TICKS

[vapor]

I love the outdoors but am not a big fan of all the ticks that I seem to pick up when hiking in the warmer months here in the south. I decided to ignore this & go hiking with my daughter this past Saturday at Lake Chinnabee. Came home & found one tick on my shirt which I easily removed. Didn't see any more until 2 days later when I found a really small one feasting on my leg. Being that I know 2 people with Lyme disease & that it only takes 36 hours for it to enter your system I decided to do a poll to see if anyone has experience using bug spray to keep ticks off & if it actually works. I am not one that usually likes to put chemicals all over myself so I wanted to get a poll to see if others find it worthwhile or not. Likely some trails you can hike with/without & not get ticks at all but if there is any hard core hiker out there that hikes year round, bushwacks, etc & says they never get a tick by using such & such bug spray I wanna know.

[squidbilly]

It seems that Deet is pretty much ineffective against ticks anymore. I don't know if they are developing a resistance or if there are simply more of them this year. Whatever the reason, I am manually removing ticks despite using Deet ( lots of them). It still seems effective against chiggers. The natural repellent products I have tried in the past were somewhat effective: more so against mossies and gnats than arachnids.  I hear permethrin is very effective. You dilute it and treat your clothes, packs etc. Any pests coming in contact with treated products die.  Long term human effects-?
 

[Mountain Dog]

I've used it all, spray for clothes, spray for skin, insect resistant clothes, Deets, Permethrin, ect.  They reduce your exposure but the suckers will still get to you.  The longer you stay out the more of the Protection" wear off and the more of the suckers you will get.  Deets is best for the skin but get the highest concentration possible.  Do not go by the name, go by the ingredience label.  Also, remember to watch the environment to avoid the suckers.  Ticks like pine bark and they like to hang on brush hanging over a trail so they can drop on their victim when disturbed.

[weathermansam]

It seems that Deet is pretty much ineffective against ticks anymore. I don't know if they are developing a resistance or if there are simply more of them this year. Whatever the reason, I am manually removing ticks despite using Deet ( lots of them). It still seems effective against chiggers. The natural repellent products I have tried in the past were somewhat effective: more so against mossies and gnats than arachnids.  I hear permethrin is very effective. You dilute it and treat your clothes, packs etc. Any pests coming in contact with treated products die.  Long term human effects-?
 

When I wear this stuff, I've never gotten ticks where I applied it: http://www.google.com/pro..._3YCg&ved=0CFUQ8wIwAA

The rest have been hit and miss for me, and the OFF Deep Woods crap just burns my skin.   

[vapor]

another thing is some of the insect sprays state that you can only spray on certain kinds of clothes meaning if you have quick dry or pants with some kind of weather resistance the repellent may eat at it but I am game to try something if it is known to work. weathermansam seems to have good luck with Sportsman Repellent or is possibly a sales rep on the side, ha! so i think maybe i will give it a try. if something actually works perhaps i could spend more time bushwacking in the summer.

[weathermansam]

another thing is some of the insect sprays state that you can only spray on certain kinds of clothes meaning if you have quick dry or pants with some kind of weather resistance the repellent may eat at it but I am game to try something if it is known to work. weathermansam seems to have good luck with Sportsman Repellent or is possibly a sales rep on the side, ha! so i think maybe i will give it a try. if something actually works perhaps i could spend more time bushwacking in the summer.

I've always been mildly skeptical of the all natural stuff [buy citronella plants, they keep skeeters away!  not at my house].  My wife insisted on it the first time she went hiking with me, so I gave it a whirl.  I would advise using it in a well ventilated place...the menthol smell is freaking stout. 

[wyleone]

I'm going to jump in, better late than never.
Strangely, I have only had a tick crawl on my right leg last year.
 
One...... ever.

Never been bit by a tick that I am aware of. But I am always the first bit by flies and mosquitoes when in a group.

Now, I used to use the Off Active a lot, but since about June of last year, I have been using Coleman Skin smart. It wears light, burns a lot less than Off and is effective on Mosquitoes and biting flies. Again, it may be good for ticks, but I only had the one on me. (I didn't have repellent on at all at the time.) BUT do not inhale when you apply it, you will choke. But once the air clears, you forget it is on.

I use it when sleeping in my hammock overnight as it dries nicely.

I have been wanting to try the lemon eucalyptus stuff but have been skeptical. Does it dry?


I do use permithrin on my hammock though. It keeps the bugs away without having a net around you.
I have been looking for a dilute-able permithrin concentrate that I can mix in a bucket and dunk my outdoor gear to get good coverage. I have been using Ben's permithrin spray, but it is pricey to use every two weeks on everything.

[suthnbred]

Whatever product you use keep in mind the long term effects. Permethrin is a neurotoxin and although not easily absorbed into the bloodstream through skin, it can be transferred by hand to mouth or to the eyes. The long term effect for an individual will differ as well. The natural ingredients of Lemon and Eucalyptus  is effective, and one which I use personally, but each individual is different. An old wives tale goes that eating garlic will not keep them (ticks) from biting but they won't hold on. Not sure I am willing to try that one.