Since we’re getting into fly and mosquito season around here, I thought I’d take a minute to share a quick tip for coping with those annoying deer flies that like to circle around your head. This doesn’t help with mosquitoes (rub some catnip on yourself to help give them the slip).
Deerflies are Tabanids and are also called a Marsh Fly, Sheep Fly, Yellow Fly, Pine Fly, May Fly, and Salt Marsh Greenheads. Whatever you call them, they’re just plain annoying. My youngest was complaining every time he was out mowing that they were after him, dive bombing his eyes and circling his head. (The females are the guilty parties. They’re after your blood, and their bites really itch.)
A while back my husband told me a story about when he was a Boy Scout and they were traveling through a swampy area in Canada being plagued by deer flies. Their guide plucked a muddy fern and set it on top of his hat. The flies started circling the fern instead of his head, and they were one their way without flies in their faces (after everyone else also set themselves up with ferns).
We’re short on ferns around here, but we did happen to have some peacock feathers. I took my son’s hat, a little duct tape and a couple of feathers, and set him up with his own personal deer fly deflector.
Voila! No more flies in the eyes. He hasn’t been bit or bothered by deer flies since he started wearing this hat. Plus, I think he makes those feathers look good. 
Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget to Like, Pin, Stumble or otherwise share this post if you find it useful. 
Click on this link to purchase a family size Bug Block Hard Lotion bar with FREE Family Camping Handbook e-book
Update: Tom B. shared another handy option on our Facebook page for those who are driving tractors:
“My uncle has a cattle ranch in Canada. The land is completely flat, and he is also plagued with deer flies when he’s out on his tractor. His trick is tying a red rag to a tall plastic pipe strapped to his tractor. Always works. They go after the tallest thing around.”
If you’re on Facebook, we invite you to stop in and visit the Common Sense Homesteading page, where I share things I find useful, inspiring and sometimes just funny. We’ve got a great group of fans with lots of good ideas. It’s a good place to hang out with like-mined people.
Featured at Simple Lives Thursday #98 and Homestead Barn Hop #64.
10 Responses to “Use This Simple Trick to Keep Biting Flies Away from Your Head”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Neat idea!!! I get bit by those nasty buggers when I walk along the canal – they HURT! I gotta find me a feather or a fern!
(oh, and I tried to stifle but just can’t help pointing out – ‘Wallah’ should be ‘Voila’, actually pronounced vwah-lah. It’s one of those French words that don’t sound like they look they should! okay, I’ll shut up now…)
lol – I don’t mind the corrections. Just wait until you see my Spanish – it’s worse than my French.
Haha!! Good, I’m glad you don’t mind a ‘know-it-all’ like me!! Bring on the Spanish… ;D
You want to know the funniest part? I was going to use some other words (I can’t remember what at the moment), but I didn’t want to spell it wrong, lol.
Oh, I just noticed you changed it!! lol! Yay!
I’m much more fluent in Redneck and Yooper.
I know I little bit of sign language, too, but one of the few signs I remember is “I forget”. 
This is great info, as always! We will put this to use. Thanks!
Wanted to also let you know the lotion bar link isn’t working. Or maybe just not for me.
Thanks, Heather. I just added a new link that should work better.
[...] a nuisance of themselves when you’re working outside or out camping and hiking, I recommend an old Boy Scout trick. Simply place a feather or other tall object on your hat. The flies are drawn to the tallest part [...]
I dont even use a feather the bucket hat works well on it’s own to keep the flys out of the face. The bucket hat also keep long hair from being grabbed by trees. Putting your hand above your head works too, but can only hold it up so long.