Hello Fellow diggers,
I had a terrifying experience this past Sunday, while digging with my hunting budies, I overturned a small log, and a few hornets/yellow jackets came out-no big deal I thought, I swatted them away and began swinging my F-75. Maybe 10 seconds later I swear the entire hive came out and I was covered with hornets/yellow jackets on me (yellow with small black bands). I began to swat them as best as I could while holding my detector in my right hand. At this point I was covered and I began running away from the initial site-they followed me for at least 10-15 minutes. if there was a body of water or stream near by I would have gladly jumped in-but there was none.
After going to the ER last night to get my shot of penicillin and a shot of benedryl, after being stung maybe 30+ times over my entire body, I am happy and very blessed by the good Lord to be alive first and foremost to detect yet another day. But this has been a very sobering and learning experience for myself. How many of my fellow diggers carry a can of hornet/wasp repellent (other) into the field? Besides the typical first aid kit, snake bite kit etc, I think it is also important to carry along a can of bee/wasp/hornet/yellow jacket repellent. My entire purpose for posting this is to educate and make the detecting community aware of "hidden" dangers in the woods and like the boy scout creed: "be Prepared". What insect repellent do my fellow diggers use in the field and has anyone also experienced being englfed by an entire hive of pissed off hornets-and if so, what did you do? I pray no one else has to experience what I just did. Be safe and vigilent my fellow diggers....
Happy Hunting.
Wayne
I had a terrifying experience this past Sunday, while digging with my hunting budies, I overturned a small log, and a few hornets/yellow jackets came out-no big deal I thought, I swatted them away and began swinging my F-75. Maybe 10 seconds later I swear the entire hive came out and I was covered with hornets/yellow jackets on me (yellow with small black bands). I began to swat them as best as I could while holding my detector in my right hand. At this point I was covered and I began running away from the initial site-they followed me for at least 10-15 minutes. if there was a body of water or stream near by I would have gladly jumped in-but there was none.
After going to the ER last night to get my shot of penicillin and a shot of benedryl, after being stung maybe 30+ times over my entire body, I am happy and very blessed by the good Lord to be alive first and foremost to detect yet another day. But this has been a very sobering and learning experience for myself. How many of my fellow diggers carry a can of hornet/wasp repellent (other) into the field? Besides the typical first aid kit, snake bite kit etc, I think it is also important to carry along a can of bee/wasp/hornet/yellow jacket repellent. My entire purpose for posting this is to educate and make the detecting community aware of "hidden" dangers in the woods and like the boy scout creed: "be Prepared". What insect repellent do my fellow diggers use in the field and has anyone also experienced being englfed by an entire hive of pissed off hornets-and if so, what did you do? I pray no one else has to experience what I just did. Be safe and vigilent my fellow diggers....
Happy Hunting.
Wayne