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Deer Tick Explosion?


Weed Shark

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This weekend was the 26th year of our annual grouse hunt. I've never seen so many deer ticks. Brushed a few dozen off my pants, found a couple more when I took off my outer shirt and turned it inside out. My two hunting buddy's got bit. We must have picked a couple hundred off my friend's spaniel (the dog had its shots and had a repellent on).

Is it a fluke? Do our milder winters lately contribute somehow? My friend, our two dogs, and I got into deer ticks bad about 25 years ago near Mille Lacs. So maybe there have always been intense pockets of the pests.

Seems like I see a few every time I grouse hunt now. Even last fall, in 3 inches of snow.

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I have found a half dozen on me, or so each year in the last 3 years. They sure are small! If you arent looking for them you wont see them.

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I walked through some thick woods this weekend scouting some public land. I must have pulled a hundred ticks off me. They were definitely out in full force.

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Yes I have seen a ton of them. Hunted by Kerrick last weekend and pulled 50 - 100 off my golden. Pulled about 15 off my pants and found 1 attached to my rear. I can say one thing though. Frontline does work! I have found a few dead ones around the house that have fallen off my dogs. Crazy year that is for sure!

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Same experience on the Meadowbrook WMA north of Motley. 3 weeks ago I picked ticks off my dog for 3 hours (easily 100+ ticks). I had a few here and there on my pants.

This weekend was back in the same area and found 20 or so on the dog, and brushed probably 200 off my pants. It was nothing to walk for 10 minutes and have 20 ticks on me.

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I was out two weeks ago sitting on the ground in a blind bow hunting and started finding them on me about an hour later. We counted 26 deer ticks and 6 woodticks on me and I was only in that spot for about an hour and a half. Had three of those little buggers latched on but no bullseyes on me yet.

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I found several ticks after getting a grouse and cleaning it. I've now got a bullseye on the back of my thigh, and I'am wondering if I should be worried or not?

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Quote:

I found several ticks after getting a grouse and cleaning it. I've now got a bullseye on the back of my thigh, and I'am wondering if I should be worried or not?


Yes, be worried, SEE A DOCTOR TODAY, it sounds like you have Lyme's Disease. It is treatable with antibiotics for a few weeks, but the longer you let it go the more damage done to your systems. Other developing symptoms include aching joints, fatigue, and headaches. Lyme's Disease can damage your nervous system, heart, liver, spleen and more. Your lucky, you developed and noticed the bullseye.

In the original post, I mention we got into deer ticks 25 years ago. Vets were not up to speed with Lyme's Disease at the time. Both our dogs, age 6 and 8, died the following summer suffering from the same symptoms.

Treat it fast and you'll be fine.

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I have had Lymes 2 times. Don't play tough guy, go get it check out. The fevers are no fun. good luck

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Will these things still be a concern for us hunting in Camp Ripley for the 2nd weekend of their archery hunt?

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Dustin,

Be prepared. I'm not frown.gif. I leave for Ripley tomorrow afternoon and I just heard the deer ticks are rediculous up there. I've never really worried about them before but I am now.

I don't know any good deer tick repellent out there. I was hoping someone could mention a reliable one that I might be able to pick up tomorrow around the North or West side of the Cities.

Anybody? Thanks!

Post your results of your Ripley hunt! Good luck! grin.gif

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I think the tick that got me came from the grouse I had cleaned. I've been in the woods for 2 weeks and didn't see a tick until after I cleaned the grouse.

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Quote:

Dustin,

Be prepared. I'm not
frown.gif
. I leave for Ripley tomorrow afternoon and I just heard the deer ticks are rediculous up there. I've never really worried about them before but I am now.

I don't know any good deer tick repellent out there. I was hoping someone could mention a reliable one that I might be able to pick up tomorrow around the North or West side of the Cities.

Anybody? Thanks!

Post your results of your Ripley hunt! Good luck!
grin.gif


You'll probably be covered with ticks if you're around Ripley.

Get something with permethryn as the active ingredient. I got the Repel brand at Gander and it worked fantastic. It is in an orange and blue can. Put it on the night before, and don't wash your clothes, or put it back on after washing.

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I hunted in Little Falls two weekends ago and I've NEVER seen so many ticks on a dogs head!! Both dogs easilly has a hundred on their heads and we couldn't get them pulled off fast enough! Be prepared atleast until we finally get a good frost.

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I picked one off me I was suprised to see them at they normal for this time of year. You typically don't see wood ticks after about the mid of aug so I figured it would be similar for deer ticks. But apparently not.

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Dustin85,

I think the deer ticks drowned in Ripley this past week crazy.gif Rain and more rain!

None of us 4 saw a tick either day. That was stand hunting woods and blind hunting both woods and field. I also hit a couple small marshes. I didn't treat my clothes since it would have all washed off anyway.

The worst part is none of us had a decent shot at a deer either frown.gif. I was drawn on doe broadside at 30 yds but there were two small branches in the wrong spot so I held off. We saw bucks too but no good close shots. Oh well.

I hope they grade the roads for you guys! They were absolutely terrible by Friday. With the way the trucks looked it makes you wonder why its called "washboards" grin.gif

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We were grouse hunting/looking for Muzzleloading spots near Park Rapids and man were the ticks just thick. I must have pulled 100 off of my dog and half of that off of myself. Brother had one stuck in his arm and I had one stuck south of the border (not a good experience at all) - I thought they would've been gone by now.

DL

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A friend of mine had a tick this last week (stuck on him) and it had a red circle (about the size of a half-dollar) around it. To be safe, he went in.

The hospital told him that he was wise to come in, but it was not a deer tick but a "dog tick" (he saved the tick). It was noting serious, but they recommend all come in if they sense some sort of infection.

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Good to know! I will keep an eye on it!

I tell you that it will be a little embarrassing to go in and tell the receptionist I had a tick stuck to my nards.

DL

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I can tell you from experience that any tick bite will have a lasting affect. Nasty things. I have a bump on my arm now that still itches after 3 weeks. Been there before. They are nasty nasty critters. I have a scar from one years ago that occasionally rises!!!

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Some things to remember with deer tick bites...

* on average, only 1-100 bites result in a bullseye rash. Even if the victim has been infected with Lymes. Get checked.

** The bullseye rash can appear anywhere on your body, not necessarly where you were bitten.

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