Yellow Jacket Nests While Bush hogging, whats your plan?

[HawkinsHollow]

What is your plan of attack? Shut tractor down and run? Downshift and pop the clutch?

I got my first experience of running over a yellow jackets nest while bush hogging. I was in a super low gear so I shut the tractor down and ran. Probably got nailed 8 or 9 times. I was able to wait for 1`0 minutes and was able to get on and drive away without another sting. I am just wondering what everyone else does in these situations. It is not fun, that is for sure.

 

[m7040]

Just keep going in the tractor watching the yellow jackets from the cab

 

[m7040]

Had this experience on an open station tractor. Jumped off but forgot to take tractor out of gear. I got stung many times trying to catch up with the tractor only to see it ending up in a ravine

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Had this experience on an open station tractor. Jumped off but forgot to take tractor out of gear. I got stung many times trying to catch up with the tractor only to see it ending up in a ravine

Yeah, that is the scary thing. I made sure I shut mine down, but I did so at 2000 rpms with the PTO engaged. Probably not good for it, but better than ending up in a ravine, or my pond where mine was pointed.

 

[blee03]

I had this happen on my zero turn one time
I launched off of the machine (seat switch shut it down) and ran full speed back to the house... got stung a few times and after I got inside I had one in my shirt!

Ahh good times!

 

[m7040]

On the old mf 203 tractor shutting engine off involves pulling out a rod connected to the fuel pump and it takes time for the engine to quit. Not good to wait around for that and stepping on the clutch and taking out of gear also takes a moment

 

[RalphVa]

What is your plan of attack? Shut tractor down and run? Downshift and pop the clutch?

I got my first experience of running over a yellow jackets nest while bush hogging. I was in a super low gear so I shut the tractor down and ran. Probably got nailed 8 or 9 times. I was able to wait for 1`0 minutes and was able to get on and drive away without another sting. I am just wondering what everyone else does in these situations. It is not fun, that is for sure.

Once ran into one when I had the Gravely with its bush hog out front. I ran away with it sitting there running. When they simmered down some, I went and rescued it. Hate them. If clothed, they'll sting through your clothing.

Seem to be getting a fair number of them this year. Been wet and easy for them to dig their holes. A skunk dug one out in the raspberry patch. Huge hole. Took me more than 5 gallons of mulch to refill the hole.

 

[big bubba]

geared down, popped clutch & fled. (open station) repeatedly stung on face. wife (at the time) said she never would have dated me looking like that.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

Brake cleaner, the kind with chlorines in it if you can get it. It messes them up bad enough, and fast enough, tha they come out of the air like you tied a brick on their little tails. the vapors are toxic enough to them, they just curl up.

 

[JasperFrank]

I rented a smallish bulldozer to start my home construction, and on day two, hit a big underground nest. I knew I had to shut the machine down, so, the buggers got me 14 or so times, before I could run away. Retrieved the dozer later that night, but I was still dizzy from that much venom. I would not consider it crazy, to wear a bee suit if you are going to do a first cut.

I also, now ask guests on the property if they are bee string allergic and if they are, do they have an EpiPen kit. One guest, told me, after we had walked 1/4 mile in to a field filled with waist high flowers and bees, that she was highly allergic and didn't have a kit. .

 

[CobyRupert]

On the old mf 203 tractor shutting engine off involves pulling out a rod connected to the fuel pump and it takes time for the engine to quit. Not good to wait around for that and stepping on the clutch and taking out of gear also takes a moment

In a pinch, pull the rod, pop the clutch with it in high gear, stalling it might be fastest.

 

[Thomas]

If you didn't notice them just hope for the best...take wide birth next trip back.

 

[Liquidsilver]

I've just been thinking (hoping) that if I went over some while bushogging, I should try to keep moving on the tractor. I know I could run faster, but on the open tractor, if I keep moving, maybe they won't know to swarm my body before I get 20 or 30 more feet away.

(God, I hope I'm right.) Knocking on the wood desk right now.

 

[Ken45101]

Tried to stop the tractor and bail out but I was on a hill and I was too much of a panic to get the darn brake set! Oh, did I mention a 2 foot drop-off just below me?

I finally(!) got the brake set and bailed out. ten or 12 stings. Went back and retrieved the tractor a few hours later, resumed bushhogging a safe distance away.......WRONG! Got hit again!

I did not bushhog that hillside for the next 8 or 10 years!

 

[groundcover]

Best thread ever to show the need for a cab !

 

[4570Man]

It’s best to just wait a little bit longer for your last mowing. They die off in cooler weather plus it’s more pleasant mowing conditions.

 

[grsthegreat]

i got a nest one time with my old JD870. i jumped off and ran after killing key. was stung multiple times. now days i just laugh at them...thru the cab glass.

 

[ruffdog]

Sometimes the jump and run ends horribly so it is no joke if you are unprotected. This happened to a local person.

UPDATE: Police suspect bee attack led to death of man operating bulldozer

 

[oosik]

I don't have yellow jackets, wasps or hornets that are ground dwelling. They ALL make their nests on the low hanging limbs of my pine trees. Or in the eves of my house.

In theory - I see and avoid. This theory has malfunctioned a couple times. The most memorable was a small nest of bald faced hornets. Chased me all the way back to the house. I even heard a couple bang into the door - after I closed it. Nasty little critters........

I can expect to get stung, at least, a couple times every year.

If I had the ground dwelling type and I had to mow fields - - a VERY GOOD reason to have a cabbed tractor. Some of my fields are more than a quarter mile from any type of shelter.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Just speed up and keep moving. Bull dozers go fast enough to drive away. Tractor should too. Y'all gonna get hurt jumping off a running machine. Hornets is a different story, but they build nests where you can see them.