Ticks

[8mm Enthusiast]

I took a hike recently in the national forest to try and find a place to pattern my shotgun. Had to walk off trail to find a nice berm with a good backstop so I stepped in a lot of dead leaves, vegetation, and ferns. This was my first time using Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus so I drenched myself in it. Primarily all over my skin, very limited application on my clothes beyond a few sprays on the outside. The gnats, flies, and mosquitoes would all try to land and find an uncovered spot but they couldn't beyond a few tiny areas. I only had about 5 small low duration mosquito bites. This is a heavily infested area, and if I were to go without repellent it would only be tolerable for about two minutes with the flies and mosquitoes so I would count the 5ish bites as a success. I kept checking my skin throughout the hike for ticks and was surprised to find none of them. Well........... that changed very quickly when I got into the car and it turned into a horror movie scene as probably 40 of them came out of me throughout my long drive home. Surprisingly, I only had one attached to me when I got home and did the full body check. Just gently pulled it out with a tweezer. I think the OLE works, as evidenced by only one attaching to my skin however this experience has left me shook a little bit and I am just thinking of using the nuclear option of Picaridin on the skin and Permethrin treated clothes. I do wonder however what the results would be if I thoroughly sprayed the insides and outsides of my clothes with the OLE along with my skin and want to test it out sometime. The OLE has a very strong scent to it and although is a natural plant derived oil, I wonder if big game or game in general would associate it with danger.

 

[Wolfshead]

I’m going to say that if the scent is not natural to the area then the game will most likely not tolerate it, plant or man made.
I would love something natural to use but after getting bit last fall I’m on the picaridin, and permethrin band wagon.
I was out scouting about a week ago and nothing, even when I was finally home and did a full body search, nothing.
I’m sure that they do give off their own scent, although I can’t smell it, I’m sure that game can most likely.
As always play the wind with what ever you choose, and best wishes.

 

[jimbires]

the ticks are still in a lull here . I probably haven't picked more than a few , in a month or so . it makes being in the woods a lot nicer .