Yes you can smell them, but one of the biggest deer I've ever seen was while I was smoking a cigarette. But the wind was right, so if you use a thermacell watch the wind like you normally do and you'll be fine. They definately work.No I don't smoke while bowhunting I gave up that nasty habit 14 years ago. Now I don't see any big deer though.

You can get bit up if you want to, but I'm bringing my thermacell with me. Smacking skeeters off my neck would probably alarm more deer than the thermacell does. Besides, if they can smell the thermacell, they can probably smell you too. They'll only smell it if they're down wind. Also, the thermacell is heated, so any odor it gives off will rise, probably won't make a difference if you're hunting from a treestand. Also, after having numerous deer walk within yards during turkey season and not spook and never noticing a deer so much as flinch while walking past my stand during bow season, I'm convinced it is a useful tool during archery season.

I like the thermacell, but for me it hasn't worked as good as others have advertised

Yep they do give off a smell. Play the wind best you can if your going to use it.

Should of had it while we were shooting. I think all that swatting at them caused me to shoot high.[8D]

I bring one with me especially turkey hunting, camping, hanging out at cookouts etc. I have had good experiences with them. I also bring one early bow season and IF the skeeters/bugs are bad enough to the point where its uncomfortable and Im swatting and moving more than Im sitting still, then I fire it up but only as a last resort because I can smell it, however, I always hunt the wind so unless it changes direction Im not overly concerned. If I cant sit still because of bugs then I just gave +1 to the deer anyway. I am covered from head to toe also but somehow those little buggers find my eyes and any little thing to keep me moving.

I just got a Thermacell; I'm glad to see they work.
As far as the odor, what about when the wind swirls or just isn't constant?Sometimes the windgets very still right before dark. That's why I'm wearing a carbon suit, taking a scent free shower, and storing my clothes in a bag with pine branches. I typically hunt from a blind, the deer will be close, and may approach from any direction.

The Thermacell's come in two colors, camo and green. I have thecamo one, not that it matters.

A friend let me borrow his for the last week of bear season when the skeeters were unbearable. I would now hunt the skeeter season w/out it especially for bear. They worked a little for marsh flies too.
To tell you the truth, if the darn things cost $100 I would buy one

I just picked one up for 3-d shooting, fishing, camping, etc. However, I will not be using it for hunting. IMO anyone who is truly serious about killing a mature deer would never use something that knowingly gives off odor while they are hunting. Whether it's early season or not, whether you THINK you're going to see a big buck or not, putting additional odor into the woods and around your stands sites will do nothing but attract more attention to you and the fact that you're there, which is the last thing I want to do. Wind or not, mine will stay at home during the hunting season. I'll tough out a few mosquito bites if I have to.