I'm hunting hogs from a blind that's 30 foot away from my feeder. I HAVE to use Thermacell, otherwise the swamp I'm in would be unbearable.

The hogs are waiting for us to leave our stand...and them coming in about 15 minutes after we leave. Do you think it's the Thermacell?

You mean as opposed to your scent, your noises, your movements?

No doubt the hogs can smell it, but then if they can smell it, they can smell you as well.

A lot of us use thermacell with fine success, but most of us aren't 10 yards from a feeder. You didn't say it was elevated, so I assume that you are on the ground. You would be in a much better position if you were elevated by 10 feet or more if you are going to be that close to the feeder.

Sorry, I missed that detail. We're 9 feet off the ground in a man-made blind that's covered with brush. I really don't think they see us.

Well, another question. We're using bows, not rifles. If I move my feeder out to 40 foot...do you think that would make a difference? It would require a lot of hacking with a machete or an axe...but will do so if it's necessary.

Details are good!

So bowhunting and you are off the ground. Got it.

Obviously when it comes to being sense perceptible, distance is your friend. The further the better Ten more feet certainly could be beneficial. Keep in mind the issue probably isn't just smell, but the whole package of you being there.

Is the feeder N, E, S, or W of your stand? Do the winds swirl where you are? Why are you certain the hogs can't see you?

If you think it is the thermacell doing you in, then take a couple of the old thermacell pads and tape them to the feeder for when you aren't there. The pigs and other animals will get used to having the scent there even when YOU aren't.

Great idea.

The hogs can't see us because we're brushed in to the point where I can't see my son when I'm at the feeder and he's in the stand.

On the wind...most always there isn't much wind at all. Over the majority of the summer, it's been dead as far as wind is concerned. We are west of the feeder, though.

From the base of the tree where your sta d is to the feeder, how far is it?

It's 33 feet.

In my opinion you are way too close. I've got guys on my lease that try to bowhunt that close and never see anything. I'd back of to see if that helps. Pigs are pretty smart.

Get @ least twice as far as you are!

Thank you all for your input. I'll be moving about 30 more feet away.

Having grown up in Baytown/Highlands, I don't blame you a bit for wanting a thermacell. When I was young, I would have sworn the mosquito was our state bird. They can make anything miserable.

I have used a thermocell many times when hunting, but never that close. Has never been a problem. But like mentioned above that is a little close. Probably alot more than the thermo giving you away.

I was using my thermocell in a pop up blind 7 yards from the feeder and had a big boar come in last year. When I got in the pop up, you could see the mosquitos flying out the windows. I had a racoon under the feeder for an hour before the hog came in, he was my warning device. Hog came in, started on the corn, got an arrow in the neck for his trouble.

This was another guys setup and he shoots trad so thats why he was so close. The blind wasn't brushed in at all. Maybe it was just an exceptionally stupid hog, but he is dead now. I was hunting with no wind either.

There are always thermals, do forget to factor'em in.

I hunt predators with my ThermaCELL but I usually hunt with the wind in my favor and not near as tight.
Even with no wind to speak of we have a scent cone that trails off of us to the downwind side which, depending on the wind and time on stand, can reach hundreds of yards downwind.
Tree lines, clearings and draws or valleys all can effect where and how far that cone will reach.
I would also suggest giving them more space and maybe relocating the stand to the typically downwind side of the feeder.
The used ThermaCELL pads on the feeder is a great idea as well!
Good luck!

Picked up my first thermacell from Academy today. Got the value pack with the thermacell and an all purpose swivel light for $19.99. Great deal. See if it works in the morning.