Thermacell in Bow Blind

What are your experiences with using one while hunting. I have never had the time to try one in close proximity to deer
Its not uncommon to have 20+ deer surround the blind all within 15-20yrds.

I usually use one. Last season I killed my biggest buck while using one. Was 30 yards away. This year I keep getting busted while sitting quietly in the ground blind. Everyone loves them, me included but I am not 100% sold that deer cannot smell them. I can smell it if I get pretry close. However, I still use it if mosquitos are around because I'd rather maybe get busted than have a thousand buzzing and biting mosquitos in my blind with me.

I'm curious, other than experience in the field, does anyone know of studies or a scientific explanation that shows that deer cannot smell a Thermacell?

Look at it this way, if the deer can smell the thermacell, they can smell YOU!!! And this my friend, is what will get you busted EVERY TIME!!!

Exactly!!!

They now have earth scented thermacell refills....not going to say I bought some but not going to say I didn't...

I hope to give an in depth testing report this weekend, but only the skeeters are flying hard. Will have bug head covers on so if they are being stayed by those I may not need to turn on the thermacell.

This I've learned here. Hunt the wind and it won't be an issue

Sort of. Steady winds in a single direction then yes, but slack winds or swirling winds I want to put out as little scent as possible. Why shower before a hunt, wear clean clothes, spray down boots, etc if a Thermacell will fill the air with a foreign smell? I agree, being upwind of a deer is to be avoided. Absolutely. The question is though, in marginal hunts when the wind is not favorable or predictable, is the Thermacell putting more scent out than I am?

Had deer come from down wind using the earth scent. Not one problem.

Deer absolutely can smell it, and you and your blind and everything else in his range. If you are in bow range of a whitetail and the wind swirls or is wrong you're busted period, use the thermacell and hope the wind stays true.

If they smell it they must not mind. Had deer walk all the way around the ground blind.
They would look around and head for the food.

Time for test!!!
I am going to put out a thermacell where I know deer will be. Put a camera up and just see what happens. They say a unit with a full bottle of butane will last for 12 hrs. Lets see what happens!!!

I would say no. You probably stink just as bad and they are more scared of you than a skeeter deflector...but I have no test results to prove it...

On marginal hunts I back out and just watch

Good idea. However, although the butane cartridge lasts that long, the blue pad runs out during a long hunt for me. Maybe place it near a feeder when walking in for an evening hog hunt and see if deer show up

I Just shot an 8 point last week at 35 yards down wind from me another buck past that scent on the wind with earth thermacel and it didn't bother them or a bunch of other deer I've had in range this season. I think it smells better than me to them. Once u use it a couple times in a popup blind the inside smells like it all the time. I've had deer 15 yards down wind recently swirling winds are constant here so unless I have a big north wind it's swirling. I'm a believer and mosquito free. The butane last 12 hours the pads last 3 hours max. But worth every penny. IMO.

What I will do, is put out some hand corn to get the deer at one spot. Once I get them coming on a regular basis, set the termacell out. The time stamp on camera will let me know if deer come in before or after the scent pad wears out. But I won't be able to get this done for another 3 weeks or so.

I have a lease 1 mile off the Red River in Fanin county in a marsh area, the mosquitoes are sooo big i thoughtabout entering one into the Guiness Book of Records! Sat in a tree Sat night with a Thermacell ( first time) and they wouldnt come near me. I am not sure i will ever hunt again without one!
Its either Get Busted or die from small hummingbirds with Stingers!!

^^^^ x2. I'd rather sit still comfortable then swatting and get carried away. Lol

I don't think it bothers them much, or at all. I had a Thermacell clipped to my belt Saturday night and got a shot at a doe that was down-wind of me. She was not bothered by the Thermacell at all.