Hunting Tip: Keeping Ticks At Bay

(TacticalNews.com) – No one likes the thought of having a nasty little creature leeching the blood from their body. Unfortunately, ticks are quite common in North America. Not only are ticks notorious bloodsuckers, but their bite can endanger your health through a variety of diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Sure, there are tick repellants you can purchase to help keep the insects at bay, but when you are out on a hunt, the last thing you want is for a deer to smell the spray and bolt. So what options do hunters have for keeping ticks away?

Deer and Deer Hunting has a helpful video with some tips on how to do exactly that:

The first step in preventing ticks begins with your clothing. Wear a long-sleeve shirt, and tuck your pants into your socks or boots. This will force the tick to climb further up your body to find a place to attach, increasing the odds that it will fall off before it gets that far. Due to the wonders of modern science, hunters now have the option of buying clothing infused with tick repellent called ElimiTick. The kicker is that it is odorless, so you don’t have to worry about losing your buck because you reek of chemicals.

Ticks live in grassy, bushy and wooded areas, lying in wait for a host to pass by close enough to latch onto. If you plan to hunt in areas like this, it may be a good idea to trample down a path to your spot a month or two before your hunting trip to decrease the likelihood of a tick being able to latch on.

When you get home from any outdoor excursion, including your hunting trip, it is important that you shower thoroughly. Examine yourself while washing to ensure a tick didn’t make it past your defenses and make a meal out of you.

According to the CDC, the common areas ticks latch onto are:

In the hair on your scalp
In/around the ear
In the armpits
In the belly button
Around the waistline
On the backs of the knees

The great outdoors is a wonderful place, but there are always dangers to be aware of — especially when hunting. Always prepare ahead before you step foot out the door, whether it be to keep biting insects at bay, or to defend yourself from a wild animal.

Have you ever been bitten by a tick? Do you know someone who has? Reply to your email and share your experience, we would love to hear from you!