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Hey guys,
I just watched the latest video from the South Island Rifle Walkers and got inspired to consider fly camping. However. I love my tent seeing I don't get completely thrashed by sandflies. Is the solution to not getting eaten just bug spray or location, time of year, ect...?
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Sandflies aren't a problem . They take day shift. Mozzies take night shift.....
I find if you are tops hunting they aren’t too bad. Down in the valleys is where they are a problem. Pretty sure part of their life cycle needs running water.
Bro im in karamea, the sandflies will either eat you in 60mins or on a bad day carry you away...
Detol mixed with baby oil or a spray called bushmans friend really is your friend.
They wont bite you while your wet but if you wear dark colours they will swarm to you.
When i first got here (approx 3 yrs ago) a local took off his black shirt up the Umere by the river threw it on the ground and the sandflies swarmed on it but not him.
Westcoast isnt the spot for a hammock or not this time of year
Stay away from rivers, streams you should be ok.
True story... camped a night up the Heaphy 30m from river, sandflies found a way into a big tent we had set up, spent the night in full gear, fingerless gloves and camo face masks trying to hide from sandflies and mozzies..
This year has been bad for sandflies, they dont like the wind
HaHa been there up mohikanui in 86 no tent but I had balaclava gloves etc and sleeping bag mate had no balaclava so pulled a norseswear sock over his head it was a hot sweaty night middle of feb big mozzies up behind seddonville . WE buried him in 2018 with a pair of socks in case he went back there .Quote:
Originally Posted by Vault
Mate Karamea does seem like paradise except for the bugs. Thanks for confirming that. Probably keeps the riff raff away, eh? So if you can't where dark colours do you go light camo?Quote:
Originally Posted by Vault
I'll have a look at the bushmans friend. Some of those bug sprays are pretty nasty. Also can the deer smell the bug repellant?
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bushmans friend has deet in it...it eats plastic,delaminates sunglasses frames etc..but keeps bugs away.
a can of fly spray fixes the inside tent issue..sure you have to carry it..but you sleep unmolested.
I normally do not sleep with hood of sleeping bag done up..but when sandflies are about its done up tighter than a nuns nasty,,,havent noticed any come in the small opening..might be the farts and bad breath going out keeps them at bay.
my bivy bag closes completely leaving mesh panel for ventilation....
I just wear my usual camo, hunters element, i dont use any sprays either i dont trust any of that stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rn-85
If near a river or stream i splash water on my face often if biters are out in force. Often a light desert tan coloured shirt seems to make you mostly invisible but i worry about looking like a deer so back to camo jacket only cause its got all my pockets that i need.
If away from main water sources things arent to bad especially if elevated, other than that keep moving.
Sometimes they just annoying but tolerable others you start thinking of any possible way to repel them..
End of the day keep the wind in your face best you can and scent shouldnt be a worry.
Pretty much always have a beanie, fingerless gloves with you.
Ive met a few locals who dont seem to notice the biters at all but they're typical coasters, hairy buggars with beards and leather skin.
I guess its just part of the adventure but as micky duck said flyspray in ya tent would be magic
As a few here have seen i usually just gather some brush as a matteress and sleep on that, no sleeping bag.( blue mountains)Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
If cold, sleep early then exercise or walk in cold early morning hours.
My first night out up the Heaphy turned out to be the coldest night in years but minimal biters, next night i thought yep i'll take a spot in the tent on a lilo but biters also thought it be warmer in there, every buggar was farting & spraying bug repellant and you just couldnt breathe, 5mins later next wave of biters appear.
Im thinking i need a mesh face mask.for sleeping
Its the special herbs and spices that keep them away up karamea way for the locals . The bugs are even worse down bruce bay or lake paringa > If using det products just apply to your hat brim, shirt collar and sleave cuffs , alot safer to use .Quote:
Originally Posted by Vault
First up.. Sorry for the loss of your friend..Quote:
Originally Posted by m101a1
Good to have amusing memories like that though.
My mates been offering to fly me up the mokihinui on the river flats there near the hut for chance of a deer as its bit remote but deer still in the area and first thing i though of was biters but hopefully i be on the same side of the river as the hut..
Im not a fan of those mozzies either.
Everyone talks of how beautiful west coast is, scenic,amazing bush, rivers, hunting, fishing...
No one mentions the 100 million.vampires per square kilometer lol
Have a look up the blue duck just south of te namu cross creek to left about 1 km in follow old road parallel to little wanganui some open bush in there used tobe a lot of pigs and a few deer traps easy to cross over to little wanga by compass past scobies clearing which now would be 100 ft high bush good luckQuote:
Originally Posted by Vault
Always carry a metre Sq piece of old curtain net, she's always replacing, them put over face for sleeping.
I know the spot, up near the pistol club.Quote:
Originally Posted by m101a1
I was looking for a land owner russel anderson to ask for permission to have a look right out the back, went straight whe i should have turned, anyway after two crazy creek crossings i found a remote fenced area with huge elk in itAttachment 235141
If you don't trust DEET etc then you can make a homebrew of dettol Savlon and oil (whatever type of oil suits your skin)
The antiseptic repels them and the oil stops it from drying out
I have tried it and found that commercial insect repellent is easier but it does work
If you are able to light a fire, throw a handful of kawakawa leaves on it..they hate the smoke from that.
If the deer smell the bug repellent then you're hunting in the wrong direction. Get the wind right is the first rule of successful hunting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rn-85
DEET works
Aerogaurd spray 40% , spray over a lighter flame at camp , seems to keep em away from general area , in oz we can buy a 80% DEET rub on , u can see the trees bending away
Vault is on to it
Dettol on bites followed by baby oil
Is the bushy trick
Vitamin B , need to start it 5 or 6 days before a trip, also makes em steer clear
Loratidine 180mg sold as loraclear in pharmacy reduces them biting and stop itching
Hemorrhoid cream , contains local anesthetic and kortisone takes itch away , reduces swelling
There's a rumor that A+ BLOODGROUPS ATTRACT bites more than others
Check your buddies bloodgroup
Seen punters in the daintree with all the " enviromental" deet free sprays change their minds in 30 mins. Also seen them scratch , then bites gets infected , walk around looking like leprosy victims
Horrible lil fkrs at least no malaria or dengue Ross River fever here or ticks
Miss the snakes and crocs though
Bushmans friend lives in my bumbag
I did a wapiti block with a huntec bivvy tent for 10 days. that was interesting sandfly wise. They bugger off on dark so not that bad.
have you galahs never heard of the westcoast cure .
sit
right in one hand take a very bloody large bottle of whiskey
the other a handful of sand and keep a heap close by
good
now pour the bloody whiskey all over yourself rub sand into the tender areas and roll round in the rest!
wee fuckers zoom in for a feed get horribly pissed and chuck rocks at each other -whose hangin round .
some parts of the coast theyre that large and numerous a shotgun is required to fend the bastards off - no 8 shot does it nicely -be a little careful though letting a cha srge go round ya wifes best friend or your arse cheeks!
Attachment 235197
Alongside buller river
That's the small one that got me Monday
Walked big sections of buller monday tuesday nothing g to show, was still fairly high though
I really like Tui brand "Bug Balm". Smells good, keeps the sandflies off, no DEET.
its not fly spray man its beer sandflies take one good sniff theyre off their swedes for 24hrs!!!
pissed as a parrot =shitfaced as a sandfly!!!
