How do you guys deal with ticks? We hunted yesterday the last weekend of A zone deer in CA. Went to my favorite public land, setup for a early hunt, then go to a slow spot and stalk from the shade. Hoped to find a good spot to setup for the PM. The ticks ran use off by midday. I pulled 50+ off me and my cloths. It was HOT, and I'm in dry grass and oaks in steep hills. I don't really want to use spray because of the smell. Ed
About all I know to do is to tuck your pant legs into your boots (if possible) and maybe use some Deep Woods spray. After the hunt take a shower and inspect for ticks.
50? Is that all? You need to buy some Permanone. Ever since I started using that I haven't had many problems. I've actually seen the ticks get up to about knee level and start falling off. See the link. Walmart carries the stuff. http://www.rei.com/product/784097?p...-81F9-DE11-BAE3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA Here's a pic of those little "seed" ticks as we call them. This is not an uncommon occurrence where I hunt. I now use Permanone and take a change of clothes with me for the drive back home. I welcome cold weather here.
Repel works here during turkey season, and they are BAD. I treat my clothes and ensure that there are no easy pathways up my legs.
I use a product called Sawyer Permethrin. You can get it at Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas. It comes in aerosol, pump spray or soak treatment. You actually pre-treat your clothes prior to hunting season. Once it dries, it chemically bonds with your clothing and the treatment is supposed to last about 6 weeks. There is no noticable odor either. I can attest to the effectiveness. Since I have been using it, I haven't has one single tick attached to me. Basically it is the best product I have ever found. It also repels mosquitos.
Similar to what I am using, but I like the soak idea... I have been thinking hard about this, since the ticks were so bad this spring. Does it work on chiggers? I still have bites from them that have not gone away on my legs, they are as bad as the ticks.
I tried the Sawyer's Permethrin last year because it costs less than Repel and it did pretty good, but I have to say that it didn't do as well as the Repel Permanone and I ended up with quite a few chigger bites. I've been touting the benefits of Repel Permanone since I discovered it three years ago. Same characteristics you listed above and it makes you tick and chigger proof. I've been saying for years now that it will keep mosquitoes off of you too. That's why I don't use my Thermacell
I'm not sure about chiggers, but I would think that it would work on them to. It is an insecticide, acaricide(ticks and mites) and insect repellent all rolled into one. Because of it's chemical make-up, it is very poorly absorbed into your skin. That is what makes it so effective against the insects, but not as harmful to us as other insecticides. The Sawyer Permethrin and the Repel Permanone are basically the same thing. Both use Permethrin as the active ingredient and nearly the same percentage. Either one should work fine.
That stuff stinks almost as bad as Deep Woods Off and would have to be reapplied every outing. Sawyers and Repel are the real deal. I use Sawyers, without it they would eat me alive!
It ABSOLUTELY does work on chiggers as well as ticks. In fact, Saturday I spent six solid hours stomping through the undergrowth with a chainsaw clearing a four wheeler trail on my lease in Arkansas that the ice storm two years ago had blocked. Six hours in the thick two year old growth followed by a three hour drive home. My shoes, socks, pants and shirt were all treated with Repel Permanone and I sprayed my exposed skin with Deep woods off. Not a single tick and not one nasty chigger. This stuff is the real deal.... just don't spray it on your skin.
Thanks everyone. Almost forgot about chiggers, none here in CA. I grew up in KY and those chiggers are the worst. Ed
I think I hate the chiggers more then the ticks, you can at least see most ticks. I have bunch of chigger bites behind my knees, and on my ankles from spring that are just not going away...and they still itch! I hate cold weather, but I am looking forward to it this year.
