Hunters, protect yourself from ticks

Hunters, protect yourself from ticks

When you think about the dangers of hunting, some obvious ideas come to mind.  Falling from a tree stand because you neglected a safety harness? Check.  Taking a stray bullet from some drunk hick out on a drive? Check.  Big heart attack because the most exercise you’ve done leading up to the fall involves a lawnmower? Double check.  But what if I said that there is a far greater danger that comes in a small package and is much more likely to cause you a big problem?

The blacklegged tick (aka deer tick or scientifically Ixodes scapularis) is found throughout the Eastern United States with a skyrocketing population in recent years.  Also common to Appalachia is the American dog tick (scientifically Dermacentor variabilis).  Together, these species are vectors for several diseases that can lead to permanent disability and even death.  Deer ticks are notorious for spreading Lyme disease, caused by a spirochete called Borrelia burgdorferi.  In Pennsylvania, studies have shown that 20-40% of all deer ticks test positive for this.  Other less well-known tick-borne diseases carried by deer ticks include anaplasmosis and babesiosis.  Dog ticks, on the other hand, are the main vector for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Unfortunately for hunters, adult blacklegged ticks become active in the fall and remain active through the winter and into the spring.  Worse yet?  The preferred host of the blacklegged tick is the whitetail name, hence the term deer tick.  Deer ticks are most commonly found in wooded, brushy terrain as well as grassy areas (the same places you are likely to set up for a sit during deer season).   To sum it up, deer ticks are active in the fall, attracted to deer habitat, and are commonly found on whitetail deer.  A perfect setup to ambush the unwitting hunter.

The most practical way to avoid ticks is to stay away from their habitat, but this isn’t practical for hunters or other outdoorsmen.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t steps you can take to avoid tick bites and disease transmission.  For hunters, tick prevention should start before the you even hit the woods. 

A good first step involves treating all of your gear, including clothing, packs, botts, etc. with a spray containing permethrin.  I personally use Sawyer insect repellant which is very simple to use and incredibly affordable (link below).  Following the manufacturer instructions, you simply apply a liberal coating (in a well-ventilated place) and hang to dry.  Once your gear has been treated, it remains effective for 6 wash cycles or 6 weeks.  According to their website, studies show that you are 73.6 times less likely to get a tick bite by wearing treated clothing.

As a second step to prevent tick bites, dress in a fashion that leaves as little skin exposed as possible.  If you are wearing permethrin-treated clothing, the only target for ticks is exposed skin.  By minimizing exposed skin, you can drastically reduce the risk of a tick bite.

The third step to avoid a tick bite involves checking your clothing and gear after a hunt.  You may see ticks on your clothing that can easily be brushed off before leaving the woods.  When you get home, take off your clothing and gear outside or in a garage to avoid bringing ticks in to your home.  You can either leave this outside until the next hunt, or bring it directly in and give it a quick spin in the dryer to kill any remaining ticks. 

Finally, shower as soon as possible when you return home.  While you are hanging out in your birthday suit, give yourself a good check for ticks that you may have collected.  Make sure to check your armpits, groin, behind the ears, and even your crack because these warm places are the perfect place for a tick to latch on.  If you do find one, remove it as quickly as possible.  I like to keep a few tick twisters on hand to ensure that the head is removed intact with the body (link below).  As long as these ticks are found quickly, you have very little to worry about as it takes 36-48 hours for Lyme disease to be transmitted once a tick has latched.  If you find a tick and are worried it has been attached for greater than 36 hours, it may be a good idea to call your doctor or an urgent care because a single dose of prophylactic antibiotics can prevent infection.

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