Quote: One of my co-workers, who is heavy into all types of hunting, recommends tick repellent with Permethrin in it. It is only to be used on clothing - NOT SKIN - but he swears by it. I know it's what I'll try the next time I venture into the woods.[/quote]
I would think twice about using permethrin. I've used permethrin (brand name of Pounce) in my line of work a great deal. I'm a farmer, and permethrin is an excellent insecticide used to protect growing crops from insect damage due to their feeding on the growing crop. My guess is the permethrin doesn't repel the ticks. It kills them before they can get to far.
To put this in perspective, I'm about as far as you can get from a tree-hugging, organic food promoting environmentalist. I am not someone who has a beef with all chemicals and thinks we are destroying our environment with them. I love chemicals. The effectiveness of them and the science and research that goes into their development truly amazes me. Without them I could not do what I do--at least not the way I want to. I take the proper care when handling them, and I take care when applying them--both for my personal safety and the safety of the environment.
That being said I would not slather my clothes with permethrin and head out to the field. Permethrin is a neurotoxin (at least it isn't an organophosphate). I'll take my chances with ticks. I think there is less risk. I've been bitten by lots ticks with no ill results so far (the little tiny ones will leave a welt about twice the size of a mosquito bite that lasts several days.) I realize Lyme disease is a risk, but there's lots of things in life that are risky. I'd recommend pouring on the deep woods Off, and dealing with the ticks that get through when you have to.
