I am getting ready to go to Oklahoma D-Day paintball event (Go Allies!). I was reading on their site that they have a lot of ticks in the area.

My question is: what is the best way of preventing tick bites (chemically or otherwise) and also of preventing the little critters from getting into your tent?

If this was already discussed, please point me to the right thread, I couldn't really find it.

I have had very good experience by spraying my clothing with Permanone by Repel. It's for clothing use (not skin). Spray it on your clothing, hats, socks, gear, boots, etc. a day before you pack up so it dries well. No smell, no, stain, and the ticks will just about jump off of you. I live in Southeast Virginia which is thick with ticks and chiggers and this stuff is great.

You might be able to spray it on the tent floor if it's that poly type stuff, but not on the tent fabric because it might make it leak.

Regards,

Tom A.

Good ole tight cuffs is also a good way to help defeat them.

Any kind of clothing spray containing permethrin is effective. I've spent many a day in east OK that way; my parents live near there and it's our favorite camping area.

I've always just sprayed pants & cuffs with DEET - unless wearing synthetics - for that I've been using Cutter Advanced lately. Then do a REAL GOOD post-activity body scan as soon as possible.

Wearing light colored socks and pants will help you spot them -- they are just about impossible to find on dark colored clothes.

While it will make you look like a dork, you can tuck your pant legs into your socks if you need to walk through an area of tall grass. Also keep in mind deer tics and Western black-legged tics (the ones known to carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever) are much smaller than traditional ticks. The nymphs are only about the size of the head of a pin.

There is a bunch of information availble online, so read up on things. The Western black-legged tick is the one that you need to watch out for in Oklahoma.



Jim

Permethrin for your clothes & deet for you. That combo has always served me well.

I've heard that eating a lot of garlic will help keep mosquitos and ticks off of you .

I think Garlic failed one of the tests for mosquitoes, but don't know about ticks.

BTW, it takes several hours, after biting, to infect you. So, check after you're done and you should still be OK.

I wouldn't tuck my pants into my socks because it leaves the top of your boots exposed. Those little critters can squeeze in through the top of your boot.

What I would do is get lightweight, light-colored fishing pants that don't have zip-off legs with an extra-long inseam. After you put your pants and boots on, drop your drawers and tightly blouse your pants to the outside of your boots. Use really good blousing straps, large ranger bands, or duct tape. That is what I do and it works very well for me, YMMV. I then do a full body check when the day is over. Those little critters will get into the craziest places.

The whole trick is light-colored clothing with long sleeves and gap/opening control.