Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

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DEERSLAYER
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Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby DEERSLAYER » Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:33 pm

A few weeks ago we had some nice cool mornings and I wanted to go in the marsh to cut some shooting lanes through the cattails and prep a spot along the way, but decided to skip it due to West Nile, even though I have severely hurt my chances of getting a good Michigan buck this year in the process.

I have found out since then that Michigan is in the top three for cases of West Nile and there have two dozen of cases in the county just down the road not far from here.

So, has West Nile affected your scouting?


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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby Dewey » Fri Sep 07, 2012 8:20 pm

Chances of getting West Nile are very low and even if you get infected by a mosquito that carries the virus that doesn't mean you will become sick. While some with weakened immune system may be severely affected most will not have many problems and may only get sick for a day or two while some will not even get sick at all. I read that most people infected won't even know they have it.

I do feel that those of us that hunt in larger marshes have a much higher chance of getting the virus due to the large amount of migratory birds passing through or currently living within them since those birds may carry the virus and mosquitoes bite them and pass it on to us. The mosquitoes known for carrying the virus do very well hatching in stagnant water and there is no better place for this than a marsh.

A few years back I believe I had West Nile but never went to the doctor. I spent a day in the marsh and had my body litteraly covered in mosquito bites. A few days later I was running a high fever, chills, severe body and headaches. After a day or so I felt completely fine again.

One thing I refuse to do is limit my time outdoors hunting or scouting because I am worried. I think driving to my hunting spots is much more dangerous.

If anybody is concerned it is important to know the symptoms. It doesn't hurt to play it safe and use precautions. I do use a Thermacell and if the skeeters are really bad I spray down as well.

Here is more info if anybody is interested.......
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/west-n ... us/DS00438
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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby BigHunt » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:19 pm

Nope

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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby Swampthing » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:32 pm

Haven't really considered it.

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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby whitetail007 » Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:38 pm

like Dewey said driving to your hunting spot is more likely going to kill you than anything in the woods and marshes. its not that i am not concerned about west nile, im just not letting a slight risk hold me back. so NO west nile will not stop me from scouting.
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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby JJWI » Fri Sep 07, 2012 11:39 pm

Nope, in fact the mosquitoes are not that bad this year
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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby PLB » Sat Sep 08, 2012 12:35 am

No

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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby NatureBoy » Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:51 am

Nope.
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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby headgear » Sat Sep 08, 2012 5:26 am

Nope
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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby rochester coops » Sat Sep 08, 2012 10:08 am

It's something to consider. Dewey, were you using your thermocell when you got all those bites? How has it worked for you? I've got one, haven't used it yet as I wasn't sure whether breathing all the toxic fumes was any better than getting bites :shifty:
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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby Brad » Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:40 am

rochester coops wrote:It's something to consider. Dewey, were you using your thermocell when you got all those bites? How has it worked for you? I've got one, haven't used it yet as I wasn't sure whether breathing all the toxic fumes was any better than getting bites :shifty:



Toxic fumes, I thought they were all organic things in the thermacell from some plant???
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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby Dewey » Sat Sep 08, 2012 12:52 pm

rochester coops wrote:It's something to consider. Dewey, were you using your thermocell when you got all those bites?

I wasn't using anything at the time!

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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby Zap » Sun Sep 09, 2012 12:46 am

:think:
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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby rochester coops » Sun Sep 09, 2012 3:49 am

Brad Lamont wrote:
rochester coops wrote:It's something to consider. Dewey, were you using your thermocell when you got all those bites? How has it worked for you? I've got one, haven't used it yet as I wasn't sure whether breathing all the toxic fumes was any better than getting bites :shifty:



Toxic fumes, I thought they were all organic things in the thermacell from some plant???


From Theracell's site, and I think what I read on the back of the box:


PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
Hazards to Humans and Domestic Animals
CAUTION: Harmful if inhaled. Do not breathe vapors.
Remove and wash contaminated clothing before reuse.
First Aid
If Inhaled: Move person to fresh air. If person is not
breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial
respiration, preferably by mouth-to-mouth, if possible. Call a
poison control center or doctor for further treatment advice.
Have the product container or label with you when calling
a poison control center or doctor, or going for treatment.
Physical and Chemical Hazards
Extremely flammable. Contents under pressure. Keep away
from fire, sparks and heated surfaces. Do not puncture or
incinerate butane container. Exposure to temperatures
above 130ºF may cause bursting.
Environmental Hazards
This product is toxic to fish, shrimp and aquatic
invertebrates. Do not apply directly to water. Do not
contaminate water when cleaning equipment or disposing
of equipment washwater or rinsate. Drift may be
hazardous to aquatic organisms in water adjacent to
treated areas.
Warranty and Disclaimers
Seller will not be held responsible for damage, injury or
poor performance caused by use of other butane
cartridges or repellent mats. Seller is not responsible for
damage caused by using this butane cartridge in other
butane products.
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Re: Has West Nile stopped you from scouting?

Unread postby tim » Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:54 am

i havent put much thought into it until one of the landowners mentioned it last week, if i got it id probably be in trouble i have very low immunity for whatever reason and run a very low white blood cell count. i get sick easy and stay sick.... was sick a couple years agon almost entire vacation for hunting. i currently get blood checks periodically throughout the year from my rumatologist cause i got arthritis bad in neck/back and run low platelets also :roll: i know im basically a mess..... im not going to stress out about it though, just hope i dont get it , thats all i wouldneed......havent seen hardly any mosquitos all summer but now its been raining around here maybe they will start showing up


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