can while cutting wood today and my arms and neck are all swollen from all the bites. I swear I musta lost a quart of blood!

For most areas, we just spray down the kids clothes not their skin.
Gloves, head net & no exposed skin if you go in the woods in the evenings.
BUT
I hear some brave comments, don't want to come to alaska hunting & fishing or do many outdoor activities if bug dope scares you .
I'm just say'n. I've seen black bear with a gray face, bet he'd have liked some bug dope. I've seen dogs with their eyes swollen shut. I've worn netting & the buzz & gray cloud around your head drives you nuts. & they keep coming.
Some areas are worse than others. Stay in open areas, around pavement, dry areas or mowed areas.
But after the first few hundred bites, in a few weeks you don't even feel the bite or notice them until they get bad. I guess we build up an immunity to their bites.

I have a Mosquito Magnet for the yard. It keeps the population down. Clear the brush & weed whack allot around the yard helps, but in the woods is another story. A breeze helps too.
Most times when sunny, very few mosquitoes. Evenings, cloudy days or in the woods is a different story.

They'll start dying off in a month & not be as bad as now.
I usually get a few big coffee cans full out of the MM in June, it slow down the eggs being laid & the rest of the summer is tolerable.
Lots of snow last winter insulated their eggs so they are pretty bad right now.

Remember "Only the Females bite"

Im sure the locals had some home remedies before the chemical age.

Although malaria is rare around here, west nile virus has been found in birds, and in a few cases, old folks who succumbed. I like to use the "Off" brand that doesn't smell horrible and feels smooth to the skin. I think it is called Smooth & Dry, sometimes hard to find and more expensive. 'Skeeters seem to have an affinity for me, I once found about a dozen or so trying to bite through my jeans while I was picking strawberries.

Some say you can tuck a "bounce" under your hat & let it hang out the back to keep them away from you head area, never tired it.

I think they were saying Avon "Skin so Soft" worked good.

gary

Tried it. Don't work on our mosquitoes, they think it's an "appetizer"

Talk to the old timers, they know the secrets( like moose pee or some chit) ,thats all natural.

Yeah no joke, not to mention it's super greasy and stinks too.

Bees love it!!

Well, we went to ye old feed store south of us yesterday and I found some stuff with Pyrethrin in it.
I mixed up a gallon batch and put it in a spray bottle. Today is testing day.You apply it to your clothes and let it dry.
Supposed to kill ticks and also repel skeeters. We'll see.

Very appropriate thread . . . I was talking with my sister who was visiting from Wasilla and she said their lab went out at the start of the season and came back with his eyes all swollen shut. She ended up going to the vet for some special dog-mosquito repellant. She and her husband Jon are big fans of Thermocells . . . they looked into the Mosquito Magnet and similar devices, but after having bought a house this year they are still working on improving the house.

I'll be up your way in a few weeks BD . . . hopefully you can kill a few more skeeters before I arrive.

I use essential oils from Young Living. About 10 drops in a quart spray bottle of water, clove, lemon grass, peppermint, citronella, cedarwood, etc. Non Toxic. Dogs get sprayed as well. When using clove oil, just don't touch your eyes or lips. Remember anything you put on your skin get absorbed into your body, so I'm not a fan of harsh chemicals.

Has no one heard of "skin so soft" by Avon?
That stuff is the best as far as bug repellant is concerned IMHO
chuck