As a lot of you have probably noticed, the bees are awful in Idaho this year. Does anyone have a trick for keeping them away when you're field dressing your animals? I usually practice the zen method, and just try to ignore them, but there are a real pile of them this year.
Yellow Jackets
- Thread starter n_idaho
- Start date
I'm allergic to them so I've been wondering this too. All I've been able to find is chili powder. Around eyes, nose, mouth, butt then after you start quartering put it on the meat. I hope I get to try it this year. This is the only thing I've seen so far that people swear but. good luck
Backpack Hunter
New member
- Jan 2, 2013
- 364
Citric acid works well.
Matt Brimmer
Member
- Dec 28, 2012
- 52
One thing I have done for a few years when the Bees and Yellow Jackets are bad is to Use one of those bee pheromone packs (used in the yellow cylindrical bee catchers). I dump the entire pack about 20-30 feet away on a tree limb. Does not keep all of them away but it does occupy a significant amount that would otherwise be pestering me.
I also keep my Epi Pen in my pack at all times.
I also keep my Epi Pen in my pack at all times.
Whiskeycreek
New member
- Aug 12, 2013
- 8
They have really been swarming the water holes , getting in the truck and even swarming to vegetation that I have walked on or driven on . First light to last .....Not sure what to do but I do know it is a problem . We need a freeze or two !
Bullhunter
New member
- Jan 2, 2013
- 903
I too am having the same problem here in idaho. Seems like even the damp ground is attracting them by the hundreds. I have ran into a lot of yellow jacket nests in old logs and i have even come across three hornet nests. So im praying that when i do kill an elk he doesnt land on or near any nests.
I have heard of a few of these ideas but have never tried them. Another that I have heard of is to spray the meat down with PAM cooking spray. I guess they don't like the oil. That idea sounds like the easiest to do as you could carry a can or two around with your game bags. I am going to try this on some meat in my backyard and see if it works. I will report back either way.
The oil works. I put two pieces of lunch meat in my back yard. One was sprayed with an aerosol cooking oil. The oiled one is still there and the other has been almost completely eaten. They sat out for about 3 hours. The bees would hover over the oily one and I saw a couple trying to land on it but they wouldn't touch it. They are still attracted to it though.
I didn't try using any of the other methods like pepper because I think it would be a lot more expensive and harder to apply.
I didn't try using any of the other methods like pepper because I think it would be a lot more expensive and harder to apply.
