Ticks!

[nygfaninva]

I have picked up a few unwanted guests on two of my last DG outings. Of course chasing after a friends disc in the deep woods (OB) probably helped, but what can be done about ticks? Best way to keep them off you and do they climb in your bag or am I being paranoid?

[Doktor John]

I deal with ticks all the time when I travel...especially in heavily wooded courses...I put coconut oil on my legs and arms and it seems to help keep them off but they get on my clothes and bag alot...I had one fall off my bag at my hotel and saw him crawling on my sheets.
I do a thorough search of my body after each round.

[sfeather]

If a tick attaches itself, do NOT just rip it out. Doing so will leave being its giant long vacuum cleaner of an probosces (nose) which may take a month to be forced out by your body in an annoying, and often painful process.

It is possible to forcibly remove a tick with tweezers, but may result in the above.

Place soft liquid hand soap on a cotton ball. Place the cotton ball over the tick. The tick will feel like it is going to suffocate and will pull out on its own and turn on the cotton ball. Throw away cotton ball, or, if you feel angry at the unwanted violation, torch said cotton ball and feel satisfaction when the tick goes POP!

[ryandr]

You may have also heard of using Skin-So-Soft by Avon. That has worked and it doesn't smell as bad as bug repellant but it does leave you a little oily, but after a good game of DG one is tipically a little oily and dirty anyway (at least that is how it is here in the muggy and wet parts of the county). Also have heard of taking garlic supplements/pills. And then my grandfather used to use coil oil on his boots, but if your game gets too hot you may combust. Good luck.

[JConnell]

http://www.offprotects.com/i/products/prodshot_deepwoodsports.jpg

This stuff works great: http://www.offprotects.com/sportsmen.aspx

[Russell Gore]

DEET DOES NOT WORK!!!!!!!!! It is only about 20% effective against ticks. DEET is a mosquito repellent. Also that is all it does to ticks, repel. Look up PERMETHRIN it actually kills the little boogers when they get on your clothes. This stuff is a spray applied to clothes and last up to 6 weeks even through washing. It is also kinda of expensive, but it works. I have watched about 4 or 5 ticks just fall off and die. It also seems to work on all kinds of other pests. Even the Cicadas seem to stay away now, and if they do make it my clothes they bounce off and keep going. They don't like this stuff at all!!!!!!!!!

The stuff I bought is Sawyer Premium Clothing insect repellent.

[Amorybulldog]

Met a guy who puts flea/tick collars for dogs around his ankles. Swears it works on ticks and chiggers. I personally don't have a problem with chiggers but the ticks in our woods are awful. Thanks for the cotton ball tip, I generally rip them off and bite can itch for a month. Will try the cotton ball thing.

[JConnell]

DEET DOES NOT WORK!!!!!!!!! It is only about 20% effective against ticks. DEET is a mosquito repellent. Also that is all it does to ticks, repel. Look up PERMETHRIN it actually kills the little boogers when they get on your clothes.

Permethrin is indeed the best for killing ticks before they do their damage, but your statement that "DEET does not work" is not accurate. They each have their advantages and disadvantages, but most people will tell you that the best possible solution is to use both.

Also, I'm not speaking for all products with DEET, just the OFF Deep Sport Woodsmen. I have been using it for years while camping, hiking, playing DG, etc. and have yet to get a tick bite (or mosquito bite) while doing so. The stuff works wonders, at least for me it does.

[Russell Gore]

I should have clarified what I was saying. It does nothing for me except make my skin BURN. I can't use the stuff, it's like spraying liquid fire on my skin. Anyhow the permethrin is the only stuff I have been able to use, and it works. The little boogers just die within seconds of getting on my clothes.

[ERicJ]

http://www.offprotects.com/i/products/prodshot_deepwoodsports.jpg

This stuff works great: http://www.offprotects.com/sportsmen.aspx

FYI: I found Off Deep Woods Sportsman small pump spray for sale in person at Bass Pro Shops (http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Shop_10151_-1_10001).

I should have clarified what I was saying. It does nothing for me except make my skin BURN. I can't use the stuff, it's like spraying liquid fire on my skin. Anyhow the permethrin is the only stuff I have been able to use, and it works. The little boogers just die within seconds of getting on my clothes.

I found Sawyer Permethrin products (http://www.sawyerproducts.com/products.htm#003) for sale in person at REI (http://www.rei.com/).

ERic

[MooTaters]

Not to necrobump, but thanks for the tips. Just found 2 on me, luckily they hadn't locked their teeth in me yet...even though it's been around 3 hours since I finished playing. They suck to kill though, pretty much need a knife to do any damage.

[Jukeshoe]

Typically, I deal with ticks by attempting to find another primate (preferably of the opposite sex) and pick off each other's ticks in a social grooming ritual. To top it off, ticks make good eating, too!

Just watch out for the bloody ones! :)

[MooTaters]

Do you cook them first? Maybe put them in the smoker for some extra flavor.

[FredVegasDGC]

I spray off on my arms & legs, even thought it's not a tick repellent it does help keep ticks off.

One thing that really works for me are Dr School's Diabetic socks. The reason they work so well for ticks is the top part of the sock that goes around the ankle is made of very soft cotton in a relaxed weave pattern. For some reason ticks get caught up in this and cannot crawl through.

I have been able to catch many ticks after a round caught in the socks.

The best thing for ticks is rubbing alcohol. Especially seed ticks that are really small. After a round I take a bottle of rubbing alcohol and wipe down my legs if I think I might have a tick on me.

When you shower after a round you need to check your scalp, behind your ears and any place that your skin creates a fold. (armpits, behind your knee, around your waist and other obvious areas)

[kerq6c]

The best way I keep ticks off me is to eat garlic everyday. They and mosquitoes don't like to bite me much after that. Although when you sweat it does not have a very pleasing odor.

[kerq6c]

Also I don't remember where but it is possible to buy 100% deet or it was. I will ask my brother where he got his

[elevated plastic]

I hate ticks with a passion. Luckily I live at a high enough elevation where there is none. My poor dog gets raped by them when we go down the hill in the winter. Whenever I play where ticks are an issue I check myself for them every few holes. I've only had a few on me and only once did one get me. @!:" ticks!

[BionicRib]

Around my area......."chicago area"....The majority of ticks I see are the dog ticks, which can give you Rocky Mountain spotted fever I guess. They are usually found in dense grassy fields.......The deer ticks is what you need to really keep an eye out for (very tiny) red backs.......The sad part is that most of diseases from ticks (and bare in mind I am not a doctor, but have one in the family) come from the little baby ticks (and most likey you wont even see these little bastards). The best thing you can do when you get a tick is get a pair of tweezers and pull them out as close to the head as possible. DO NOT BURN THEM!!! If you try to burn them out they will excrete more of their potentially diseased saliva into your bloodstream.
If after you pull them out you suspect any of the head or mouth parts still imbedded in the skin...go to a doctor to have them removed.

I have heard that the permetherin (or however you spell it) does help, but I have also heard that any repellent you apply to keep ticks away you need to reapply more frequently than you would when you are trying to repel mosquitos.

Tuck your pants in your socks when you play and where very light colored clothing so you can see them if they get on you........I haven't tried wearing white pants, but if you are really worried about it they could help (and yes people will laugh at you). Also ticks do not jump they just latch on and crawl. Some guy was freaking out on a local course by me and he swore that ticks can jump really far........they don't jump, but if anyone has a video of a jumping tick I would love to see it.

[Disc Fiend]

Ticks are the reason I wont play the course around the corner from me all summer!! You are guaranteed to have like 4-5 of them on you after a round and it isn't even worth the hassle. I hate ticks sooo much :mad:

[Goatman]

Tick are really bad here. I use a mix of vinegar and water. It will deter ticks fairly well. Repel with 40% deet works pretty good too.

[billnchristy]

Ticks suck!

[Samsquanch]

Ticks suck!

Yeah, Samsquanch has to pull off hundreds each week. :thmbdown:

[RnROutlaw]

Had a tick bite my back when I was a kid, my dad ripped it off me and a little piece of skin came with it...I hate ticks. Haven't had any issues with them on the course though.

[Zach-R.]

I'm traveling and playing in the Oklahoma City area & they are very, very bad here. I have never had to deal with them before, and I have found I'm not very fond of them @ all. I have pulled a couple out of me, and numerous off my clothes while out here. I feel I have tick phobia while playing now and check myself religiously @ an itchy feeling, or anytime the phobia builds.

[Zach-R.]

DEET DOES NOT WORK!!!!!!!!! It is only about 20% effective against ticks. DEET is a mosquito repellent. Also that is all it does to ticks, repel. Look up PERMETHRIN it actually kills the little boogers when they get on your clothes. This stuff is a spray applied to clothes and last up to 6 weeks even through washing. It is also kinda of expensive, but it works. I have watched about 4 or 5 ticks just fall off and die. It also seems to work on all kinds of other pests. Even the Cicadas seem to stay away now, and if they do make it my clothes they bounce off and keep going. They don't like this stuff at all!!!!!!!!!

The stuff I bought is Sawyer Premium Clothing insect repellent.

I bet this stuff has the "State of California has found the following product to cause :sick::gross:"

[inourdr]

When I use to live in CT my wife and I would use flea collars for the dog as well as our selves. We cut them up into strips in slid them into the top of our shoe laces. Worked well. Once we got home and finished deticking the dog (47 was the record one time!) we showered using Dr. Bonners Peppermint soap and the ticks would drop right off. You can learn more about organic ways to repel ticks here...

http://organicdatabank.info/databank-newmain-239/pet-care/23-flea-and-tick/604-much-ado-about-lyme-disease.html

[Clonan]

Here's a doosie for ya. Found this on my dog :sick:

[jtreadwell]

Here's a doosie for ya. Found this on my dog :sick:

Like a jellybean with legs!:gross: I've yet to find a tick at my home course, but a lot of the other courses I play in the southern Maine and New Hampshire area are pretty bad. I'm paranoid enough and liberal enough with the DEET that I've never been bitten, so I have to say that paranoia and big spray are the best solutions. I've heard that if you dob some Vaseline on an imbedded tick it will have the same effect as the cotton ball trick. The tick starts to suffocate and pulls out, then you can remove and slaughter it.

[chrishysell]

even bugs dislike me

[billnchristy]

I user Dr. Brauner's every day. Dude's a whack job though if you ever read the bottle you'll feel like you are in the Branch Davidian shower room.

[simpletwist]

The baby ticks are indeed the worst of the culprits and almost impossible to feel or see. And this is the worst time of year for ticks. You are 5 times more likely to contract Lyme Disease from an immature deer tick than an adult. But you can still get the disease from the adults. I HATE TICKS!

DEET does work, as well as other products. Wear light colored clothing with long pants and pull your socks over your pant legs. This offers you extra protection. It wouldn't hurt to spray the bottom and sides of your bag. and spray your shoes, socks and pant legs.

Fortunately here in Western NY although there are ticks, there just doesn't seem to be that many and I have yet to see one at any of the courses I normally play.

On a silly side note. If you are a conspiracy theorist nutjob or you just like poking fun at them, according to Jesse Ventura Lyme disease is a government bio-weapon that escaped a lab in Long Island Sound and got to the shores of CT. Lyme, CT.

[New013]

the easiest and best way to remove an attached tick is to take a can tab and use the little circle on the inside that attached it to the can as a wedge. you just slide it down from the ticks head and because it's so thin it disconnects the tick without removing the head and causing all of crap in the tick to spew in to your body causing you to get sick or a disease.

another good but messier way is to apply a thick layer of vaseline over the tick. this stops the tick from breathing and he'll back out on his own.

[discdoh]

the easiest and best way to remove an attached tick is to take a can tab and use the little circle on the inside that attached it to the can as a wedge. you just slide it down from the ticks head and because it's so thin it disconnects the tick without removing the head and causing all of crap in the tick to spew in to your body causing you to get sick or a disease.

There is also a product available called a Tick Key...

http://www.tickkey.com/

I have yet to try mine, but it sounds like it does the trick.

[Hampstead]

One season, when I was working as a Naturalist, I averaged close to a dozen ticks a day. Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and feel one crawling on me. If I didn't feel like getting up and flushing it down the toilet, I would just throw it on the floor and hope to find it the next day.

One thing I did notice, if I wore light brown or khaki colored clothing I would get more ticks. I suppose it could be because most mammals are lighter on the underside of their bodies and ticks might see that as a good food source.

[Hampstead]

I haven't figured out how to post videos, but this seems appropriate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peHNOqhCETc



Ween - Tick

[agapedad]

Our health department sent out a warning that ticks are already appearing this year and in greater numbers than they have in the past! YEAH!

I found one when I played Idlewild last week, but just chalked it up to being so much further south, finding one so early. Guess they are going to be early everywhere!

[1978]

Didnt read the whole thread.

But keep in mind for you leg/ankle protectors. Many ticks sit in trees and fall onto you as you are walking. If you are concerned about them (eww they are gross, limes disease, etc.) Check everywhere, protect everywhere. Also, remember, ticks might miss when they drop from whereever they are: you get back to your hotel or home and the little buggers can search you and your pets out after hitching a ride in your DG bag.

Darn this thread. I just had 10 spots on my head and back start to itch just thinking about ticks.

[1978]

Dogs... ever find a tick on a cat? We find them all the time on our dog. I have 3 outdoor cats. They very rarely have fleas and I have never seen a tick. The dog goes out to pee and comes back in and gets 2 ticks and 20 fleas. Dumb dog.

[GordEzo]

When I was into climbing , the trick was to put all your clothes and gear on a chair when we were done . If you had any ticks hiding anywhere , they would climb up the chair back to be at the highest point ! If you have one in custody and you breathe (CO2) towards them , they would come towards you !

[MurderMike41370]

FSbk9Vn5eCU

[MurderMike41370]

02Tlzapl8ig

[Moify]

I played a round in a wooded course shirtless, happened to reach back to scratch my back, and felt one crawling on my back...

Needless to say, I spent the rest of the afternoon freaking out every time I had even the slightest itch. Ticks are the worst.

[Menacewarf]

Worked on my course all today and although it was the first day of blackly season the real bug highlight was the nine or ten ticks I pulled off me.

[DanJon]

i had one cut out of my leg last week and now im on antibiotics!

[duckychucky]

While working on bike trails in the brush last year i always
wore long pants tucked into my socks and lots of deet
Sprayed on my clothes and on my body at entry points.
I never got a tick on a work day, but i had probably 10
Bites on my off days when i never went in the woods.
The deet only slows them down and keeps them from
Biting, they would hang out on my clothes and hitch a
Ride into my van, then on my day off wearing shorts and
no bug spray they would be waiting for me on the drivers
Seat. This year i dont go into the brush with out
permethrin and deet sprayed at entry points and havnt had any

[donnyv]

Had three of them hitch a ride on me last week while I was walking the layout with the park's manager. Sneaky lilttle devils.

[NovaDiscHead]

Tick are really bad here. I use a mix of vinegar and water. It will deter ticks fairly well. Repel with 40% deet works pretty good too.

Tasting like Goat meat is probably the best repellant you have ;)

[Grape Drank]

I live in WI, we have plenty of ticks here but there are a few ways I have to counter them without needing to purchase anything. First is sort of a genetics thing, and sorry women you are probably out of luck here. Hairy legs are you friend, you can feel every tick that wants to crawl up your leg. When I was a young lad I would get ticks all the time and not notice, but with thick hair the odds are in your favor. Another thing I have heard is that people with darker skin tend to have less issues with ticks, and it has proven true for me at least.

I will still get a tick on occasion even with these genetic advantages. Don't panic just make sure you grab the tick by the head and pull out. It will rip off some skin but that is ok. If you want to avoid them all together I suggest moving quickly. You can cover way more ground than a tick can, they have a very limited window of opportunity to strike. If you are searching for your disc in the woods try to keep moving and touch as little foliage as possible. After you exit an area that is likely to harbor ticks I suggest doing a quick check for them. It's a lot easier to get them before they attach. Check the ankles, neck and try to "snap" your shirt by pulling it out from your chest and letting it go, this can launch ticks off that are crawling on your shirt.

One other word of advice, play with someone who has had lymes disease, because all the ticks will be attracted to them.

[TwoTechnics]

i wear underarmour tights under my pants, it may get hot some times, but i play most of my rounds during the twilight times, (4-8) so its way worth it. just get a pair that are breathable and you should be good.

[dpgauthier]

the easiest and best way to remove an attached tick is to take a can tab and use the little circle on the inside that attached it to the can as a wedge. you just slide it down from the ticks head and because it's so thin it disconnects the tick without removing the head and causing all of crap in the tick to spew in to your body causing you to get sick or a disease.

another good but messier way is to apply a thick layer of vaseline over the tick. this stops the tick from breathing and he'll back out on his own.

^^^This. I saw a guy do the Vaseline trick on his leg. Tick backed that a$$ up in 5-10 minutes.

[MDeezy]

I have a huge paranoia of ticks after going to bed with one on me last year. I woke up and found him the next morning after he had been feeding all night. About a week later I had to go to the hospital after I became very sick. The doctor told me if you get lyme disease, it is a disease, and you have it for life. He also mentioned, it is best to get them off your skin within four hours (apparently after four hours, they have started seriously feeding).

I played a round a few weeks ago and found 7 on me, 4 of which were found crawling on the inside of my pants.

[Thomas437]

Really Deezy? I live on the east side of the state and have never come across ticks. I always thought they werent as prevalent in this state as they are in others.

[notBOB]

rocky mtn spotted fever=not cool, thought i was dying :(, try not to get it

[MDeezy]

Really Deezy? I live on the east side of the state and have never come across ticks. I always thought they werent as prevalent in this state as they are in others.

The seven I got were playing Meyer Broadway (Three Rivers Mi) . I have had them on me at the home course in Saugatuck Mi, and playing in Nothern Mi as well. Last year I was in Maine and had two on me when I finished a round.

[Dthunderchicken]

FWIW, I spend a lot of time in the woods/weeds and rarely get ticks, mosquito bites, never had a spider bite. When I asked my dermatologist about it, he asked if I eat a lot of garlic and onion. (Which I do.) According to him, garlic is a natural bug repellant. I’ve heard that garlic is a big ingredient in those bug repellant pills.

A bit of a funny story. When we had dogs, a buddy of mine informed us that we had fleas in our carpet. Until then I never noticed any fleas and they never bothered sweetie or me. I guess because of our diet. (Who knows, capsaicin may repel bugs too.)