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Old 10-12-2021, 01:00 AM
fishnguy fishnguy is offline
 
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Default Winter ticks are ruining my hunts

Last year, for the first time I ran into a bunch of these ticks. At least once with hundreds, if not thousands, of them all over me (I’d say about elbow level and down). The first time I ran into them I didn’t even realize it was ticks because I was in the middle of an exciting hunt chasing elk. A couple of days later, I had a few dozens of bites, mostly around the waist area, upper torso, and ankles. I asked some questions on the forum and posted some very good info in the thread last year, much appreciation to ticdoc for the info provided. Here is the thread: http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=389044

So last year was very rainy (probably one of the rainiest summers I can remember), which was ideal conditions for these little parasites to flourish and wait for their time come September, to find a host and torture some moose. This year, the summer was a complete opposite: extremely dry and very hot, so I thought I wouldn’t get to see them this fall when hunting.

Fast forward to past Saturday. I finally got to go hunting the bush for the first time and guess what? I collected a bunch of these little ****ers on me again. No real action as far as elk went, but these really just reduced my outing experience by a lot. Oh well, what are you going to do.

So the next day, on Sunday, I went to the valley for round two. Before heading for a hunt, I stopped by Walmart to pick up some bug spray, just in case, since some suggested last year it works and keeps these little things away. In Walmart, I actually saw something called tick repellent that looked like this:



I figured that it must better than bug spray since it is designed to keep the ticks away, so I grabbed a bottle and away I went.

Even less elk action on Sunday, but guess what? You guessed it, the ****ing things are all over me again. Even more this time than the day before. I didn’t spray myself right away (I hate these sprays myself and guessing the smell doesn’t help bush hunting either). But once I caught the first “bunch”, I did and did so liberally.

I guess, at this point one needs to understand what these little (insert f word) do. When their time comes, they climb up the vegetation and just sit there waiting for something, preferably a moose, to pick them up for a ride that lasts all winter long, during which they torture the animal, in some cases killing the host. I am sure most of you saw the half-naked moose in the winter. This is what they look like while waiting for their ride:



Disgusting, right? Not my pic, I borrowed it from a CBC article. I didn’t get to see this kind of thing myself, though I am sure I would if I paid more attention. So they sit there and wait. The grab on to the first thing that passes by and then it looks like this:



Sometimes, they are closer together before they spread out. That’s on my pants when I noticed the first contact. So, they just get attached to whatever passes by, so of course the spray wouldn’t prevent that. But sure should make them drop off, right? Lol. Wrong! Here are my pants about 6-7 hours after I liberally sprayed myself (not sure how well one can see this on a computer screen, but on the phone it zooms in quite “nicely”):



Don’t mind the large brown spots (evolution of my hunting pants often begins as a part of my office outfit and once not suitable for that, they go for house work, hunting, etc). I spilled some paint on myself earlier this year, lol. But notice all those tiny dots. Yep, ticks, everyone of them. And lots of them. Like I said, this is 6-7 hours after spraying myself with that thing and 4-5 hours after coming back home and getting undressed in the garage. By that time, they spread a bit and moved on to the surroundings (in particular, a door I recently painted that I dropped my pants on):



And elsewhere from my shirt and other clothing:



So… the reason for this thread is… what the heck do I do to keep them out? They are really ruining my hunts. Yesterday (Sunday) was nasty! They seemed to be everywhere I went. Definitely more of them than last year and I found them much higher up the valley than where they were last year. There are some serious hills in the valley that sometimes require you to grab on to a some vegetation to climb up. I found my hands covered with them after doing so a couple of times. The so-called repellent didn’t do squat. I really don’t use that much of “bad” language in life, not in English anyway, but if I wrote this thread using the words that even remotely describe how I feel, I would get banned immediately, no doubt about it.

So far, I can only see/feel a few bites on myself. Last year, they took a couple of days to appear and a couple more days to start itching like crazy (for about a month!). So I didn’t even get hit with the Sunday stuff yet. Hopefully, there aren’t many. Frankly, while their bites are extremely annoying and inconvenient, it’s the ticks all over you what bugs me most. They are really screwing with my head, distracting, and outright ruining what otherwise would be excellent and enjoyable outings. Even if there is no elk action I am looking for. For example, today in the am, I found a bunch of elk in the field, followed them down the valley, called in a bunch of cows and spikes (a bunch were no more than 15-20 yards from me), the bull bugled close by but never came within my sight and then kept moving down. Once we hit the point where I knew there are ticks there, I stopped short and went home. I guess I had enough the two previous days. Beyond frustration.

Funny enough, like I mentioned, I hate bug sprays. Usually the point where I reach for one, many would be reaching for a gun to end the misery, lol. But these ****ers are really getting to me.

So… without further rambling, does anyone know how to keep these nasty little things off? I don’t care if they catch on, but would really like them to drop off shortly after.

Any advice would appreciated!
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Old 10-12-2021, 02:50 AM
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You need to use permethrin on your clothes. Plenty of info on the web but this should about cover it.


https://www.rokslide.com/forums/thre...-money.162187/


This was suggested last year… did you try it?
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Old 10-12-2021, 03:56 AM
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Do you mind saying what WMU this is in?
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Old 10-12-2021, 06:56 AM
cody j cody j is offline
 
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I only remember getting covered in those things one time, thousands of them everywhere after walking through some very thick bush in a good moose hunting area. None of them tried to latch on to me or bite me that i know of but still kinda creepy having them everywhere. I’ve had them on horses before, never heard of them doing anything to people but who knows
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Old 10-12-2021, 07:26 AM
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That's horrible. Creepy little buggers. Glad I haven't run into them in my excursions in the wmu's I hunt regularly.

No attempt to know your hot spots, i have my designated areas, but what part of North are you in? I know there used to be scads in the Ft Assiniboine and south of Grande Cache areas but I've never encountered them east and northeast of GP, and Smith area.
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Old 10-12-2021, 08:10 AM
Battle Rat Battle Rat is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Coiloil37 View Post
You need to use permethrin on your clothes. Plenty of info on the web but this should about cover it.


https://www.rokslide.com/forums/thre...-money.162187/


This was suggested last year… did you try it?
Yes. Probably still can't buy it in Canada but should be able to order jt.
I've used it south of the border and it gives 2 weeks protection for your clothes.
It kills the little buggers not just repell them
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Old 10-12-2021, 09:01 AM
calgarychef calgarychef is offline
 
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Yes. Probably still can't buy it in Canada but should be able to order jt.
I've used it south of the border and it gives 2 weeks protection for your clothes.
It kills the little buggers not just repell them
I treated a bunch of clothing for an overseas hunt and it worked great, my buddy didn’t and got munched pretty good.

Permethrin is available for agricultural use and needs
to be diluted to the correct %.

Also it’s death to cats and waterways so dispose of mindfully.
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Old 10-12-2021, 09:29 AM
Dan4570 Dan4570 is offline
 
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Every year I get covered in ticks. Whether its shed hunting in the spring (adult ticks) or hunting in fall(even when there's snow) I get a few hundred baby ticks on me.

Aside from being disgusting, the baby ticks are relatively harmless. I've never been bitten by one and I'm pretty certain moose or winter ticks aren't known to carry lymes.
I hunt mostly 250 and 254. And I agree, it would seem that being a dry year we would see less. But I have still have a few hundred on myself and my boys. I carry lint rollers, they work fantastic at picking them up and adhering them to the lint roller sheets.

In the spring. I splash peppermint oil all over my boots and pants. And as much as some naysayers says it won't work. It does. I clock hundreds of hours pushing bush for shed antlers and never get a tick when I use peppermint oil or other strong essential oils that are known to repel ticks.

I also wear light brown or light Grey pants and tuck my pants into my boots. That really shows those red ticks easy.

Last edited by Dan4570; 10-12-2021 at 09:41 AM.
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Old 10-12-2021, 09:33 AM
Big Grey Wolf Big Grey Wolf is offline
 
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Always thought good spray of pant legs with deep woods off kept the litttle buggars off you. I got more bites this year than normal when I work around equipment in grass, if forget to spray.
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Old 10-12-2021, 11:02 AM
fishnguy fishnguy is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coiloil37 View Post
You need to use permethrin on your clothes. Plenty of info on the web but this should about cover it.


https://www.rokslide.com/forums/thre...-money.162187/


This was suggested last year… did you try it?
Yes, I tried looking for it last year, with no success. Tried again today and found this:

https://thekoregarden.ca/product/gar...y-insecticide/

Comes up to $40 shipped. Wonder if there is something similar available in the stores under a different name. Maybe some farm supplies stores? Would love to have it in hands sooner rather than later, as the clock is not on my side as far as elk hunting goes.
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Old 10-12-2021, 11:10 AM
fishnguy fishnguy is offline
 
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Originally Posted by 270person View Post
That's horrible. Creepy little buggers. Glad I haven't run into them in my excursions in the wmu's I hunt regularly.

No attempt to know your hot spots, i have my designated areas, but what part of North are you in? I know there used to be scads in the Ft Assiniboine and south of Grande Cache areas but I've never encountered them east and northeast of GP, and Smith area.
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Do you mind saying what WMU this is in?
Haha. If it bring less people to the area, it will be my pleasure, lol.

This year it is 523. Last year - 522 and 523. I haven’t been to 522 this year yet, so I am pretty sure it is the same thing out there.
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Old 10-12-2021, 11:16 AM
fishnguy fishnguy is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Dan4570 View Post
Every year I get covered in ticks. Whether its shed hunting in the spring (adult ticks) or hunting in fall(even when there's snow) I get a few hundred baby ticks on me.

Aside from being disgusting, the baby ticks are relatively harmless. I've never been bitten by one and I'm pretty certain moose or winter ticks aren't known to carry lymes.
I hunt mostly 250 and 254. And I agree, it would seem that being a dry year we would see less. But I have still have a few hundred on myself and my boys. I carry lint rollers, they work fantastic at picking them up and adhering them to the lint roller sheets.

In the spring. I splash peppermint oil all over my boots and pants. And as much as some naysayers says it won't work. It does. I clock hundreds of hours pushing bush for shed antlers and never get a tick when I use peppermint oil or other strong essential oils that are known to repel ticks.

I also wear light brown or light Grey pants and tuck my pants into my boots. That really shows those red ticks easy.
Thanks. I did read about peppermint and other oils. Most say it doesn’t work, the same as “natural” mosquito repellents. That’s why I didn’t even think of it this time around.

I am guessing if some chemical designed tick repellent didn’t work, the oils won’t either? I will give it a try if I can’t find the other thing suggested above.

I have definitely been beaten plenty last year and so far a few times this year (woke up with a few more obvious bites today - weird how they pop out only 2-3 days after the fact). Same goes for my cousin hunting the same and similar areas.
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Old 10-12-2021, 11:27 AM
Dan4570 Dan4570 is offline
 
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Originally Posted by fishnguy View Post
Thanks. I did read about peppermint and other oils. Most say it doesn’t work, the same as “natural” mosquito repellents. That’s why I didn’t even think of it this time around.

I am guessing if some chemical designed tick repellent didn’t work, the oils won’t either? I will give it a try if I can’t find the other thing suggested above.

I have definitely been beaten plenty last year and so far a few times this year (woke up with a few more obvious bites today - weird how they pop out only 2-3 days after the fact). Same goes for my cousin hunting the same and similar areas.

This sounds pretty tedious. But I sleep in my truck alot for a few days at a time while bowhunting. I wear 2 pairs of light pants and always remove my outer clothes and leave them hanging over the truck box so I not only get no scent on them but don't bring ticks into the truck and contaminate the other clothes and gear. The lint rollers have really saved my hunts this year and we were able to hunt all day after checking ourselves every hour or so. Last year I was hunting with my 11 year old son, decided to check him for ticks and his hair and neck were covered in them. We drove straight back home a few hours and I shaved his head. I also keep my hair short on the sides and neck because that's the most common place ticks will go for.

As for the oils. The only day I got an adult tick on me this year. Was the day I didn't put any oil on my pants when I went for a 2 hour walk for sheds on a shed hunting trip. I hiked 900 kms this year and only got that one where I normally get a dozen or so adult ticks. I don't use the oil when I'm bowhunting so I don't spook deer. But I won't hesitate in rifle season.
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Old 10-12-2021, 11:28 AM
fishnguy fishnguy is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Dan4570 View Post
I carry lint rollers, they work fantastic at picking them up and adhering them to the lint roller sheets.
I thought about it last year. The problem is (and this year in particular), it seems that they are on every second bush, everywhere in the grass, etc. Like I mentioned, I would grab on to a young poplar or some short brush to help me climb up a drop and my hand would immediately get covered in these things. It’s brutal. I would spend more time rolling them off me than doing anything else. Definitely won't be able to hunt that way.

Last year they were out until mid or late November. While it was an unusually warm fall and at least first half of December, we did have close to below 20 nights and I would still find them the next day or days after. They simply refuse to die, lol.
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Old 10-12-2021, 11:38 AM
Dan4570 Dan4570 is offline
 
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Last year they were out until mid or late November. While it was an unusually warm fall and at least first half of December, we did have close to below 20 nights and I would still find them the next day or days after. They simply refuse to die, lol.
The first time I ever started noticing these winter ticks was fall 2016. One was crawling across my phone. I thought it was a spider. Then I looked down at my jacket sleeves and gloves in my lap. And they were everywhere. I tossed out a perfectly good set of fleece pants and jacket because of it. Since then, they're always getting on me and I make a habit of drying my hunting clothes first and then washing and drying them. Ticks can survive being wet and then going through dryer. I prefer hunting grazing leases where cattle have kept the grass low. Anytime I'm in thick swamp bush with moose, I always get them.
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Old 10-12-2021, 11:54 AM
fishnguy fishnguy is offline
 
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I now noticed that I mentioned “unusual weather” on a few occasions in my posts. Bet you that is the culprit of it.

Some others suggested (including in PM’s) that they have been hunting some areas for years/decades but only ran into them for the first time last year or this. I have been hunting these areas for a few years as well and never saw them before last year. Surely they have been around. My cousin mentioned that he did see a few of them years prior and had similar bite or two, but the past couple of years are just insane. I hunted through them last year (ran into them for the first time end of September and only shot the bull on November28), but this year they are really in my head, lol.

People mentioned they ran into them in 526 and 527 as well, so all the surrounding areas.

Last year, I only found them closer to the river, I’d say as high as 1/3 up the valley (from the river), where I figured not only most of the moose and elk spend most of their time, but also maybe perfect humidity, etc. this year I ran into them as high as 2/3 up the valley or higher. Brutal.
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Old 10-12-2021, 12:06 PM
fishnguy fishnguy is offline
 
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The first time I ever started noticing these winter ticks was fall 2016. One was crawling across my phone. I thought it was a spider. Then I looked down at my jacket sleeves and gloves in my lap. And they were everywhere. I tossed out a perfectly good set of fleece pants and jacket because of it. Since then, they're always getting on me and I make a habit of drying my hunting clothes first and then washing and drying them. Ticks can survive being wet and then going through dryer. I prefer hunting grazing leases where cattle have kept the grass low. Anytime I'm in thick swamp bush with moose, I always get them.
I mostly hunt the river valleys, one or the other. Deep bush everywhere, lol. Never had a problem until last year.

Indeed, the drier works. They like the humidity, but can’t survive dry air for any extended period of time. The doc mentioned to me last year that even if you bring your clothes inside the house, they will certainly die shortly after because the air is usually dry in our houses, especially once the furnaces start working.

I dump my clothes into the dryer and run for half an hour (sometimes more, depending my level of “paranoia” at the moment, lol). These old pants are getting retired because I got caught on a brach and ripped them (it was mentally hard climbing back out with a giant hole on my knee with these thing all over the place, lol). So I put them in the garage to see what happens. The ticks are still there - so much for the repellent I bought, lol.

Funny thing is I know they are not much concern as far harming me goes, beyond extremely itchy bites, but I certainly can’t shake the idea of walking all day covered in them. What a sudden change it has been.
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Old 10-12-2021, 03:11 PM
Dan4570 Dan4570 is offline
 
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I suffered from the same paranoia at one time. I'd dream about them and not even want to go hunt or shed hunt. But the urge to explore and hunt took over that paranoia and now I have little fear of them. Same paranoia when I had a CWD deer and I ate the heart before I got the test back. More likely to die by hitting a moose or on the way to work or from the sickness we will not name.

All in all, very surprised about the bites from the larvae. I've never had one bite me and I always assumed they were too small to penetrate human skin. Hence why they have a life cycle of attaching to different hosts (mice/birds, then on to larger creatures when they evolve to nymph and then adult) they don't attach for life. They drop off a host every year to lay eggs. And male ticks don't pass lymes or feed on your blood(same as misquitoes).

But I certainly understand how it ruins a hunt. Most people I talk to, say they've never seen a tick.. but you can't get ticks hunting from the truck 🤣🤣
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Old 10-12-2021, 03:32 PM
270person 270person is offline
 
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Haha. If it bring less people to the area, it will be my pleasure, lol.

This year it is 523. Last year - 522 and 523. I haven’t been to 522 this year yet, so I am pretty sure it is the same thing out there.
I hunt 523 and 521 lots. Never seen one. Bizarre.

I bet I know why too, but then I'd be telling folks what I eat. And here i thought I was only hurting myself.
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Old 10-12-2021, 03:35 PM
JeanCretien JeanCretien is offline
 
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Do you mind saying what WMU this is in?

Agreed- telling us won’t bring anyone into his secret spot for sure. It’ll go on my never visit list. Wow!


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Old 10-12-2021, 03:50 PM
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Got chewed up real good last week in 936. Couple days later I soaked myself, and every layer of clothing, in deep woods off. Used up half a can, almost to the point of making me sick of the smell. 1 hour into the hunt, look down, covered in ticks. Didn’t get as many bites, but I caught them sooner.

Miserable little jerks. I will be using permethrin next time. Everyone who has done jungle work swears by it.
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Old 10-12-2021, 04:14 PM
cody j cody j is offline
 
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I hunt 523 and 521 lots. Never seen one. Bizarre.

I bet I know why too, but then I'd be telling folks what I eat. And here i thought I was only hurting myself.
Horse dewormer? Hahahaha
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Old 10-12-2021, 04:26 PM
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I was hunting west of Edmonton and haven’t seen or got any on myself or our dog. I guess it is all depends where you are…
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Old 10-12-2021, 06:21 PM
270person 270person is offline
 
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Horse dewormer? Hahahaha

Noooo. Far worse. Beans and garlic sausage. Helped me get rid of the ex. Must work on ticks too.

Got a neck gaiter now too so nothing can rise out the collar end.
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Old 10-12-2021, 06:46 PM
fishnguy fishnguy is offline
 
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All in all, very surprised about the bites from the larvae. I've never had one bite me and I always assumed they were too small to penetrate human skin. Hence why they have a life cycle of attaching to different hosts (mice/birds, then on to larger creatures when they evolve to nymph and then adult) they don't attach for life. They drop off a host every year to lay eggs. And male ticks don't pass lymes or feed on your blood(same as misquitoes).
It doesn’t work like that with these ticks. They are single host ticks, usually moose, to a lesser extent elk, and even less deer. They literally hatch, climb up the vegetation, grab on to a moose and spend their childhood, teenage years, and adulthood, lol, on one single animal. They fall off that animal mid spring, females lay eggs in early-mid summer, eggs hatch late summer, and so on. Hence, why these particular ticks do not carry any disease they can pass on to us. I was their first meal, for those that managed to bite me. The upside is that I was their last too, in all likelihood, lol.

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Most people I talk to, say they've never seen a tick.. but you can't get ticks hunting from the truck 🤣🤣
Lol.
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Old 10-12-2021, 06:59 PM
fishnguy fishnguy is offline
 
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Originally Posted by 3blade View Post
Got chewed up real good last week in 936. Couple days later I soaked myself, and every layer of clothing, in deep woods off. Used up half a can, almost to the point of making me sick of the smell. 1 hour into the hunt, look down, covered in ticks. Didn’t get as many bites, but I caught them sooner.

Miserable little jerks. I will be using permethrin next time. Everyone who has done jungle work swears by it.
If you find permethrin, let me know where. I spent quite a bit of time trying to find some in Canada without much success.

As for deet, I looked into other things today. That tick repellent I posted a pic of above has an active ingredient called icaridin. According to the research and experiments, it is a few steps better than deet as far as repellents go. In fact, it is the best one we have as far as bug repellents go. So if that obviously didn’t work (pants pic above as proof, lol), deet isn’t gonna cut it either.

Permethrin should do the trick. Impossible to find. Cabelas.com appear to be able to ship to Canada, at least according to the check out process before the payment screen. Comes to 50 USD for two bottles. Pricy, but surely worth it if you are hunting in areas like I apparently do. If it works, of course.

I am gonna look more into it and try to find the larger containers in which I can soak my clothes in and air dry it. Even granola munchers appear to be doing that for the backpacking/canoe/whatever trips and swear it works. Not sure if any of them ran into something like this hitting the bush though, lol.

You can also buy presoaked clothes, which “guarantee” will work for 70 wash cycles. All of it kind of sucks for hunting purposes though.

I read a lot of stuff today, lol.
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Old 10-12-2021, 07:32 PM
Smokinyotes Smokinyotes is offline
 
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UFA sells some kind of insecticide to be mixed with mineral oil for in Cattle oilers. Not sure I would want to wear it though.
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Old 10-12-2021, 07:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fishnguy View Post
Last year, for the first time I ran into a bunch of these ticks. At least once with hundreds, if not thousands, of them all over me (I’d say about elbow level and down). The first time I ran into them I didn’t even realize it was ticks because I was in the middle of an exciting hunt chasing elk. A couple of days later, I had a few dozens of bites, mostly around the waist area, upper torso, and ankles. I asked some questions on the forum and posted some very good info in the thread last year, much appreciation to ticdoc for the info provided. Here is the thread: http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=389044

So last year was very rainy (probably one of the rainiest summers I can remember), which was ideal conditions for these little parasites to flourish and wait for their time come September, to find a host and torture some moose. This year, the summer was a complete opposite: extremely dry and very hot, so I thought I wouldn’t get to see them this fall when hunting.

Fast forward to past Saturday. I finally got to go hunting the bush for the first time and guess what? I collected a bunch of these little ****ers on me again. No real action as far as elk went, but these really just reduced my outing experience by a lot. Oh well, what are you going to do.

So the next day, on Sunday, I went to the valley for round two. Before heading for a hunt, I stopped by Walmart to pick up some bug spray, just in case, since some suggested last year it works and keeps these little things away. In Walmart, I actually saw something called tick repellent that looked like this:



I figured that it must better than bug spray since it is designed to keep the ticks away, so I grabbed a bottle and away I went.

Even less elk action on Sunday, but guess what? You guessed it, the ****ing things are all over me again. Even more this time than the day before. I didn’t spray myself right away (I hate these sprays myself and guessing the smell doesn’t help bush hunting either). But once I caught the first “bunch”, I did and did so liberally.

I guess, at this point one needs to understand what these little (insert f word) do. When their time comes, they climb up the vegetation and just sit there waiting for something, preferably a moose, to pick them up for a ride that lasts all winter long, during which they torture the animal, in some cases killing the host. I am sure most of you saw the half-naked moose in the winter. This is what they look like while waiting for their ride:



Disgusting, right? Not my pic, I borrowed it from a CBC article. I didn’t get to see this kind of thing myself, though I am sure I would if I paid more attention. So they sit there and wait. The grab on to the first thing that passes by and then it looks like this:



Sometimes, they are closer together before they spread out. That’s on my pants when I noticed the first contact. So, they just get attached to whatever passes by, so of course the spray wouldn’t prevent that. But sure should make them drop off, right? Lol. Wrong! Here are my pants about 6-7 hours after I liberally sprayed myself (not sure how well one can see this on a computer screen, but on the phone it zooms in quite “nicely”):



Don’t mind the large brown spots (evolution of my hunting pants often begins as a part of my office outfit and once not suitable for that, they go for house work, hunting, etc). I spilled some paint on myself earlier this year, lol. But notice all those tiny dots. Yep, ticks, everyone of them. And lots of them. Like I said, this is 6-7 hours after spraying myself with that thing and 4-5 hours after coming back home and getting undressed in the garage. By that time, they spread a bit and moved on to the surroundings (in particular, a door I recently painted that I dropped my pants on):



And elsewhere from my shirt and other clothing:



So… the reason for this thread is… what the heck do I do to keep them out? They are really ruining my hunts. Yesterday (Sunday) was nasty! They seemed to be everywhere I went. Definitely more of them than last year and I found them much higher up the valley than where they were last year. There are some serious hills in the valley that sometimes require you to grab on to a some vegetation to climb up. I found my hands covered with them after doing so a couple of times. The so-called repellent didn’t do squat. I really don’t use that much of “bad” language in life, not in English anyway, but if I wrote this thread using the words that even remotely describe how I feel, I would get banned immediately, no doubt about it.

So far, I can only see/feel a few bites on myself. Last year, they took a couple of days to appear and a couple more days to start itching like crazy (for about a month!). So I didn’t even get hit with the Sunday stuff yet. Hopefully, there aren’t many. Frankly, while their bites are extremely annoying and inconvenient, it’s the ticks all over you what bugs me most. They are really screwing with my head, distracting, and outright ruining what otherwise would be excellent and enjoyable outings. Even if there is no elk action I am looking for. For example, today in the am, I found a bunch of elk in the field, followed them down the valley, called in a bunch of cows and spikes (a bunch were no more than 15-20 yards from me), the bull bugled close by but never came within my sight and then kept moving down. Once we hit the point where I knew there are ticks there, I stopped short and went home. I guess I had enough the two previous days. Beyond frustration.

Funny enough, like I mentioned, I hate bug sprays. Usually the point where I reach for one, many would be reaching for a gun to end the misery, lol. But these ****ers are really getting to me.

So… without further rambling, does anyone know how to keep these nasty little things off? I don’t care if they catch on, but would really like them to drop off shortly after.

Any advice would appreciated!
Peavy mart in peace has 10 litre jugs of cattle back rub I think it’s called it has permethrin in it only issue is it’s mixed with mineral oil
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  #29  
Old 10-12-2021, 09:00 PM
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Demonical Demonical is offline
 
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For the record, I've had 1 tick in my outdoor life, that was from Elephant Lake, Ontario, and was lucky to find it probably the day after I had gotten it on me.

So I got it off me with no harm done.

But from hearing talk of Ontario friends/relates, ticks are just obscene there right now. Just going in the back yard you are at risk!

In Alberta since 1980 and I've never known anyone to get a tick or even see one (touch wood).
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  #30  
Old 10-12-2021, 10:35 PM
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Coiloil37 Coiloil37 is offline
 
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5% permethrin available at peavy mart

https://www.peaveymart.com/animal-eq...cticide/222169


And again cheaper here.

https://www.syrvetcanada.ca/en/boss-...00-ml-mk056759

Idk if it’s oil or water based though. I’m not looking for tick repellent so I’ll leave some of that to you.


This is supposed to be .5% too and ready to spray.

https://www.sasonline.ca/mosquito-sh...tment-002.html

Last edited by Coiloil37; 10-12-2021 at 10:41 PM.
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