Ticks / Sleeping / Tents

[Soinkuhndog]

I'm going to my first rendezvous at the end of this month. I have deet for skin and Permanone for clothing. I know this might sound paranoid(because I am), but I have this sincere fear a waking up in the middle of the night covered in ticks! My question is:

Is there any other protection to keep ticks off of you while you sleep. My tent is basically a "dog tent" with no floor, so it's me and a blanket. Maybe a spray or powder?

So. Indiana (Tick country) Kuhndog (a.k.a. "Fear of Ticks on this Kuhndog)

 

[bigbore442001]

I wonder if you could sprinkle some powdered sulphur around the edge of the tent? Maybe that would act as a barrier.

 

[Claude Mathis]

We have plenty of ticks in our local back country. The only time I've picked up ticks is while walking through the brush. I've never had one get on me while in camp. I don't think they crawl around looking for victims, but rather wait until they encounter one, who shakes them from the bush.

 

[Scott_C]

We have ticks too, and I'm darn sure I can pick one up while walking thru the local Wal-Mart parking lot.

I've gotten them fishing in a boat, camping, hiking, and even sometime while mowing my lawn in town.

Just another pest you have to get used to, and check yourself carefully whenever you can.

 

[bigbore442001]

Claude:

I beg to differ. I have found ticks inside my tent. I don't mind female company but not that kind.

 

[Claude Mathis]

Claude:

I beg to differ. I have found ticks inside my tent. I don't mind female company but not that kind.

Hey, I didn't say it couldn't happen, it's just never happened to me. (we call that anecdotal evidence) :grin:

 

[Roy]

put Permanone on a ground cloth :thumbsup:

 

[FPDoc]

Powdered sulphur works great. Always just used it on myself, not scattered around the tent.

 

[nw_hunter]

Ah! What ever happened to good old DDT? :grin:

 

[longshot47]

Original Listerine and water, about 50/50, in a spray bottle seems to deter them, and mosquitos too. Rinse, spit and sleep easy.

 

[MSW]

Longshot-

that's a cusious thing you mention. what's in the Listerene that repells ticks?

thanks

msw

 

[boar]

Have to try that. I have used it to sweat my horse leg, to take swelling down. Wet leg, cover with baby diaper. Will keep the leg warm. Refesh as needed. Dilly

 

[XXX]

I hate those things. One time at Ft. Bragg NC in the 80's we were in an infested area where you could see them crawling on the forest floor by the hundreds. If you were standing in the same spot for a while you could clear out a circle down to the sand and stand in it and they would still crawl toward you. I have never before or since experienced ticks that would come for you like that. I have also cleared away leaf litter to bare ground in New England to sit for a hunt and picked them up that way. In a camping situation with an open floor you have little in the way of options except treating your ground cloth with permanone. If the spot is really bad I would think about using a modern bivy bag on top of the treated ground cloth to sleep in if PC restrictions are not an issue.

 

[DVanVorous]

Sorta depends on where ye set yer tent up in my experience. Ye set up in a grassy field and I'll gurarantee one will find its way in during set up. Usually that one bein' the one that makes ye itch the rest of the night...

They're kinda interesting little critters ta watch. They climb to the tops of the grass and hold on with one set of legs and dangle out until somethin' brushes into them and they latch on from there. Ive had my run ins with the types in CA and in the Rockies. The ticks in CA seem to be more aggressive that the std. CO ticks or the Rocky Mt spotted varieties.

My advice is keep the bottom of the tent clean and do the obligatory tick check before climbing into bed. Helps iffen ones wife-SO helps do the check as that can keep yer mind offen the little beggars. Iffen yer nervous DEET works on the ground "ok"

Keep yer powder dry,

D.

 

[Robert Egler]

I camp with modern nylon tents with screens, spray all my clothes and skin, and the tent openings, and I STILL get ticks.

Was just diagnosed with Lyme last week, actually.

I've just come to accept that camping in warm weather = ticks, no matter what you do.

Thus as much as possible I camp when the nighttime temperature will be below freezing. I've never gotten a tick that way.

But if you're going to an event, you don't really have much choice in that respect, I guess.

I just do as liitle warm weather camping as possible. (It's also nice to camp in the cold because you see A LOT fewer people! I camp alone, and I don't want to interact with anyone in any way, that's why I go camping!! If I'd wanted company I would have gone to the mall!! But I digress.)

 

[Grizzled Roberts]

Perminon works great! When I set up my camp, On the ground under a trail tarp. after I arrange
my bed roll and blankets I spray the entire ground cloth and bed roll with the stuff. Now you cant touch you set up for a couple of hours. But I do it as soon as I arrive and go to bed many hours later. I have been doing this for several years and have not had a problem at all! When camping in Georgia I often find dead scorpions
under my ground cloth. It's a whole lot better than finding live ones. Just follow the directions
you can't beat this stuff!
:thumbsup:

 

[Soinkuhndog]

I'm curious about: "Original Listerine and water, about 50/50, in a spray bottle seems to deter them, and mosquitos too. Rinse, spit and sleep easy."

Use this on the ground? Instead of Deet or Permanone?

Thanks for all the tips. Keep them coming.
I'm starting to think a ground cloth soaked beforehand in Pernanone sounds like a plan.

Kuhndog

 

[chipper]

I heard the guys used flea and tick collars on themselves during the gulf war. I personally use a mosquito net for flying bugs and I lay down deet if I'm concerned about the ground.
The worst I ever met was a Bark beetle. He crawled in my bed when I was about 16. I came into the tent and slid into my bedroll where he was waiting. I felt that big bugger on my leg and I went a@e s&^%t. Nothing like a nice warm bark beetle to sleep with.

Regards

 

[doc623]

Haven't heard anyone talk about 'skin-so-soft'; detamecaous earth for under or in the tent; and or kerosene.

 

[Allan Gray]

Diatomaceous earth is pure silica and is very, very bad for the lungs. :shocked2:

I've heard that "skin so soft" works well.

In my neck of the woods, we crumple up Bay Laurel leaves and rub them all over yourself, an old indian trick.

Bugs hate the smell and it masks your own odor, if you're hunting.