driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 14,977 
|
Post by driftwoody on Mar 28, 2018 9:20:12 GMT -8
I was thinking of visiting some state parks in Missouri (Maramec & Ha Ha Tonka) in mid April with my wife, but after our last visit to that general area she vowed never to return because the ticks were an absolute horror. However, that was in September. I've hiked & backpacked in southern Missouri in late March with no tick issues, but at some point those buggers will start to become a real nuisance.
|
|
|
|
Post by bikehikefish on Mar 29, 2018 6:27:09 GMT -8
Last weekend I backpacked the Paddy Creek Wilderness near Licking Mo, slept on the ground on a Tyvek sheet, and neither I or my partners saw any ticks. But I should not have any trouble finding some by mid April.
I don't let that stop me, and I rarely get any on me. The best advice is to spray your clothing with Permethrin clothing spray, which can be purchased at many sporting goods stores. It is not a repellant, it kills ticks and chiggers. I spray my pants, socks, and shirt, and let them dry overnight. Never spray permethrin directly on your skin.
While turkey hunting in April in some of the most gawd-awful tick infested woods in Missouri, I don't hesitate to lie down in the woods and snooze for a while, and rarely get tick or chigger bites.
|
|
walkswithblackflies
Trail Wise!
Resident terrorist-supporting eco-freak bootlicker
Posts: 6,931
|
Post by walkswithblackflies on Mar 29, 2018 11:49:38 GMT -8
That's weird. Here in Upstate NY, I worry about (deer) ticks as soon as the snow melts and the air temperature is 50 or more. Actually, early spring is when I come across the most ticks. Thankfully, they're all adults in the early spring, and are much easier to see.
|
|
|
|
Post by jalexa on Mar 30, 2018 3:15:27 GMT -8
We have no such horror in NY, can even take a nap without worrying about any bite.
|
|
driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 14,977
|
Post by driftwoody on Mar 31, 2018 17:51:36 GMT -8
@rangersven, last February I hiked the loop at Hawn State Park, and also spent a night on Bell Mountain. I'm not concerned about ticks so much for me, but they would ruin the trip for Mrs. Driftwoody.
|
|
|
|
Post by bikehikefish on Apr 1, 2018 18:02:43 GMT -8
An Ozark Trail backpacker posted on the OT forum that the had a couple ticks on him last week. He also mentioned that although he treated his clothing with permethrin, he forgot to treat his pants, so maybe that left him vulnerable.
The ticks were out, but with the sleet and snow and cold we are getting tonight, I don't expect them to be too bothersome for a while.
|
|
driftwoody
Trail Wise!
Take the path closer to the edge, especially if less traveled
Posts: 14,977
|
Post by driftwoody on Apr 2, 2018 3:02:39 GMT -8
I appreciate the replies, though I'm not too pleased about the likelihood of ticks.
|
|
