Many hunters have already entered the woods with the opening of deer archery season which began on Sept. 13. The warm weather almost assures you of having to deal with a number of critters that can do harm to you when entering the woods.

Bugs, snakes, and poisonous plants are things despised by the average hunter. Just the thought of a snake can cause shivers to go any hunter’s spine but snakes are not often encountered. When encountered, they are not normally aggressive and a hunter can protect himself from poisonous snakes by purchasing a relatively inexpensive set of snake chaps or by relying on good eyesight.

Snakes for the most part are gone underground by the first freeze so the early part of the hunting season is the important time to be watchful. The three varieties of snakes most likely encountered in our area are the timber rattler, copperhead, and the cottonmouth. All three are very poisonous but rarely will their bite result in death but they can inflict serious damage. The best treatment for snakebite is to go immediately to the closest medical facility.

Hunters are normally less concerned about snakes than they are of other types of critters namely insects like redbugs or chiggers, ticks, gnats, and mosquitoes. If you plan to hunt before the first hard freeze and most hunters will do so, you will likely encounter all of these bugs.

In terms of serious threats to your health, only two bugs or insects pose any real danger and they are the mosquito and the tick. The Asian tiger mosquito is larger than the average mosquito, have stripped bodies and they have one habit that spells problems for hunters. Whereas the regular mosquito is most active during darkness or early and late in the day, the Asian tiger mosquito prefers the daylight hours to roam, bite, and feed.

They pack a big bite and seem to be more determined than the average mosquito to find you and inflict a bite. They do not scare easy and you will have to kill them to get relief from their determined pursuit. The Asian tiger mosquito is now in every county in Georgia and their numbers are increasing. Based on my own recent experience they are also getting bigger. All mosquitoes have the potential to carry the West Nile Virus.

Georgia has over twenty varieties of ticks but only three are a threat to carry disease. They are the lone star tick, the dog tick, and the blacklegged tick. The blacklegged tick is thought to be the primary carrier of Lyme disease. Identifying which tick may have attached itself to you is difficult for the average hunter. Quick and careful removal is the best treatment but prevention is the very best treatment.

Some other bugs may not carry disease but can inflict some serious pain. Never sit directly on the ground because if you do you are likely going to encounter redbugs and they can inflict some serious pain and itching in places where you can only scratch in the privacy of your home.

One small bug that packs a big bite is the gnat. Only in the last few years have I encountered what I call the “no-see-me” gnats above the fall line that runs through central Georgia. You might feel agonizing pain from a part of your exposed skin but at first glance, you will not see anything. On a more thorough examination, you will see a small bug hardly the size of a needlepoint. It is hard to believe that such a small bug can inflict such a vicious bite.

Several commercials sprays on the market will ward off all the bugs previously mentioned. In addition, they will not repel deer and other wildlife that you are hunting. The best of these is a product named Permanone. It will repel ticks, mosquitoes, gnats, and redbugs.

Wearing long sleeves and tucking your pant’s legs along with the use of Permanone will pretty much ward off all the pest you will likely encounter. Wearing a see-through facemask will keep the bugs off your face.

Bugs and snakes are likely the worst things you might have to encounter in the woods but there are others concerns like poison ivy, oak and sumac and for folks like me the woods can cause allergies to erupt in a moment’s notice. Wearing long sleeves and tucking your pants legs into your boots will offer some protection from poisonous plants.

Sometimes it makes you wonder if venturing into the woods during warm weather is really worth it. Nevertheless, with a little caution, some commercial spray, and a strong resolve you can hunt with the best of the critters. Good hunting and see you next week.

NEWS ALERT – Effective Sept. 17 the current 11-14 slot limit for largemouth bass on Lake Oconee will be replaced with a 14 inch minimum length limit.