Yes, whitetail deer can smell the fumes that Thermacell’s create. However, hunters should still use a Thermacell to combat mosquitos even though deer can smell it. As hunters, we are more concerned if a Thermacell will spook deer away from our hunting locations or not. And the answer to that is most likely no, which is great news for whitetail hunters.
Does Thermacell spook deer?
Thermacell’s and the fumes they create don’t scare deer away. Deer are naturally curious, so when whitetails first smell the fumes they will look around and cautiously investigate. The key is you don’t want deer to associate the smell of your Thermacell with human odor. That rule applies with anything else you introduce to deer.
Whitetails will respond to the smell of a Thermacell just like they do with cover scents. For example, have you ever played around with a cover scent like “Nose Jammer” or something similar? Many hunters swear by this stuff. Nose Jammer smells like vanilla extract. It’s a STRONG scent even for a human, so imagine how easy it is for deer to smell. I used Nose Jammer on my boots for an entire season and would spray it prior to walking to my stand, and a few hours later witnessed deer cross my path and stop and stare around to investigate. This has happened to me countless times and the reaction is typically the same. The deer smells that vanilla extract and not my human scent. The importance of this is that the deer’s body language is curious, not scared and at full alert like human odor would cause them to react.
Just to be clear, even though a deer’s body language and reaction is the same with a Thermacell as it is with cover scents, Thermacell’s are not strong enough to act as a cover scent for your human odor. You still need to play the wind and keep your scent downwind from the deer.
How do Thermacells work?
A Thermacell consists of three parts; the Thermacell unit itself, a butane cartridge, and repellant mats/pads. All you have to do is turn the unit on, install the fuel cartridge and then insert the repellant mat on the unit. There is a heated surface on the unit that will activate the repellant in the mat pad and creates a 15-foot barrier of protection for you against mosquitos. This is all you need for protection against mosquitos. Don’t use any mosquito sprays or lotions. Thermacell’s are extremely effective at keeping those bloodsuckers away. I have never come across anything more effective at keeping mosquitos away.
Best Thermacell for hunting?
Thermacell refills for deer hunting
How to use your Thermacell when hunting
A Thermacell takes 10-15 minutes to heat up the pad and reach its full effectiveness. Because of this delay in heating up I recommend turning the Thermacell on right before walking to the tree stand and carry it in or clip it on your belt or the outside of your backpack. Remember what time you start using it so you know when to replace the mats if you are hunting for more than four hours (one mat = 4 hours).
When you get to your hunting spot, position the Thermacell upwind from you. You have a 15 foot barrier of protection so don’t worry about the unit being extremely close to your body. As a matter of fact, try to keep it away from your face to avoid direct inhalation of the fumes. There are some health concerns if you breathe in a large amount of the fumes directly from the unit. I usually attach it on the belt of my tree stand strap, which places it near my waist while sitting or knees while standing. If you are hunting out of a ground blind try attaching the unit outside the blind right by the window. This will help keep you from breathing the fumes but still offer protection from mosquitos.
The scent that the Thermacell makes isn’t going to cover your human scent. You should still choose your hunting spots with the mindset of trying to keep deer upwind from your scent, and the scent of the Thermacell. When changing out the pads or cartridge, be mindful of your movements so you don’t spook any deer that could be close by.
Conclusion
Deer can smell the fumes that Thermacell’s create. However, this smell isn’t something that deer associate with danger so they don’t scare away at the smell of it. Deer are more likely to smell your human scent before they smell the fumes created by the Thermacell. If mosquitos are keeping you from enjoying your hunt, or causing you to leave your stand early, then don’t hesitate to use a Thermacell. They are extremely effective at keeping annoying flies and mosquitos away from you.
The best Thermacell’s for hunting are going to be portable ones. Be sure to buy the “Earth Scent” pack for your refills. Practice good habits when using your Thermacell. Keep it away from your face. Hang it so that it’s secure and won’t fall to the ground. Move slowly when changing the refills so you don’t alert deer that are close by. Continue to pick your hunting spots with the mindset of trying to keep deer upwind of your hunting locations.
