murphle Loc: Wisconsin

So I see a lot of bird photography and wildlife, nature in general. How do photogs deal with ticks? In Wisconsin, Lyme disease is on the rise and the ticks are plentiful. It's disgusting.

RSPB Loc: New York

Your local sporting goods store will probably carry a permethirin based insecticide product that is sprayed on the outside of your clothing and will repel ticks. It has worked very well for me. It lasts through several washings.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

also use a non DEET bug spray

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Deet on skin and permethrin on clothing - both products made by Ben's - been using these for years - I haven't grown a tail or a third eye, so I guess I am ok.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, that's the way to go. I got mine form Amazon. Google insect repellents, and get something good.

MJKilpatrick Loc: Cape May, NJ

Hi Murphle, We also have a lot of ticks in Southern New Jersey and I have spent a lot of time in spring, summer and fall in our wooded areas. My preference is treating clothes with Permethrin as first line of defense, Deet second. I have been in heavily tick infested areas and Permethrin is the most effective way. It is not a skin application, just clothes. Spray clothes.....boots and socks too..... down heavily then let dry. The treatment will last a couple weeks but I usually retreat weekly. I only spray a set outer wear, not the clothes near my skin, so I am always wearing a top layer of light clothing sprayed well. The layer next to skin you could spray with DEET daily and let dry. I also keep my field clothes in a plastic trash bag in my vehicle and change in the field. I also spray my rubber field boots, I like to wear tall rubber boots. Any exposed skin areas I will use Deet but most times I do not need it. You still want to do all the traditional tucking of clothes but I rarely even have to pull a tick off of me. Keep in mind that Deet has been around for a while and many insects, like mosquitoes, have started to show resistance to it. But Permethrin works for mosquitoes too as well as spiders and most arachnids. I would also suggest adjusting travel through woods differently. Ticks can be much more numerous on game trails and other areas used by mammals and birds. Most folks tend to walk through woods taking the path of least resistance like game trails or paths.......animals also take the paths of least resistance. These areas tend to be more prone for ticks..........I will usually cut through the brush, many times taking more difficult paths to spots but usually do not encounter as many ticks as I do if I follow a game trail of a well traveled path.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Too bad. A third eye would probably be useful for a photographer. And a tail would allow you to hold more gear.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

murphle Loc: Wisconsin

Wow, interesting stuff!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Columbia County, NY, which is where I live, is the Lyme Disease capitol of the world, from reports I have read. Our property backs up to a large wooded area and we have deer literally on our doorstep. They do a real job on my wife's flowers and shrubs. Just the same, the disease, while still a danger, is not rampant. I am in the outdoors everyday and in the woods quite often without taking any precautions other then long pants, long sleeve shirts, boots or sneakers and socks. I have my wife inspect me thoroughly at night if I have been in the woods. (That can turn into a lot of fun! Sometimes I will tell her I have been in the woods even when I haven't been!) She has only ever found a deer tick on me once. Wood ticks are a different story, but they are not dangerous. Additional precautions can't hurt. Repellents, taping your sleeves and pant legs tight, etc, but I wouldn't be overly paranoid. It seems that ticks will often jump onto your clothing and then jump or fall back off again if they can't find any flesh to attach to.
Common sense, and thorough inspections of your skin, should keep you safe.
I always thought that winter would be the safest time because of the cold. Our veterinarian, who just retired after more then 50 yrs in the business, once told me that he sees the most deer ticks in February.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I don't go into the brush looking for birds. I just shoot what lands on my fence or yard or my neighbor's bushes or on the electric wires. Deer tics are very small. About the size of a period on a printed letter. You could get one and never know it. If I have to go into the woods behind our house to pick up blowing trash or dump a large fallen branch, I cover myself head to toe, wear boots and gloves a jacket and a hat. Regular tics are at least easier to spot in head or body hair. I read that tics will sit on a leaf and time their fall to land on a passing person or dog. So when we walk we stay clear of low hanging branches that are just a few feet over our heads.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Just checking myself afterwards and removing any you may find, not a big deal!

murphle Loc: Wisconsin

Nasty little things

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Beyond the sprays.
Wear long pants tucked into the tops of boots and long sleeve shirts with tight cuffs and button up the collar. In other words cut down on the exposed skin as much as possible. A hat or head covering helps and avoid brushing up against vegetation or ducking under vegetation. Yes, I know it can get hot and uncomfortable but as the DI who taught that stuff in Army Basic put it: "You don't have to like it, you just have to do it."

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Regardless to whatever activity, indoors or out, if you live in deer country you are at risk. I had lyme disease. I was lucky and caught it early. Anyone in Connecticut is a potential victim. Be sure to check yourself very carefully after being outside, especially where deer are plentiful. If caught early, it can be cured with antibiotics (doxycycline). But if you are unfortunate to not have an early diagnosis, Lyme disease can be an easily missed diagnosis. So again, take precautions and be sure to check youself for deer tics after every outing. BTW the common dog tick is not a problem, as they do not transfer any disease. There is a risk of local infection, but other than that they do not pose any risk. Be sure to check your dogs for tics also. They get lyme disease also. One more thing--If you spend a lot o time in deer country you might want to go to yor Doc and have him rum a Lyme titer. Have your pets checked also. Better safe------