Mosquitoes & Ticks Suck! With Sawyer

Mosquitoes suck. Ticks might suck even more.

This week on the Okayest Hunter Podcast, we sit down with Travis from Sawyer to talk about something almost every hunter has dealt with but probably doesn't think enough about: protecting yourself from ticks, mosquitoes, and other biting insects while you're in the field.

We dive deep into Sawyer Permethrin, how it works on clothing and hunting gear, and why it has become such a valuable tool for hunters spending time in tick country. We also break down the differences between permethrin, picaridin, and DEET—and discuss how hunters can build a better system for insect protection without covering themselves and their gear in traditional bug spray.

Travis takes us through Sawyer's history, including the company's beginnings in 1984 and the development of products used by everyone from hunters and backpackers to members of the military. We talk about treating your own hunting clothes versus buying pre-treated clothing, how long treatments can remain effective, and some surprising applications for permethrin around camp, hunting gear, and even dogs.

The guys also swap real-world hunting stories, including an African hunt where treated clothing made a very noticeable difference while everyone else in camp was dealing with ticks.

Then we get into another side of Sawyer that some hunters may know even better than its insect repellents: water filtration. Travis explains the technology behind Sawyer's hollow-fiber membrane filters, how the company got into water filtration, and how the same lightweight technology used by hunters and backpackers has helped provide clean drinking water to millions of people around the world.

If you spend your fall chasing whitetails, spring chasing turkeys, hiking into the backcountry, camping, scouting, hanging trail cameras, or simply spending a lot of time outdoors, this episode is packed with information you can actually put to use.

We cover:• Sawyer Permethrin and how it works• Tick and mosquito protection for hunters• Permethrin-treated hunting clothing and gear• Picaridin vs. DEET• Scent concerns while hunting• Protecting yourself during early-season hunts• Turkey hunting and tick prevention• Unexpected uses for permethrin• Sawyer's history and military applications• Sawyer water filtration technology• Backcountry water filtration• Real-world hunting stories and plenty of Okayest Hunter banter

Sawyer's picaridin discussion is especially relevant for hunters because Travis explains that it doesn't damage gear the way DEET can and is odorless after drying—making the combination of treated clothing plus topical protection an interesting system for hunters dealing with heavy mosquito and tick pressure.

Whether you're preparing for an early-season whitetail sit, crawling through tick-infested turkey woods, scouting in the summer heat, or heading deep into the backcountry, this one might change the way you prepare your hunting clothes before leaving home.

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