For hunters and anglers, getting off the beaten path is the whole point. You push through dense brush to find the perfect deer stand, sit motionless against a tree trunk for hours, or wade through tall marsh grass to reach a hidden fishing hole.
Unfortunately, the exact behaviors that make you a successful sportsman also make you a prime target for ticks.
Hunters and anglers face a significantly higher risk of tick exposure than the average hiker. If you spend your autumns in the woods or your springs by the water, you need a specialized approach to tick safety. Here is how to protect yourself in the field.
The Unique Risks for Sportsmen
1. Deep Habitat Penetration Unlike hikers who stay on cleared trails, hunters and anglers actively seek out the dense, overgrown areas where ticks thrive. Pushing through heavy brush, sitting in leaf litter, and dragging harvested game out of the woods all guarantee high-level contact with tick habitats.
2. The Fall Resurgence Many people mistakenly believe that ticks die off after the first frost. In reality, adult blacklegged (deer) ticks have a massive resurgence in activity during the fall—exactly when archery and rifle seasons are in full swing [1]. These adult ticks will actively seek a host on any day the temperature rises above freezing.
3. Handling Harvested Game When you harvest a deer, turkey, or other game animal, you are handling an animal that is likely covered in ticks. As the animal’s body temperature drops, the ticks will detach and begin looking for a new, warm host—like the hunter field-dressing the animal or dragging it back to the truck.
Pre-Hunt Preparation
Your defense starts long before you step into the woods.
Treat Your Gear Permethrin is a hunter’s best friend. It is an insecticide that kills ticks on contact and is odorless once dry, so it will not spook game. Spray your hunting clothes, boots, backpack, and even your ground blind or seat cushion with a 0.5% permethrin solution. Allow everything to dry completely outdoors before use.
Layer Up Even in early bow season when it is warm, resist the urge to wear short sleeves. Wear lightweight, breathable long pants and long sleeves. Tuck your base layer shirt into your pants, and tuck your pants into your boots or socks. This forces ticks to crawl up the outside of your clothing, giving the permethrin time to kill them.
In the Field Tactics
Avoid the Brush When Possible When walking to your stand or blind, try to use established game trails or cleared paths rather than busting through the thickest brush.
Use Repellents on Exposed Skin Apply an EPA-registered repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to your neck, wrists, and any other exposed skin. Be mindful of scent control; if you are hunting scent-sensitive game, opt for unscented picaridin or rely heavily on your permethrin-treated clothing.
Be Careful When Field Dressing When field dressing or dragging an animal, wear long rubber gloves that cover your wrists. This not only protects you from blood-borne pathogens but also creates a barrier against ticks abandoning the carcass. Once the animal is loaded, do a quick visual check of your arms and chest.
The Post-Hunt Protocol
When you get back to camp or home, your hunt is not over until you complete your tick check.
Put your hunting clothes directly into a hot dryer for 10 minutes to kill any hitchhiking ticks. Take a shower and perform a thorough full-body check. Use a hand-held mirror to check your back and the backs of your legs.
If you find a tick attached, you need to remove it immediately. The cheap plastic tweezers in a standard first aid kit will not cut it. You need the Trail Ready Solutions Tick Removal Kit. Designed for the rugged demands of the outdoors, our kit features a Military MOLLE pouch that attaches perfectly to your hunting pack or bino harness. With precision steel tools and a magnifying mirror, you can safely extract the tick and get back to the hunt.
References
[1] New York State Department of Health, “Be Tick Free – A Guide for Preventing Lyme Disease,” https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2825/
Your Trail. Your Safety. Your Kit.