Hello All,
Some of you have voiced your concerns for us about hunting in sweltering, tick-infested woods here during the summer...So I though I would take a moment to share a tip or two...
First off, woods hunting in 90 degree weather during the peak times for ticks means adopting a different strategy and "feel" for a hunt. Ticks ARE serious--because of the diseases they can carry. Dehydration is another serious factor.
So here are a few tips, and a checklist of gear:
1. As with any woods hunting, take care not to fall down a well.
2. Every member of your team should have a compass on them, or a GPS unit.
3. Take several gallons of water. A Camel-Back is great for this. Even if you don't feel thirsty, keep drinking every break. By the time you are thirsty, it's too late.
4. Take something to sit on--be it a folding lightweight stool or (as we do) take a tarp with you. A tick-free place to sit or lie down greatly reduces the amount of wear and tear on you that the heat causes. (If you're worried about sitting on a large tarp with another dude or hunting buddy, take turns sitting and resting.
)
5. Hunt in short shifts of 45 minutes or so. The heat and rigors of pulling branches aside, kicking deadfall out of the way, and swinging the detector through vines and underbrush can take its toll on your mental abilities. No matter what detector you use, your Ambition and Concentration are your most valuable tools. Without them, you won't be able to make Great finds without dumb, blind luck. And extreme heat can deprive you of mental focus quickly.
Here's a list of some of the most important gear we pack with us. All of these are Essential for ticky, sweltering woods:
1. Polyester-blend professional Fishing/Hunting wear. This blend dries quickly, is anti-microbial, SUV protectant, and takes moisture away from the body. Ticks also have a more difficult time grabbing hold of it than they do jeans, cotton, denim, etc. This gear is expensive. Pants and long-sleeved shirt will cost you $75 or so. Buy a light color so that you'll frequently be able to see Ticks before they crawl all the way up and you can brush them off. The kind with detachable legs (convertible into shorts) are ideal, because ticks crawl up to the fold in the fabric on each leg, and then won't crawl downward and around. In essence, they get "stuck" at the zipper, and that keeps them from finding other less obvious places to hide.
2. Serious Tick Spray. I recommend the type that kills the buggards, and is good for six weeks on the clothing--even if it is washed. Cans will run about $12 at an Army Supply Store, and a can will last all summer.
3. Waterproof, high-top boots. Perfect for crossing creeks and remaining bone-dry. These must be high lace-ups, so that the pants can be tucked into them before they're tied. Then the shirt must be tucked in as well. So that way ticks can't get at you unless they crawl all the way up to your neck....which brings me to the next point...
4. A head net. These can be purchased for about $15 at an outdoors store or Army Surplus. Put your hat on, and put this over your head. You'll want the black mesh ones--for visibility. Make sure that the net has a ring around the bottom, to keep the mesh off your face. Cinch the drawstring at the bottom snug with your neck and tuck it in the top of your shirt. Button your shirt all the way up.
When you get back to the car after a hunt, unzip the bottom of your pants (turn them into shorts, and check the seam). Then remove the pants "legs." Remove boots (change into sandals), change shirts, and remove the head net. Throw everything into a garbage bag and tie it tightly closed. (That way you don't get Ticks in your car!) Then when you get home, throw the whole bag into the freezer overnight. When you get it out of the freezer, take the clothing and shake off the frozen ticks, and you're good to go.
Sounds like a lot of trouble, but I assure you it's worth it. The polyester-blend clothing feels light and airy, and it dries much faster than cotton does--so having long sleeves doesn't really make a difference in how hot you'll get in the woods. (And you'll WANT to have long sleeves!--or at least a shirt that is convertible from long to short sleeved.) I take rubber bands and wrap one around the outside of each of my sleeves to keep anything undesirable from crawling up.
So there are a few of our secrets.
Happy 99% Tick-Free Hunting,
Buckleboy
Some of you have voiced your concerns for us about hunting in sweltering, tick-infested woods here during the summer...So I though I would take a moment to share a tip or two...
First off, woods hunting in 90 degree weather during the peak times for ticks means adopting a different strategy and "feel" for a hunt. Ticks ARE serious--because of the diseases they can carry. Dehydration is another serious factor.
So here are a few tips, and a checklist of gear:
1. As with any woods hunting, take care not to fall down a well.
2. Every member of your team should have a compass on them, or a GPS unit.
3. Take several gallons of water. A Camel-Back is great for this. Even if you don't feel thirsty, keep drinking every break. By the time you are thirsty, it's too late.
4. Take something to sit on--be it a folding lightweight stool or (as we do) take a tarp with you. A tick-free place to sit or lie down greatly reduces the amount of wear and tear on you that the heat causes. (If you're worried about sitting on a large tarp with another dude or hunting buddy, take turns sitting and resting.
)5. Hunt in short shifts of 45 minutes or so. The heat and rigors of pulling branches aside, kicking deadfall out of the way, and swinging the detector through vines and underbrush can take its toll on your mental abilities. No matter what detector you use, your Ambition and Concentration are your most valuable tools. Without them, you won't be able to make Great finds without dumb, blind luck. And extreme heat can deprive you of mental focus quickly.
Here's a list of some of the most important gear we pack with us. All of these are Essential for ticky, sweltering woods:
1. Polyester-blend professional Fishing/Hunting wear. This blend dries quickly, is anti-microbial, SUV protectant, and takes moisture away from the body. Ticks also have a more difficult time grabbing hold of it than they do jeans, cotton, denim, etc. This gear is expensive. Pants and long-sleeved shirt will cost you $75 or so. Buy a light color so that you'll frequently be able to see Ticks before they crawl all the way up and you can brush them off. The kind with detachable legs (convertible into shorts) are ideal, because ticks crawl up to the fold in the fabric on each leg, and then won't crawl downward and around. In essence, they get "stuck" at the zipper, and that keeps them from finding other less obvious places to hide.
2. Serious Tick Spray. I recommend the type that kills the buggards, and is good for six weeks on the clothing--even if it is washed. Cans will run about $12 at an Army Supply Store, and a can will last all summer.
3. Waterproof, high-top boots. Perfect for crossing creeks and remaining bone-dry. These must be high lace-ups, so that the pants can be tucked into them before they're tied. Then the shirt must be tucked in as well. So that way ticks can't get at you unless they crawl all the way up to your neck....which brings me to the next point...
4. A head net. These can be purchased for about $15 at an outdoors store or Army Surplus. Put your hat on, and put this over your head. You'll want the black mesh ones--for visibility. Make sure that the net has a ring around the bottom, to keep the mesh off your face. Cinch the drawstring at the bottom snug with your neck and tuck it in the top of your shirt. Button your shirt all the way up.
When you get back to the car after a hunt, unzip the bottom of your pants (turn them into shorts, and check the seam). Then remove the pants "legs." Remove boots (change into sandals), change shirts, and remove the head net. Throw everything into a garbage bag and tie it tightly closed. (That way you don't get Ticks in your car!) Then when you get home, throw the whole bag into the freezer overnight. When you get it out of the freezer, take the clothing and shake off the frozen ticks, and you're good to go.
Sounds like a lot of trouble, but I assure you it's worth it. The polyester-blend clothing feels light and airy, and it dries much faster than cotton does--so having long sleeves doesn't really make a difference in how hot you'll get in the woods. (And you'll WANT to have long sleeves!--or at least a shirt that is convertible from long to short sleeved.) I take rubber bands and wrap one around the outside of each of my sleeves to keep anything undesirable from crawling up.
So there are a few of our secrets.
Happy 99% Tick-Free Hunting,
Buckleboy
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![:-\](https://www.treasurenet.com/smilies/undecided.gif "Undecided :-\")
But hoping for no more! 
No offence Iron Patch Good American colors.
