IRON Brigade Tick Prevention Tips

[BuckleBoy]

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

[Montana Jim]

Or... You can move to Montana and throw that huge list away.

[BuckleBoy]

Or... You can move to Montana and throw that huge list away.

Well, thank God it's not a year-round list...only a few months in the middle.

[Montana Jim]

Or... You can move to Montana and throw that huge list away.

Well, thank God it's not a year-round list...only a few months in the middle.

Yea... I shoulda' added Will, that list is awesome, and you know I was just kidding around. You have once again added a wonderful post that will help some new folks and oldies alike... well done!

[BuckleBoy]

Or... You can move to Montana and throw that huge list away.

Well, thank God it's not a year-round list...only a few months in the middle.

Yea... I shoulda' added Will, that list is awesome, and you know I was just kidding around. You have once again added a wonderful post that will help some new folks and oldies alike... well done!

I was hoping that it might be useful to some folks...

That lightweight clothing is really great in ANY warm weather--it dries in minutes. And of course, good boots can be used year-round. So not all of it is specific to what we do--but it's taken a lot of time and effort to find out what works best for the type of summer hunts we've been doing. So I just wanted to share these ideas with everyone.

[cavers5]

We also carry: snake-bite and first-aid kits that include band-aids, sting-eze, benadryl, and advil. We also carry Germ-X. We believe this stuff actually kills poison ivy, if you can get it on soon enough after being exposed to it. We even rub it on our arms and necks! We also carry whistles because it seems like we always get separated and a shrill whistle carries a long distance! Bandanas around the head keeps the sweat out of your eyes.

I would not advise wearing men hairnets into the hills of Appalachian, ticks or otherwise.

Unfortunately, ticks and snakes are always a part of our detectin' adventures.

Cavers5

[BuckleBoy]

We also carry: snake-bite and first-aid kits that include band-aids, sting-eze, benadryl, and advil. We also carry Germ-X. We believe this stuff actually kills poison ivy, if you can get it on soon enough after being exposed to it. We even rub it on our arms and necks! We also carry whistles because it seems like we always get separated and a shrill whistle carries a long distance! Bandanas around the head keeps the sweat out of your eyes.

I would not advise wearing men hairnets into the hills of Appalachian, ticks or otherwise.

Unfortunately, ticks and snakes are always a part of our detectin' adventures.

Cavers5

Some good ideas here--especially the whistles. They aren't hair nets, they're bug netting that goes over the hat and face. And they are a Must-Have for us.

Regards,


Buckles

[sneaky6]

BuckleBoy,

Thanks for starting such an informative post! You guys in the Iron Brigade seem to have all the bases covered! I hope everyone on T-Net reads this before they go out this summer!

Keep Digging!!
Sneaky6

[BuckleBoy]

BuckleBoy,

Thanks for starting such an informative post! You guys in the Iron Brigade seem to have all the bases covered! I hope everyone on T-Net reads this before they go out this summer!

Keep Digging!!
Sneaky6

Thanks, buddy.

[BuckleBoy]

MT Pockets,

Thank you so much for your comment on this thread.

I can't stress enough how important awareness is for the MDist--it's one of the most valuable tools we have. I'm not saying that everyone should go out dressed with the type of gear we use, or wear a head net when hunting, but to be honest--we don't want to take the risk. I just got back from a hunt--and my clothing is in the freezer as we speak.

It may seem "prissy" to check your legs frequently, or wear a net over your face when woods hunting--but when you consider the fact that we're out there Deep in the woods, and a good drive away from home on top of it, those things have a chance to attach. I also recommend doing some morning hunting while the dew is on, or during a light rain. Ticks don't like the wet, and they won't be all over you like they will be when it's dry.

I have checked many times today--and while I've seen them all over me for most of the hunt today, when I came home and the bag with the clothes from the trunk got shoved in the freezer to freeze 'em off, and after a shower, I haven't seen a single one on me since I got home. We were out there in tall grass and ticky woods for SIX hours today--and I call that good tick protection.

It IS possible to hunt year-round (except perhaps when the ground is frozen solid), but you have to plan ahead, be aware, and take measures that Work.


Regards,


Buckleboy

[kindafoundabuckle]

You should have a plan for a snake bite. Copperheads are out in force this time of year. I would be more worried about that than anything. The odds are in your favor and most likely you will never see one but it only takes one! When you are so far away from a hospital like you all are you better be prepaired. I MEAN IT!!!!!!! No coin is worth getting killed for.

When I was a kid I walked up on a copperhead while hunting for mushrooms. I was 3 feet from this thing before I seen it. We were on top of a mountain in eastern KY. At least an hour from a phone 2 from a hospital. If it had of got me I may not be writing this now.

BE CAREFUL AND MAKE A PLAN SO IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU OR THE REST OF THE CREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A concerned KFB

[BuckleBoy]

You should have a plan for a snake bite. Copperheads are out in force this time of year. I would be more worried about that than anything. The odds are in your favor and most likely you will never see one but it only takes one! When you are so far away from a hospital like you all are you better be prepaired. I MEAN IT!!!!!!! No coin is worth getting killed for.

When I was a kid I walked up on a copperhead while hunting for mushrooms. I was 3 feet from this thing before I seen it. We were on top of a mountain in eastern KY. At least an hour from a phone 2 from a hospital. If it had of got me I may not be writing this now.

BE CAREFUL AND MAKE A PLAN SO IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU OR THE REST OF THE CREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A concerned KFB

Rodeo, please add a snake bite kit, small-caliber pistol, and AMMO to the list of gear...

[LI Tom]

Great post Buckles,if you are going to hunt in the woods during tick season,you MUST take precautions!!I live in Suffolk County ,NY,more cases of Lyme disease here than any other County in the US.It is very bad disease,affecting your life and Health maybe forever!I wait for late fall to woods hunt,but if you are hunting there now,do what is necessary to protect yourself.

[Colonial Zoyboy]

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.

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 (the ideal pants are convertible into shorts) and 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

Buck, on every hunt, I break steps 3 and 5. I rarely ever take water breaks during our 5-hour hunts, and I usually go 2 hours or so prior to stopping in the field, looking around like John Walter would do, and then starting the sweeping again. I guess, when the fever hits, it prevents you from stopping and entering into the logical world of metal datecting.

Overall, this was a great informative post from the Buckster!

Kyle

[BamaBill]

Buckle, great method to handle the extreme conditions this time of year. Because we don't lose any time in the winter I just take these few months off (N. Bama and Central TN), so I don't have to resort to the measures you've described. But, I like your info on the clothing and what you do afterward and I think I'll put those ideas to work this fall as extra protection. We wear snake gaiters too, since a lot of times in the woods you can walk right into a couple of rattlers and not hear anything first. And, because of the long sleeves and gloves needed to avoid poison ivy I don't mind waiting until cooler weather. We're going to go down to Gulf Shores in a couple of weeks to get our fix. Hope you're finding stuff over the summer to make all of this worthwhile, since if I'm not at least a little comfortable performing a hobby it quickly becomes an ex-hobby. Good Luck.

Bill W.

[Silver Fox]

BuckleBoy: I'm sure that those sharing your enthusiasm will enjoy and appreciate your post. But, seriously, what drives you to put yourself and your buddies in such miserable, possibly dangerous, situations? Does treasure hunting really mean that much? Are the meager finds worth the trouble? The possibility of poisonous snake bites, if there are such in the deep woods where you hunt,; do you carry an anti-venom kit?

I'm not being sarcastics just curious. I remain only curious 'cause I don't have your zeal and didn't have it when I was active from the '80s to 2000. I guess it takes a special kind of person to put themselves what you experience and I'm not that kind of person; I'm just a recreational type of detectorist.

So if you don't take umbrage, would you open up a little and tell me/us what state your mind is in when you consider going into your trips and how you think about the end results.

Silver Fox

[BuckleBoy]

BuckleBoy: I'm sure that those sharing your enthusiasm will enjoy and appreciate your post.  But, seriously, what drives you to put yourself and your buddies in such miserable, possibly dangerous, situations?  Does treasure hunting really mean that much?  Are the meager finds worth the trouble?  The possibility of poisonous snake bites, if there are such in the deep woods where you hunt,; do you carry an anti-venom kit?

I'm not being sarcastics just curious.  I remain only curious 'cause I don't have your zeal and didn't have it  when I was active from the '80s to 2000.  I guess it takes a special kind of person to put themselves what you experience and I'm not that kind of person; I'm just a recreational type of detectorist.

So if you don't take umbrage, would you open up a little and tell me/us what state your mind is in when you consider going into your trips and how you think about the end results.

Silver Fox

Silver Fox,

I am driven by the prospect of Great finds.  And to be honest--what we've pulled out of the ground this year I in No way consider "meager."

FOUR Civil War buckles and plates plus an 1850's Militia Belt Plate
THREE 1700's Spanish Silver coins
A handfull of Seated Silver coins
Several Large Cents
Two 2-Cent Pieces
Military and Civilian buttons
A Rare Crock going up for auction on July 19th:  Estimate given by the Auction House: $500-$800

I would call each and every item on that list a reason in and of itself--not including the other cool items we've found, the company we spend together, the escape from the city that MDing provides us, the excuse I have to read dozens of books on History, and the drive to overcome adverse conditions for the sake of recovering something wonderful...

For me this is not recreation.  It is an addiction.  I think about MDing at least a dozen times a day.  I dream at night about digging targets out of the ground.  If I could make MDing my profession and still afford to keep everything I found, I'd do it in a heartbeat. 

When I get ready to go on a trip, my mind is only on the euphoria that happens when a house site is found by us in the woods--the great feeling that we get when we hit the iron patch, and the thrill of the first find--no matter what it is.  When we're there, I get to enjoy nature, talk with my friend(s), think about how brief life is--and how quickly what we do here is erased by nature taking back... 

When I get home, I feel a great sense of pride that the research was spot-on, and that the GPS coordinates worked, and even if I didn't dig the Find Of The Day, I feel proud to ennable one of the members of my team to make that recovery.  I feel tired and happy when I get back.  I feel like I've gotten some good exercise--both physical AND mental. 

And I wouldn't trade ANY of those feelings for anything.



Not everyone is that kind of person, Silver Fox...
 

But I am. 



-Buckleboy 

[Colonial Zoyboy]

BuckleBoy: I'm sure that those sharing your enthusiasm will enjoy and appreciate your post. But, seriously, what drives you to put yourself and your buddies in such miserable, possibly dangerous, situations? Does treasure hunting really mean that much? Are the meager finds worth the trouble? The possibility of poisonous snake bites, if there are such in the deep woods where you hunt,; do you carry an anti-venom kit?

I'm not being sarcastics just curious. I remain only curious 'cause I don't have your zeal and didn't have it when I was active from the '80s to 2000. I guess it takes a special kind of person to put themselves what you experience and I'm not that kind of person; I'm just a recreational type of detectorist.

So if you don't take umbrage, would you open up a little and tell me/us what state your mind is in when you consider going into your trips and how you think about the end results.

Silver Fox

Silver Fox,

I am driven by the prospect of Great finds. And to be honest--what we've pulled out of the ground this year I in No way consider "meager."

FOUR Civil War buckles and plates plus an 1850's Militia Belt Plate
THREE 1700's Spanish Silver coins
A handfull of Seated Silver coins
Several Large Cents
Two 2-Cent Pieces
Military and Civilian buttons
A Rare Crock going up for auction on July 19th: Estimate given by the Auction House: $500-$800

I would call each and every item on that list a reason in and of itself--not including the other cool items we've found, the company we spend together, the escape from the city that MDing provides us, the excuse I have to read dozens of books on History, and the drive to overcome adverse conditions for the sake of recovering something wonderful...

For me this is not recreation. It is an addiction. I think about MDing at least a dozen times a day. I dream at night about digging targets out of the ground. If I could make MDing my profession and still afford to keep everything I found, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

When I get ready to go on a trip, my mind is only on the euphoria that happens when a house site is found by us in the woods--the great feeling that we get when we hit the iron patch, and the thrill of the first find--no matter what it is. When we're there, I get to enjoy nature, talk with my friend(s), think about how brief life is--and how quickly what we do here is erased by nature taking back...

When I get home, I feel a great sense of pride that the research was spot-on, and that the GPS coordinates worked, and even if I didn't dig the Find Of The Day, I feel proud to ennable one of the members of my team to make that recovery. I feel tired and happy when I get back. I feel like I've gotten some good exercise--both physical AND mental.

And I wouldn't trade ANY of those feelings for anything.



Not everyone is that kind of person, Silver Fox...


But I am.



-Buckleboy

Well stated, Buck! Silver Fox, as for my buddies and I, we would rather fight all day for one coppa or Spanish wilver than dig up 50 clad quarters in one hole. It is not about the money or fame, but rather the small connection that we have with America's early history...no matter how long or short it may be.

Kyle

[Silver Fox]

BuckleBoy and Kyle: thanks for your responses, I appreciate it. What I reacted to, primarily, in your post was when you said: "...sweltering, tick-infested woods here during the summer." I'm a creature of comfort and primarily a city park person. I could possibly go "into the woods" but in more comfortable weather when there's less foliage and the chance of ticks, as an example, could be lessened.

Nevertheless, the finds you mentioned could definitely override any discomfort one would feel. Thanks for explaining.

[Colonial Zoyboy]

BuckleBoy and Kyle: thanks for your responses, I appreciate it. What I reacted to, primarily, in your post was when you said: "...sweltering, tick-infested woods here during the summer." I'm a creature of comfort and primarily a city park person. I could possibly go "into the woods" but in more comfortable weather when there's less foliage and the chance of ticks, as an example, could be lessened.

Nevertheless, the finds you mentioned could definitely override any discomfort one would feel. Thanks for explaining.

Yes, we do have different philosophies, but we all do share a similar passion in life: the love for metal detecting!

Kyle