How to Prevent, Treat Pesky Pest Bites

It's been written that at any given moment, a billion bugs are besieging the earth. Unfortunately for hunters and anglers, many of these creepy crawlies love feeding on humans. Bugs bite, burrow, buzz and bother. We swat, scratch, scream and scram. 

In years past, folks smeared on bear grease or doused their clothes with kerosene or just didn't bathe for weeks, all to elude outdoor pests. Today, we can use more pleasant ways to avoid the misery spread by outdoor pestdom.

MOSQUITOES // TICKS // BITING FLIES // CHIGGERS // STINGING INSECTS // BAD SPIDERS

The American Mosquito Control Association offers these suggestions to follow when using insect repellents:

• Apply repellent sparingly only to exposed skin or clothing.
• Keep repellents away from eyes, nostrils and lips; do not inhale or ingest repellents or get them into the eyes.
• Avoid applying high-concentration (>30% DEET) products to the skin, particularly of children.
• Avoid applying repellents to portions of children’s hands that are likely to have contact with eyes or mouth.
• Pregnant and nursing women should minimize use of repellents.
• Never use repellents on wounds or irritated skin.
• Use repellent sparingly; one application will last approximately 4-6 hours. Saturation does not increase efficacy.
• Wash repellent-treated skin after coming indoors.
• If a suspected reaction to insect repellents occurs, wash treated skin, and call a physician. Take the repellent container to the physician.