Anybody ever use fly dope to keep away the flying critters while backpacking? I first got introduced to this stuff as a young shaver in the National Park Service 40 years ago by an old Ranger. He would put on some of that pungent stuff and work in the humid, buggy Virginia woods all day long and not be bothered by deerflies, gnats, bees...anything. It was originally made up to combat black flies. I worked on a grounds crew here in MA and I got concerned about using DEET and its effects not only on people but on plastic. So I bought a bottle on-line of "Ole Time Woodsman's Fly Dope" and sure enough, there was that familiar "scent". I would spray it on my booney hat and never had a problem after that with the bugs. However, as good as it worked for me, it also repels people. You can't put this stuff on and, say, walk into a restaurant and sit down. But for use out on the trail it seems to do the trick for me. One work of caution, however: make sure you seal the bottle with the metal screw cap and don't leave the pump sprayer on it. It will seep out. Around the house I keep it sealed up in a wide-mouthed jar. On the trail I used a zip-lock bag and then put that in a little snap-lock plastic container. You don't put this stuff on your skin. Just your clothes. And very sparingly.

does it keep skeeters off too?

Ticks?

Website Link

http://www.predatorpee.com/old_woodsman.html

for the drinkers out htere: drink gin once a day everyday keeps the sqeeters away

for the drinkers out htere: drink gin once a day everyday keeps the sqeeters away
Inebriate tha suckers :D

Got some in Maine. It stunk and did'nt work half as good as Deet.

When I'm not going to be around people a lot, I use the fly dope. All other times I do use some deet based repellant, mainly Ultrathon, reluctantly. I don't like to use Deet all the time, because of possible long-term effects of absorption thru your skin. The second reason is DEET and plastic don't seem to mix. DEET and steering wheels don't mix. If you can clean your hands or wipe them off real good after you apply it, you should be ok. If not, be careful.

As for fly dope's distinctive aroma, I kinda like it. But a little goes a long way! The first time I put it on my clothes, I put too much on...Whew! Dangerous like a high school kid with a bottle of cologne.

I've been using Sawyer's Broad Spectrum which has DEET, MGK 264(fly repellent), and MGK 326(acts to increase efficacy of the two repellents) as a mosquito, tick, and blackfly repellent. Works very well especially in combination with permethrin clothing treatment. The downside is it's just more chemicals added to our environment and bodies.

Ole Time Woodsman is just as nasty as DEET, but it sure brings back memories!

for the drinkers out htere: drink gin once a day everyday keeps the sqeeters away

Sorry Gaiter - that would not be true..........

After reading the WB thread about whether or not to keep clean on the trail, I believe fly dope offers the perfect solution for those who would rather remain unwashed: before strolling into town give your clothes a good squirt of the 'ole dope. Now you won't stink, you'll just smell.... like a can of kerosene. Problem solved.