Watch for ticks at the range

[il_10]

Hi all, this is a touch off topic, but I noticed a thread a moment ago that mentioned finding a large number of ticks on the shooting bench (or maybe the shooter) while doing some target practice. We're getting into heavy tick season, and nice weather has a lot of us outdoors more often than not, so I wanted to offer a friendly warning.

We've all been familiar with normal tick borne illness like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, but on the east coast we're starting to see "Alpha-Gal" allergies. It's tick-borne, and makes you allergic to mammalian products. No more beef, no more milk, no more butter, etc. I have several friends who have picked it up, and it scares me stiff.

Keep the little guys in mind when you're out shooting, camping, hiking, etc. Treat your clothes and shoes with permethrin, it's way safer than DEET and lasts for months, blouse your pants into your socks, and check for ticks when you get back in.

 

[Axis II]

Friend of mine said she finds them on her son regularly and all he does is walk around the yard. I think i knocked one out of my hair yesterday because i swiped my hair down and felt something and wiped it again and it flew off.

I am ordering some permetherin here soon. Also, get the stuff at tractor supply or rural king and treat your yard.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I spray myself before every visit.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Friend of mine said she finds them on her son regularly and all he does is walk around the yard. I think i knocked one out of my hair yesterday because i swiped my hair down and felt something and wiped it again and it flew off.

Wasn't a tick then. Ticks don't fly or jump.

 

[Axis II]

Wasn't a tick then. Ticks don't fly or jump.

I was cutting grass and have had them in my hair when in the woods or around trees. If i shake a branch it could have fallen out of the tree. Found 2 on my neck and hair driving home from fishing last summer and i was in the woods almost all day.

 

[Legionnaire]

Thanks for the reminder. Nasty critters.

 

[mcb]

I use the Sawyer Permethrin spray on my boots and all my woods cloths starting in April and into the late fall down here in N. Alabama and middle Tennessee. I had heaps of them on my cloths last week putting the feeders back out after Turkey season but none got to me due to the permithrin. The permithrin also works really well at keeping the chiggers away. It seems to help some with the mosquitoes too.

 

[dh1633pm]

My son got lyme's this spring. Ticks on his dog regularly. Same with my labs. Lots of Mosquito Authority signs about, but never any spraying. What is an authority you say? Its a NY thing for setting up an organization that government used to handle. They have limited oversight and spend a lot of money on signs. Most employees make a bunch and are usually related or friends with one another. The ticks in NY are worse that I have seen in my entire life.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Hi all, this is a touch off topic, but I noticed a thread a moment ago that mentioned finding a large number of ticks on the shooting bench (or maybe the shooter) while doing some target practice. We're getting into heavy tick season, and nice weather has a lot of us outdoors more often than not, so I wanted to offer a friendly warning.

We've all been familiar with normal tick borne illness like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, but on the east coast we're starting to see "Alpha-Gal" allergies. It's tick-borne, and makes you allergic to mammalian products. No more beef, no more milk, no more butter, etc. I have several friends who have picked it up, and it scares me stiff.

Keep the little guys in mind when you're out shooting, camping, hiking, etc. Treat your clothes and shoes with permethrin, it's way safer than DEET and lasts for months, blouse your pants into your socks, and check for ticks when you get back in.

It may not look cool, but tucking pants in boots and shirt in pants does wonders. If you spray Raid on boots and pants and your good to go.

 

[GBExpat]

I am ordering some permetherin here soon.

<nodding>

I spray all of my outside gear and clothing with a permethrin solution in the Spring. Label says that it bonds to the fabric fibers and can resist up to 6(?) trips thru the washer.

For quick topical application, I keep spray bottles of Deep Woods OFF! (25% DEET) at the 2 primary heading_for_the_woods/fields sally ports of my house.

 

[Captcurt]

I use the Sawyer Permethrin spray on my boots and all my woods cloths starting in April and into the late fall down here in N. Alabama and middle Tennessee. I had heaps of them on my cloths last week putting the feeders back out after Turkey season but none got to me due to the permithrin. The permithrin also works really well at keeping the chiggers away. It seems to help some with the mosquitoes too.

Same here. I buy about 2 cases of Sawyer's a year. Some of the farmhands where I hunt will buy a case every year. I don't want to repeal ticks. I want to KILL em.

 

[Axis II]

<nodding>

I spray all of my outside gear and clothing with a permethrin solution in the Spring. Label says that it bonds to the fabric fibers and can resist up to 6(?) trips thru the washer.

For quick topical application, I keep spray bottles of Deep Woods OFF! (25% DEET) at the 2 primary heading_for_the_woods/fields sally ports of my house.

Same hers. Thermacell, deep woods off and permitherin.

 

[Axis II]

It may not look cool, but tucking pants in boots and shirt in pants does wonders. If you spray Raid on boots and pants and your good to go.

I get a kick out of it when im running around public land with a green or tan shirt and green BDU pants tucked into an old pair or combat boots and guys think im the game warden. lol.

 

[mcb]

Same here. I buy about 2 cases of Sawyer's a year. Some of the farmhands where I hunt will buy a case every year. I don't want to repeal ticks. I want to KILL em.

Exactly, Permethrin is not a repellent it is a very deadly nerve-toxin to most insects and arachnids in particular (of which ticks an chiggers are both members).

But is nearly harmless to warm blooded creatures (except cats). Not a good plan but a human could probably take a bath in Pemethrin at the concentrations Sawyers sells it without major problems. Though it is hard on aquatic life too so don't spill it into water sources.

 

[dh1633pm]

Thanks, just ordered some Sawyer permitherin products from Amazon. Must spray the dogs. I seem to remember my older dog got Lyme last year.

Poor guy.

 

[Godsgunman]

Yes! Spray yourself down with Permethrin. I've already had to be treated this year for Lyme's. 2 weeks of antibiotics. I wasn't even near the deep stuff, just in the mowed shooting area I have. Ended up with 3 ticks, about a week later felt like I had the flu. Every muscle in my body felt like they were full of lactic acid, I was weak and tired. Took till 5th day of antibiotics to start feeling better. Little blood suckers are horrible this year. I hunted all last year and tromped in the deep stuff without a single bite. Wish I could just nuke the whole back 40 with Permethrin this year.

 

[rodregier]

For those casually following, Permethrin is a *clothing* treatment when used for humans.

US Military issue uniforms have been treated w/permethrin for at least a decade.
(Deep dip method in production).

 

[mcb]

For those casually following, Permethrin is a *clothing* treatment when used for humans.

US Military issue uniforms have been treated w/permethrin for at least a decade.
(Deep dip method in production).

Agreed my comment up thread about taking a bath in it was to demonstrate how "relatively" safe it is. Follow the labeled directions for you particular product. It is clothing treatment and when applied correctly works very effectively. I have a few pieces of clothing that have the same deep dip method the military uses. It lasts longer than the spray on product but I usually give those another coat too especially after they have been washed many times over years of use.

 

[Mn Fats]

I might have to try this permethrin stuff. I've had about 20-25 on me so far this season. Bit once.

 

[Robert]

Take appropriate measures and be safe. But yup, this is off topic.