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Tick prevention?

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I thought I had a pretty good regimen in place last year, but the little devils still found there way around it.

So, give me your tried and true steps that you take.

I'm sure that I probably need to pre-treat my clothes (how far in advance of the season or does it matter?), and then how often do you reapply during the season, etc?
 
Permethrin sprayed on all your clothes. It will last through multiple wash cycles too.

Made this video last year to explain the different options for permethrin and how to save money over the big name brand.

It will not only keep ticks off, but kill them on contact if they manage to stay on you.


https://youtu.be/FDlq7g5DTyk


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
I use pemethrin (Sawyers Brand but I am sure there are others to use) about a week prior to the season, liberally spraying my outerwear ( I use a leafy suit). Leave it outside to dry thoroughly. Maybe halfway through the season I will reapply depending on the amount of washes. I also spray clothes under my leafy suit with Deep Woods Off from head to toe. I always make sure my pants are tucked into my boots and carry a thermacell. Last but not least do not use scented soaps. I use my leftover scent away from deer season. This helps keep bugs in general away. It has worked pretty well for me.
 
Dedicated spraying or treatment of permethrin is the first step. For my turkey hunting clothing that I know is going to be exposed to ticks everyday, I normally will do my own mix from a permethrin concentrate to the commercial levels, and dip my clothes in a bucket. I then line dry. I'll add some spray around the waistband or other openings as the season goes along.

Another great level of defense is this type of base layer: https://www.rynoskin.com/

Cabelas used to carry something similar, but, I don't see it online right now. The mesh on this stuff is pretty breathable, but, small enough that ticks and chiggers can't get through. I hate ticks enough that I usually have it on once things warm up and ticks are really active.
 
JCDEERMAN":2cvjgiww said:
Among spraying like everyone has mentioned, I tuck my shirt in and also tuck my pant legs into my socks
Click to expand...

Along with permethrin, go to your local milsurp store and pick up some boot blouses. It's an elastic band that will secure your pants to the outside of your boots. This will keep your feet and ankles from sweating so much.
 
bjohnson":12c49kcp said:
Along with permethrin, go to your local milsurp store and pick up some boot blouses. It's an elastic band that will secure your pants to the outside of your boots. This will keep your feet and ankles from sweating so much.
Click to expand...

That is awesome. I never knew something like this existed. I just ordered a pair.

Thanks.
 
Pre-treat with Permethrin one day prior to hunting so it will have time to dry. Retreat every 4-5 days, or immediately after washing. I treat entire outer surface of my clothes, and a lot of the inside area, especially around the waist and leg openings on pants. Apply liberally and cover as much area as possible.
 
Permethrin like has been mentioned. But I also keep a spray bottle of Sawyers Permethrin in my truck tool box and spray the outside of my boots when I leave the truck on each hunt.
 
Basically everything mentioned above. Saturate before use and let dry, tuck everything in, spray before every hunt. I always do a touch up spray before leaving the truck, especially if I'm soaked from my knees down because of wet vegetation. Because I sweat so bad I also carry several quick dry long sleeve shirts to hunt in, change them out as needed. Not sure how moisture effects permethrin, but I just don't want to take any chances, I also spray my cushion and pack down, anything that is cloth but not my head net.
 
If you don't want to bother with constant retreating, you can mail your clothes to Insect Shield and they will permanently impregnate the fabric with permethrin. I have some of my work clothes treated. I'm in the bushes pretty often and rarely find one on my clothes anymore and can't remember the last one i found on my body.
 
Just to add to the above,
I treat my boots daily with Permethrin.

Yes, it may be "over-kill", but your boots are the first area that loses the Permethrin's potency, whether from walking in wet weeds or wading water.

Many of the ticks will get on your boots before any other place.
I like to see them die there.

Also, spray Permethrin onto your vehicle seats,
as ticks often get into your vehicle by hitching a ride on something you're carrying, or even sometimes when you open your door. I've seen ticks get on my gun, and make it into the truck that way.

Oh, sometimes a dead turkey can be harboring scores of ticks.
Imagine that in the back of your SUV.

Ticks that make it into your vehicle can be particularly dangerous,
as they may get you days later when you're not wearing your treated clothing.
 
I'll throw in my system. I soak everything that I wear from head to toe in permethrin. Everything

I didn't for decades and as a result I'm stuck living with the alpha gal allergy probably until I die. No more hamburgers, steak, bbq, deer steaks, deer jerky, bacon, pork chops, lamb chops, pork loin, filets, ny strips, etc etc. Eating out is a terrifying adventure and at least once a year I'm headed to the ER in anaphylactic shock because I didn't protect myself.

My advice don't eating chocolate around with ticks, it's a no joke critter.
 
Catman, thanks for the video. Martins water based, diluted to .5% or .625% will be an upcoming weekend project.
 
TheLBLman":1229h41h said:
Just to add to the above,
I treat my boots daily with Permethrin.

Yes, it may be "over-kill", but your boots are the first area that loses the Permethrin's potency, whether from walking in wet weeds or wading water.

Many of the ticks will get on your boots before any other place.
I like to see them die there.

Also, spray Permethrin onto your vehicle seats,
as ticks often get into your vehicle by hitching a ride on something you're carrying, or even sometimes when you open your door. I've seen ticks get on my gun, and make it into the truck that way.

Oh, sometimes a dead turkey can be harboring scores of ticks.
Imagine that in the back of your SUV.

Ticks that make it into your vehicle can be particularly dangerous,
as they may get you days later when you're not wearing your treated clothing.
Click to expand...


An old trick that I used before permethrin.....Get two flea/tick dog collars, wrap them around your boots. I used this while I was a cable repairman for Ma Bell. It works really well and they will last for the whole season. :tu:
 
scn":16znzy6t said:
Another great level of defense is this type of base layer: https://www.rynoskin.com/

Cabelas used to carry something similar, but, I don't see it online right now. The mesh on this stuff is pretty breathable, but, small enough that ticks and chiggers can't get through. I hate ticks enough that I usually have it on once things warm up and ticks are really active.
Click to expand...


I will second this. I used to hunt a farm south of Clarksville that was infested with ticks. You could soak your pants in the strongest spray available and you could see them by the hundreds crawling up your pant legs while sitting against a tree. I've pulled off nearly a hundred ticks on several occasions after the days hunt on that farm. The absolute best thing I found was tight under armour compression tops and bottoms. The ticks could not get under them and the only place I had to check for ticks were my hands and neck up.
 

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