The first time you hunt from a deer stand could be one of the most dangerous. This is especially true in early season.
As many hunters have experienced, wasps, hornets and wild bees find box blinds and shooting houses to be perfect places to build their nests over the summer months.
Getting stung while climbing a ladder is a scary scenario. Some people would rather jump out of their stand than endure a wasp attack! And you sure don’t want to place children in that kind of situation.
Spiders are another dangerous insect you’ve probably encountered inside your stand or blind. Black widows and brown recluses love to hide in the drapes, seats or anything made of canvas or cloth.
Before you open that door or flap and climb inside for the first time, you’d better be prepared to inspect it closely first — or better yet, just go ahead and bug bomb your blind.
When you inspect, move slowly, using a flashlight to carefully look for nests in the corners, ceilings and under the stool or chair seats.
Because we’ve had too many encounters with spiders and stinging insects, and because it takes away the potential of unwanted pests inside, I always set off bug bombs or insect foggers inside the stands before the season.
I usually set off the bombs and wait a day or two before returning to inspect the stands more closely. Then we can proceed with cleanup, making stand repairs and sweeping out dead insects, worry-free.
It’s best to do this in late summer, well before hunting season, and after the time of year wasps make their nests. Insects will avoid the stand for several weeks following a treatment.
Bug bombs and foggers are available at Walmart and at most hardware stores. They usually cost about $5 apiece, and are well worth avoiding the risk of getting stung, bitten, or making a dangerous retreat down a ladder.
– Editor’s Note by Tim H. Martin
One of my hunting buddies had a close call when entering his box blind on opening day of rifle season.
He had not inspected the stand prior to the season, so when my friend opened the door, he was greeted by a fully operational hornet’s nest.
They had woven their hive into the window drapes, and several of them were clinging to the outside of the nest, staring him directly in the eye.
Luckily for my friend, it was a cold day and the normally hostile bald-faced hornets were not aggressive. He was able to back away slowly and ease down the ladder. Had it been much warmer, the outcome might have turned out differently.
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