It's about time someone put together a realistic informative insect protection guide video such as this. So many crazy tarp camping open outdoors camping videos, and none other than this video touch the needed subject!
extremely sound advice and well presented Ken. One thing every one should be aware of is that scents (after shave, perfume, hair spray and some deodorants) attract biting and stinging bugs. Their use while outdoors should be avoided...
KennethKramm Ken I've spent my adult life working out doors on cross county pipeline construction from one side of this country to the other and from top to bottom... I've seen mosquitoes in Montana, almost big enough to stand flat footed and do indecent and unspeakable things to a fully grown turkey... ';O) Once I went to an Astro's game at the dome in Houston and over heard two skeeters discussing whether to take me back to the swamp or to eat me there.... They decided that the big uns would get me if they took me back to the swamp. Any thing a person can do to gain the advantage is a good thing.
+LetArtsLive Chiggers and ticks are not insects. They are arachnids, which are close cousins of insects and include spiders, scorpions, and mites. In fact, chiggers are mites. A chigger is the larval stage of a mite in the family Trombiculidae. Nymphs and adults of chiggers are called harvest mites which are free living and predators of small arthropods and their eggs. Your head may be spinning from the scientific jargon, so it’s important that I review some terms and basic biology.
Hi ken.. Thanks for having me as a guest in your video. I'm glad I can help you out... you did a lot of research before you put this video up. I can tell by all the good information in it. I know this will help a lot of people out. Definitely 5 thumbs up. I'll talk to you later ken.
A guy I know ran a test when he was running a course in Alaska. They measured the number of bugs that settled on light vs dark clothing. The dark clothing attracted significantly more bugs.
I can testify that the tick key does a great job of removing them without any chance that you will squeeze them and have them regurgitate back into you.
Another prime-time worthy video! I had a funny incident happen to me back in my teen years when I used the family provided shampoo. It was some honey and herb scented stuff, and the first time my buddies and I went fishing in a swampy area, the bugs loved me. My pals were laughing so hard as bug after bug landed on my head. At one time I had at least 4 big critters on my head like some sort of insect crown!
That is some great advice Ken. There is one thing that I wish to add. If someone needs to use mosquito repellent to keep mosquito's off your body, spray mosquito repellent on your socks above your boots, along your shirt colar, and under your arm pits with your shirt on. When wearing a hat, spray a little of the repellent on the brim of your hat. I will see if I can get a video about that later on. But still, great advice Ken.
Great bug begone video Ken! I wear long pants and a long sleeved viscose/cotton white shirt. I check and brush with my hands on both sides and generally all over after I walk through brush and reach a clearing. One time I did get off trail and lost for a few minutes in the chaparral and saw a gray tick climbing on my pants; I swatted it off fast. I wouldn't go out in shorts no matter if it's 110 or 120 F because that means applying a lot more semi-greasy suntan lotion and being vulnerable to getting scratched by branches when hiking. Mosquitoes here are generally pathetic in CA and you can just swat them after they land on you, but in the subtropics/tropics they're much more vicious. I use hypoallergenic shampoo that's not very fragrant because as you said, fruit-smelling body products will attract hordes of flies, bees, and wasps. The bees and wasps are not a big problem to me but I hate having little flies land on me and try to go for the lips and eyes etc. I've used some fly repellents but to no avail. In the worst places I've used a hat + fly netting but one time a fly got INSIDE of the netting through the neckline and freaked out. I will look into permethrin some more.
That song about the NY gf in Texas was funny but NY is a humid forest full of horrible bugs too, it's got to be worse than most drier places in Texas haha. Here in Southern CA it's mostly little flies that annoy me but I think that's mostly an issue on well-traveled trails where dogs and horses (and some humans) pee and poo everywhere. I went to a sparse trail yesterday and the flies didn't show up after the first 1/2 mile.
You know with your debris shelters and things, one way to just check that there aren't ticks in an area is to carry a white cloth around with you so you can do some tick dragging or flagging. Run that cloth around places you plan to go through or use and see if it brings them up. I think it's a very easy way to find out if an area has ticks, and what type and how many. Then you know what, if any, precautions to take. You can drag the cloth over the ground, grasses, and flag low bushes. I believe ticks also can hang under leaf litter on the ground and things, so before sitting in places, just do a quick drag to see if it's tick free. When you sit, if there's ticks close around, they start slowly walking towards you. They are proactive like that. If you stay in the one spot for long enough, they may come to you. This is why folks may go to bed at night, then wake up with lots of ticks on them. But if you have dragged the area around you beforehand, you'd know if there was a risk. When I go out camping and hiking, I"m taking my white cloth.
That repel 40 cream is the best I’ve found. Lasts considerably longer than the spray. Even after sweating all day and wiping down it still did the trick!
Why are you so cool, Kenneth? I found my first tick out in Sam Houston National Forest last week and almost lost my mind. It's important to be aware, treat your clothing, and do periodic checks. Great content as always!
There are certain parts of Texas where flea borne typhus is endemic. It is a very nasty disease but can be treated by antibiotics. Ticks, as mentioned can cause many different types of diseases, but one thing many don't know is that tick bites can also precipitate severe immune responses that result in a disease called autoimmune hepatitis. This is a potentially deadly disease much worse than Lyme or ehrlichiosis. There is also tick relapsing fever that is common in some parts of the Southwest. Aside from insects there are also fungal diseases that can be contracted like coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) found throughout the Southwest. So enjoy the outdoors but be careful.
Very informative and educational video Ken. I tend to avoid the woods during the hotter months just because of all the nasty insects. I can't wait for the cooler months. Thanks for taking the time to make this video for us. Ken
I have found over the years, that oral gel, or some generic variation will convince a tick to turn loose. This evening, I got a couple from just being in the yard and came in, shucked out of my drawers and dabbed a teeny bit all over them. If you listen closely, you can hear em making the same sounds you make after you eat a green persimmon. After just a minute or two, I was able to scrape them off with a finger nail. No itch and had bout forgot till I watched this. Thanks Ken!
Hi Ken. So we're back from our 4 day camp. Oh my the mosquitos were awful!!! Wanted to wear long pants/sleeves but it was way too hot this time of year. The bug sprays helped a little. No ticks. We had a great time anyway. Lisa
zalkona Hi Lisa. Too bad that mosquitoes ruined your 4 day camp. Maybe next time there will be more wind and they will stay grounded. Glad you had a great time in spite of the bugs! Thanks for letting me know the outcome of your adventure. Take care, Ken
Dear Ken, thank you for the good advice on bugs. Actually, We are about to leave on a 4 day camp and I sure will try some of your tips. You are right when you say that some people get bit while others rarely do. My husband almost never gets bit while I get eaten alive. I tell him that even the bugs know which of us is the sweeter one! Lisa
Permethrin works wonders, I use it all the time, and it is worth the price. If you use it concentrate on the outside and inside of cuffs, sleeves, waist line, and neck area of your clothing. I live in the northeast where ticks are really bad. As soon as I walk off a trail I am covered in deer ticks. But ever since I used permethrin I haven't had any problems with ticks.
Sir Arnold Agree, permethrin works well. And I use it especially in tick and chigger infested areas. However, some people are very sensitive to it..... I can only use it on outer clothing and ground cloths (nothing that touches my skin) because of my reaction.... Thanks watching and commenting!
At 6:30 we get to see "Darth Ken"..... I need to treat my hammock with that spray......had a bad experience the last time out......lol Outstanding video!
I knew a forest ranger who spent nearly every day in thick southern forests and marshlands. Long before any of the present day remedies, he would take a hot bath every morning, laced with Pine Sol household cleaner, and said that he would go all day free of ticks, chiggers mosquitos, I don't think he ever developed adverse health effects from the daily Pine Sol bath.
Well ... my great grand mother would brush her teeth with brown soap every day of her life. She died with all her teeth, it may have been worth the nausea. I do suspect though, that we just have strong teeth in my family and it somehow seemed to encourage her madness. Of course she also reckoned that since penicillin was developed from mold, and since she considered penicillin some kind of generally life enhancing wonder drug - she should just go ahead and eat all the moldy food in the fridge. I guess an overall strong constitution will appear to justify a lot of abuse. Don't try this at home kids ...
Thanks Ken. Tennessee has all of these bugs and then some. Like Bob I spray and use one of the things you wear on your belt. I also check myself before going to bed and when I take a shower. There are candles to burn in camp that will help. There are other things to wear like dog bug collars made for people. Better safe than sorry. Checking with your doctor could help.
Hi Ken, have you ever considered using leg windings (or as the early medieval people of Europe would know them: winningas) when in grassy or bushy environments ? You know the windings used in the middle ages and more recently in ww1. They are partially still in use with some (far eastern country) armies. They are also called Putty's... Putty's are great to repel any insect which likes to creep up into trousers and the like. Also great at defending against the mechanical effects of tall grasses and brush. They are usually thick, woolly, warm and strong and very capable of acting like sort of a boot if combined with good shoes. They can (or rather should) be wound starting at the heel of the foot and run up up to just below the knees. They can be worn in stead of socks (wound around the whole foot - or in combo with a foot cloth covering) but can obviously used in combo with socks or wrappings as wel...
been watching your video on hammock camping noticed you shaking out your boots and it reminded me of what an old Arizona ranger told me along time ago, bring along a kitchen trash bag to put your boots in at night. Keeps the "vinegaroons" and the rattle tailed water moccasins out of your boots at night
bad hat Good point. shaking boots is ok, but it in situations where there are more creepy crawlers it is best to make sure nothing gets in them in the first place: put them inside your "bug proof" home base / tent; put your socks overtime, covering the opening, put them in plastic bags. I put them in last bags when I slept in the debris shelter last winter and used the plastic bag with boots as my pillow inside the debris hut....
KennethKramm wow ken that must have been ... uncomfortable I kinda poo pooed the idea until I found a great big ol' hairy vinegaroon in my boot one morning about 10 miles up in superstition mt... then I started to believe the things he had said 'o)
ken here is what i found helpful if you can stomach it a mouth full of white vinegar and swallow i found this worked for ticks chiggers or red bugs mosquitoes deer flies etc for the day learned when i was a base game warden at Camp Lejeune USMC base N.C. i am older now and can see now dilute the same volume down like a sweet or dill pickle juice. it worked. besides all those bug sprays in the can in my yard and garden i use Avon skin so soft direct or or diluted if diluted shake up with water because it is oil based and floats if not shaken works the same with ticks chiggers or red bugs mosquitoes deer flies etc also in the garden i never seen the sweet smell attract bees or wasp.. if no other options i use smudging and let the smoke hit me clothes and body but not as long lasting as before mentioned. plus i smoke and helps like smudging as long as i have one lit up. heard yeast eaten or garlic helps never tried but sure remedies before mentioned. GO TELL IT TO THE MARINES enjoy your videos .keep it up as for spiders never had a problem with let them roam house no roaches unless i see a brown recluse i let them be.plus if chiggers set in a drop of finger nail polish on it stops itch until it peels off
Thank you for this information, I want to thank you for the videos about tarp turned into a hammock and also the one from putees wear by soldiers WW I great videos. I hope you continue posting videos with historical information. Thank you and God bless you.
Thanks for all the effort, this was a real eye-opener! Remember that your dog can get Lyme disease too, so treat your pet if you take him out in the woods!
Very good teaching vid. Haven't seen anybody talk on this topic. Thank you. But, this has to be a highly rhetorical statement. (Extreme answer) Don't go into the wilderness hiking/camping/hunting/fishing, ... or take an entire backpack of insecticide and spray the trail sides in front of you, and the campsite. Otherwise, the ancestors used an easier way.. Like modern orange oil house treatment, ancestors used oranges/citronella with inserted clove buds that were put into house corners chasing away spiders, ants, silverfish. These oil aromas make the insects gag, asphyxiate, and get away - or die! Same for picnic citronella candles/tiki torches (or campfire pine pitch oil smoke) against biting flies and mosquitoes. Go to health food store (or online) and buy essential oils. Essentials are chemical "terpenes" (and hemiterpenes, sesquiterpenes, ... turpentines ...) and are all essential oils. Some of the best for wilderness use are citronella, lemon, grapefruit, clove, cinnamon, myrtle, pine, mint, oregano/thyme/sage, other herbals, etc. No perfume, flower, or nut oils. Make a little spritzer bottle of DILUTED oil and water mix, and a DILUTED oil and vegetable oil mix. Spray OIL/OIL mix onto campfire, coals, or campfire ring hot rocks (incensing the area). Spray a ring of oil/oil around your camp ground area ... before setting up Diluted essential oils can be put on insect bites as an antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral, germicide. Some are pain relieving, and can be massaged into tired muscles/nerves. Spritz a drop of oil/water onto a tick. It will get into their breathing ways and asphyxiate them, and they will pull out, or die, and easier and safer removal. Stop ants, spiders, scorpions, and snakes from getting into your boots ...put your second pair of socks over your boot opening overnight! Spray the exterior of the sock. When walking/hiking, spray on oil/water essential oils (mint, oregano/thyme/ sage) on your boots, socks, and lower pant legs. Do the same for your waist/belt, wrist/cuff, around your armpit and shoulder, and neck/shirt collar. Even spritzing your hat keeps bugs from falling down onto you. The same natural anti-mosquito sprays use the very same ingredients in their product. Make your own mixtures! Spritz your open skin areas, and rub in. Stop critters from getting into the tent. Spray the tent entrance edging with water/oil, on the soil at the footprint edging, the tent stakes, and the roping 12 inches up from the ground. Otherwise, spray the hammock tree ropings 12 inches down and away from the tree trunk/poles. if you have a hammock and tarp shelter, spraying the tarp edgings gives you an aroma area, potentially keeping other insects from getting near and landing. Essential oils can also help in disinfecting water (water purification) (Sigma 3 Survival techniques YT vids). But use with high discretion. Just a (hopeful) helpful comment.
John Lord Oftentimes, "Less is more." Don't use more repellent than is necessary.... "less is more" .... and use natural products as much as possible. Physical barriers(such as bug nets) are better than chemical ones, etc. Your recommendations are excellent. That being said, in some locations, in some circumstances it is necessary to use synthetic chemicals. If you need to be in an areas that are infested with large tick populations, for example, it is important to protect yourself. Persons who are suffering or slowly dying from tick born illnesses wish that they had been more careful. Bob Knight was seriously ill with a tick borne illness. He was transferred to two hospitals, with kidney and liver failure. After such an experience, your viewpoint on using chemical barriers changes to be more careful. Of course he now "crop dusts" the area where he camps.
Nice video Ken. Could you show a more detailed video on natural repellent plants? I know about American Beautyberry,Marigold and Mums. The Wax Myrtle is one I wasn't aware of. I always burned punky wood for flies and Skeeters. Thanks.
Whitetail deer are the major host of the lone star ticks. The deer population explosion of the 20th century continues on today so this is an urgent concern.
Bobby Harper One of many reasons we need to control deer populations, particularly in the areas near towns .... where hunting is not permitted.... Thanks for mentioning.
Thanks for very informative video, Ticks, Mosquitoes, Chiggers are here to stay. I guess they have their part in nature but I can not think of any good reasons. I need to do my homework and study up on what natural insect repellant plants grow in my area. I started using Permethrin if I go where I know a lot of ticks are. I also tried Picaridin when attack by gnats back in June and it worked very well. I have used DEET the most but since trying the Picaridin I may start using it more.
Excellent and informative video, Ken. I've begun to use permethrin spray by Sawyer to treat my boots, pants and other clothing. Luckily I'm pretty much immune to mossie bites (I don't feel em bite), but the buzzing drives me crazy!! I don't like Deet so I use Lemon eucalyptus. It needs to be re applied often but it doesn't irritate my skin and get everything oily, plus I don't like the smell. I'm going to start using the beauty berry leaves per your suggestion this season.
Great video, i love the quality of video and how its all presented. well done, very informative and fun. i will be sure to use this information on my next camping trip. thank you, keep it up, looking forward to the next video.
Hi Ken, the patch of woods we normally go to is infested with ticks at this time of year. Although we tend not to get them, my dog normally picks up several.
This sounds silly but whiskey is the way forward, if I go out slipping whiskey I don't get bit, but others who don't drink seem to get bit all over? maybe tics don't like whiskey? the problem is trying to camp & do bush craft while three sheets to the wind haha! wonderful video Kenneth many thanks.
IMO, everyone who spends time outdoors, in warm weather, should watch your advice. Any of these critters can make life miserable or worst. Have a family member who had un-diagnosed Lime disease, until it triggered a severe case of shingles on one side of his face & head. Spent a month in the hospital with a week of that in intensive care. It's been 2 years and is still suffering ill effects that prevent him from doing much of what he used to enjoy doing. Perhaps, one day he'll be well enough to go fishing again. Hopefully your advice will keep that (or something similar) from happening to others. Thank you, in advance, on behalf of that person or persons.
KennethKramm I had shingles years ago on my left hip & thigh. Doctor ordered a series of tests for other problems. Said that often shingles is a sign of a weakened immune system. Fortunately, they didn't find other problems. Decided that stress was the trigger in my case. (High stress job at the time.) My family member's doctors knew that some of his symptoms didn't match classic symptoms of shingles. As his condition grew worse, they kept running tests, till they found Lyme disease. Once they started treatment for that, along with shingles treatment, he began to improve.
Ken Kramm or Bob Knight...Question about Bob's preference for Permethrin treatment on clothing. It's what the military uses as well. I think your video mentions that. Do you follow the seller's instruction, and seal the clothing in plastic with the chemical for a while, or do you just spray it on and hang the clothing to dry before wearing? Hang and spray is a lot easier. Ready to use Permethrin is expensive. You can save a lot of money by buying the concentrate and diluting your own mixture. The concentrate, unlike the popular Sawyer brand ready to use, does have a slight petroleum smell when first applied. But the odor appears to vanish after the clothing dries. My Lady can't detect the odor, and she has a bloodhound's smelling ability.
Larry Vickery I let the clothing dry in the open air. I don't know if putting it a plastic bag works better. However, from my personal experience.... be very, very careful with Permethrin. I am very sensitive to it...and have had serious rashes from direct skin contact, especially if the treatment is not thoroughly dried before using the clothing.
Hi Ken, Another great video. I never knew ob had to go to hospital due to a tick bite but glad he made a complete recovery. Good advice. Now I have to ask your advice on another matter. Beards. How do you control them? Mine is beginning to overtake my face!! Sandy
Jackloreknives Thanks Sandy. I trim my beard once a week and shave the edges. A lot easier than shaving everyday. And it sure helps that my wife prefers the beard over my shaved face. Take care, Ken
How do you know that "natural" repellents aren't toxic? I once met a toxicologist who was working on the impact of the "natural" substances in skin products. His findings were not reassuring. The manufactured repellents are just mimicking natural substances anyway. At least they have been studied and we know the risks!
Hello there, Ken. I'm in the UK so our problems aren't perhaps as bad as yours. One thing struck me, I've been told that if you feed your dog one garlic capsule each day it will help deter fleas so I wondered if a similar effect could be caused in humans. ie by creating an effect where your sweat actually exudes a 'garlic aroma' to help deter bugs and stuff. Just a thought, don't know if it might work lol ATB Tony
Great vid and sound advice. But I was wondering about ants? Particulary if I'm in a hammock will they walk on the suspension into my hammock with bug netting?
@@KennethKramm well, when your body starts shaking for no reason and your vision goes to s**t, it sure is a bummer 🤣 For real, if you have weird symptoms about a month after camping, even if you didn't noticed any bites, go and get checked 😉 also if camping in eastern europe, you might wanna have some vaccines for encephalitis
It's about time someone put together a realistic informative insect protection guide video such as this. So many crazy tarp camping open outdoors camping videos, and none other than this video touch the needed subject!
+niight shadow Thanks. I wanted to offer a complete review on the topic, providing tips that I've learned over the years.
extremely sound advice and well presented Ken. One thing every one should be aware of is that scents (after shave, perfume, hair spray and some deodorants) attract biting and stinging bugs. Their use while outdoors should be avoided...
bad hat Excellent advice about scents attracting biting and stinging bugs!
KennethKramm
Ken I've spent my adult life working out doors on cross county pipeline construction from one side of this country to the other and from top to bottom...
I've seen mosquitoes in Montana, almost big enough to stand flat footed and do indecent and unspeakable things to a fully grown turkey... ';O)
Once I went to an Astro's game at the dome in Houston and over heard two skeeters discussing whether to take me back to the swamp or to eat me there.... They decided that the big uns would get me if they took me back to the swamp.
Any thing a person can do to gain the advantage is a good thing.
+KennethKramm ha nice song.
+KennethKramm wow and it would be great for Halloween.
+LetArtsLive Chiggers and ticks are not insects. They are arachnids, which are close cousins of insects and include spiders, scorpions, and mites. In fact, chiggers are
mites. A chigger is the larval stage of a mite in the family
Trombiculidae. Nymphs and adults of chiggers are called harvest mites
which are free living and predators of small arthropods and their
eggs. Your head may be spinning from the scientific jargon, so it’s
important that I review some terms and basic biology.
Hi ken.. Thanks for having me as a guest in your video. I'm glad I can help you out... you did a lot of research before you put this video up. I can tell by all the good information in it. I know this will help a lot of people out. Definitely 5 thumbs up. I'll talk to you later ken.
Bob808Knight Thanks Bob. You're first-hand information about ticks was AWESOME. Thank you for allowing me to use the video clip..... Take care, Ken
A guy I know ran a test when he was running a course in Alaska. They measured the number of bugs that settled on light vs dark clothing. The dark clothing attracted significantly more bugs.
I can testify that the tick key does a great job of removing them without any chance that you will squeeze them and have them regurgitate back into you.
Rational Bushcraft Thanks for the recommendation on for the Tick Key.
If I forgot to say it...another superb video and quite instructive.
I always like your videos as they are educational. Thank You for doing them.
Very comprehensive video. Thank you, know ledge gained in heaps here! I had to chuckle when I read "Bee less attractive".
Another prime-time worthy video! I had a funny incident happen to me back in my teen years when I used the family provided shampoo. It was some honey and herb scented stuff, and the first time my buddies and I went fishing in a swampy area, the bugs loved me. My pals were laughing so hard as bug after bug landed on my head. At one time I had at least 4 big critters on my head like some sort of insect crown!
Campfire Steve Thanks!
Great informative video! I am from Louisiana so I know all about the problems with these pests while hiking and camping. Thanks for your videos.
I'm smiling Mark. We share the same creepy crawlers.... Thanks for watching and taking time to comment. ....ken
That is some great advice Ken. There is one thing that I wish to add. If someone needs to use mosquito repellent to keep mosquito's off your body, spray mosquito repellent on your socks above your boots, along your shirt colar, and under your arm pits with your shirt on. When wearing a hat, spray a little of the repellent on the brim of your hat. I will see if I can get a video about that later on. But still, great advice Ken.
John Ruiz Good suggestions, John.
Great bug begone video Ken! I wear long pants and a long sleeved viscose/cotton white shirt. I check and brush with my hands on both sides and generally all over after I walk through brush and reach a clearing. One time I did get off trail and lost for a few minutes in the chaparral and saw a gray tick climbing on my pants; I swatted it off fast. I wouldn't go out in shorts no matter if it's 110 or 120 F because that means applying a lot more semi-greasy suntan lotion and being vulnerable to getting scratched by branches when hiking. Mosquitoes here are generally pathetic in CA and you can just swat them after they land on you, but in the subtropics/tropics they're much more vicious. I use hypoallergenic shampoo that's not very fragrant because as you said, fruit-smelling body products will attract hordes of flies, bees, and wasps. The bees and wasps are not a big problem to me but I hate having little flies land on me and try to go for the lips and eyes etc. I've used some fly repellents but to no avail. In the worst places I've used a hat + fly netting but one time a fly got INSIDE of the netting through the neckline and freaked out. I will look into permethrin some more.
That song about the NY gf in Texas was funny but NY is a humid forest full of horrible bugs too, it's got to be worse than most drier places in Texas haha. Here in Southern CA it's mostly little flies that annoy me but I think that's mostly an issue on well-traveled trails where dogs and horses (and some humans) pee and poo everywhere. I went to a sparse trail yesterday and the flies didn't show up after the first 1/2 mile.
You know with your debris shelters and things, one way to just check that there aren't ticks in an area is to carry a white cloth around with you so you can do some tick dragging or flagging. Run that cloth around places you plan to go through or use and see if it brings them up. I think it's a very easy way to find out if an area has ticks, and what type and how many. Then you know what, if any, precautions to take. You can drag the cloth over the ground, grasses, and flag low bushes.
I believe ticks also can hang under leaf litter on the ground and things, so before sitting in places, just do a quick drag to see if it's tick free. When you sit, if there's ticks close around, they start slowly walking towards you. They are proactive like that. If you stay in the one spot for long enough, they may come to you. This is why folks may go to bed at night, then wake up with lots of ticks on them. But if you have dragged the area around you beforehand, you'd know if there was a risk.
When I go out camping and hiking, I"m taking my white cloth.
Excellent suggestion A Jay. Thanks for watching this video and commenting. Much appreciated. ...ken
That repel 40 cream is the best I’ve found. Lasts considerably longer than the spray. Even after sweating all day and wiping down it still did the trick!
Why are you so cool, Kenneth? I found my first tick out in Sam Houston National Forest last week and almost lost my mind. It's important to be aware, treat your clothing, and do periodic checks. Great content as always!
+Samuel P Thanks!
There are certain parts of Texas where flea borne typhus is endemic. It is a very nasty disease but can be treated by antibiotics. Ticks, as mentioned can cause many different types of diseases, but one thing many don't know is that tick bites can also precipitate severe immune responses that result in a disease called autoimmune hepatitis. This is a potentially deadly disease much worse than Lyme or ehrlichiosis. There is also tick relapsing fever that is common in some parts of the Southwest. Aside from insects there are also fungal diseases that can be contracted like coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) found throughout the Southwest. So enjoy the outdoors but be careful.
Arturo Longoria Thanks for commenting, especially the final sentence, "So enjoy the outdoors but be careful."
I just moved th the high desert, no bugs now, LOL.
great info Ken, thanks!
glad to hear Bob recovered from his tick born illness...woods
MTwoodsrunner You're welcome!
Love the old song keep them coming
Karen Lee Will do Karen! Big Smile... Bear may be in my next video! .... stay tuned....
good job ken
Thanks
Very informative and educational video Ken. I tend to avoid the woods during the hotter months just because of all the nasty insects. I can't wait for the cooler months. Thanks for taking the time to make this video for us.
Ken
kjumper1 You're welcome my friend.
Excellent advice, and an enjoyable presentation!
Steven Boyd Thanks Steven!
Thanks for the good advice Ken.
Noel
***** You're welcome Noel.
Still a great one in 2020
I have found over the years, that oral gel, or some generic variation will convince a tick to turn loose. This evening, I got a couple from just being in the yard and came in, shucked out of my drawers and dabbed a teeny bit all over them. If you listen closely, you can hear em making the same sounds you make after you eat a green persimmon. After just a minute or two, I was able to scrape them off with a finger nail. No itch and had bout forgot till I watched this. Thanks Ken!
***** Interesting about oral gel and ticks don't get along.... Thanks for taking time to comment.
Hi Ken. So we're back from our 4 day camp. Oh my the mosquitos were awful!!! Wanted to wear long pants/sleeves but it was way too hot this time of year. The bug sprays helped a little. No ticks. We had a great time anyway. Lisa
zalkona Hi Lisa. Too bad that mosquitoes ruined your 4 day camp. Maybe next time there will be more wind and they will stay grounded. Glad you had a great time in spite of the bugs! Thanks for letting me know the outcome of your adventure. Take care, Ken
Good video as usual. After picking blackberries we always took a bath putting one cap of Lysol in the bath water .
Loy Chandler Intersting suggestion. I'll have to give the Lysol bath a try....
Dear Ken, thank you for the good advice on bugs. Actually, We are about to leave on a 4 day camp and I sure will try some of your tips. You are right when you say that some people get bit while others rarely do. My husband almost never gets bit while I get eaten alive. I tell him that even the bugs know which of us is the sweeter one! Lisa
zalkona Enjoy your campout. You need to find someone to join the party .... some who the bugs like better than you! Take care, Ken
Thanks Ken, Great info.
Thank you for a very well don and informative video.
All the best.
Bobby
***** You're welcome Bobby!
Great information.
Wado for sharing.
Be safe and take care.
As usual Ken thanks for sharing this very informative and well put together segment.
Switcher You're welcome.
Congratulations on the excelent video!!
Another masterpiece.
Thanks
+Márcio Floripa You're welcome Marcio! Cheers ....ken
Very useful tips.keep it up Ken.
Hadi Hadi Thanks Hadi.
Permethrin works wonders, I use it all the time, and it is worth the price. If you use it concentrate on the outside and inside of cuffs, sleeves, waist line, and neck area of your clothing. I live in the northeast where ticks are really bad. As soon as I walk off a trail I am covered in deer ticks. But ever since I used permethrin I haven't had any problems with ticks.
Sir Arnold Agree, permethrin works well. And I use it especially in tick and chigger infested areas. However, some people are very sensitive to it..... I can only use it on outer clothing and ground cloths (nothing that touches my skin) because of my reaction.... Thanks watching and commenting!
At 6:30 we get to see "Darth Ken".....
I need to treat my hammock with that spray......had a bad experience the last time out......lol
Outstanding video!
RiverBendSurvival Yes, "Darth Ken" Thanks for watching Darby. A little spray on the outside of your hammock will keep mosquitoes for landing.... ken
I knew a forest ranger who spent nearly every day in thick southern forests and marshlands.
Long before any of the present day remedies, he would take a hot bath every morning, laced
with Pine Sol household cleaner, and said that he would go all day free of ticks, chiggers mosquitos,
I don't think he ever developed adverse health effects from the daily Pine Sol bath.
Larry Vickery Interesting information about Pine Sol, Larry...
Well ... my great grand mother would brush her teeth with brown soap every day of her life. She died with all her teeth, it may have been worth the nausea. I do suspect though, that we just have strong teeth in my family and it somehow seemed to encourage her madness.
Of course she also reckoned that since penicillin was developed from mold, and since she considered penicillin some kind of generally life enhancing wonder drug - she should just go ahead and eat all the moldy food in the fridge. I guess an overall strong constitution will appear to justify a lot of abuse.
Don't try this at home kids ...
Seems dangerous
Thanks Ken. Tennessee has all of these bugs and then some. Like Bob I spray and use one of the things you wear on your belt. I also check myself before going to bed and when I take a shower. There are candles to burn in camp that will help. There are other things to wear like dog bug collars made for people. Better safe than sorry. Checking with your doctor could help.
james green Good points James. Thanks for watching and taking time to comment.
Great tips, thanks for sharing
acet7 You're welcome.
Hi Ken, have you ever considered using leg windings (or as the early medieval people of Europe would know them: winningas) when in grassy or bushy environments ? You know the windings used in the middle ages and more recently in ww1. They are partially still in use with some (far eastern country) armies. They are also called Putty's... Putty's are great to repel any insect which likes to creep up into trousers and the like. Also great at defending against the mechanical effects of tall grasses and brush. They are usually thick, woolly, warm and strong and very capable of acting like sort of a boot if combined with good shoes. They can (or rather should) be wound starting at the heel of the foot and run up up to just below the knees. They can be worn in stead of socks (wound around the whole foot - or in combo with a foot cloth covering) but can obviously used in combo with socks or wrappings as wel...
Hi Sander. Thanks for watching and commenting. "Windings" work very well. One of my videos, from a few years ago, shows how to use them...ken
been watching your video on hammock camping noticed you shaking out your boots and it reminded me of what an old Arizona ranger told me along time ago, bring along a kitchen trash bag to put your boots in at night. Keeps the "vinegaroons" and the rattle tailed water moccasins out of your boots at night
bad hat Good point. shaking boots is ok, but it in situations where there are more creepy crawlers it is best to make sure nothing gets in them in the first place: put them inside your "bug proof" home base / tent; put your socks overtime, covering the opening, put them in plastic bags. I put them in last bags when I slept in the debris shelter last winter and used the plastic bag with boots as my pillow inside the debris hut....
KennethKramm
wow ken that must have been ... uncomfortable
I kinda poo pooed the idea until I found a great big ol' hairy vinegaroon in my boot one morning about 10 miles up in superstition mt... then I started to believe the things he had said 'o)
ken here is what i found helpful if you can stomach it a mouth full of white vinegar and swallow i found this worked for ticks chiggers or red bugs mosquitoes deer flies etc for the day learned when i was a base game warden at Camp Lejeune USMC base N.C. i am older now and can see now dilute the same volume down like a sweet or dill pickle juice. it worked. besides all those bug sprays in the can in my yard and garden i use Avon skin so soft direct or or diluted if diluted shake up with water because it is oil based and floats if not shaken works the same with ticks chiggers or red bugs mosquitoes deer flies etc also in the garden i never seen the sweet smell attract bees or wasp.. if no other options i use smudging and let the smoke hit me clothes and body but not as long lasting as before mentioned. plus i smoke and helps like smudging as long as i have one lit up. heard yeast eaten or garlic helps never tried but sure remedies before mentioned. GO TELL IT TO THE MARINES enjoy your videos .keep it up as for spiders never had a problem with let them roam house no roaches unless i see a brown recluse i let them be.plus if chiggers set in a drop of finger nail polish on it stops itch until it peels off
Thank you for this information, I want to thank you for the videos about tarp turned into a hammock and also the one from putees wear by soldiers WW I great videos. I hope you continue posting videos with historical information. Thank you and God bless you.
Very nice video lots good information atb John
+Turtle Bushcraft Thanks John. ....ken
Great advice my friend!
Common Sense Camper Thanks!
Excellent video! Thumbs up.
Thanks!
Thanks for all the effort, this was a real eye-opener! Remember that your dog can get Lyme disease too, so treat your pet if you take him out in the woods!
JulianZeezer You're welcome Julian.
Hi Ken great video and fantastic advice.
Darrin Martin Thanks Darrin.
Good common sense advise. Thank you
Very good teaching vid. Haven't seen anybody talk on this topic. Thank you. But,
this has to be a highly rhetorical statement. (Extreme answer) Don't go into the wilderness hiking/camping/hunting/fishing, ... or take an entire backpack of insecticide and spray the trail sides in front of you, and the campsite. Otherwise, the ancestors used an easier way.. Like modern orange oil house treatment, ancestors used oranges/citronella with inserted clove buds that were put into house corners chasing away spiders, ants, silverfish. These oil aromas make the insects gag, asphyxiate, and get away - or die! Same for picnic citronella candles/tiki torches (or campfire pine pitch oil smoke) against biting flies and mosquitoes.
Go to health food store (or online) and buy essential oils. Essentials are chemical "terpenes" (and hemiterpenes, sesquiterpenes, ... turpentines ...) and are all essential oils. Some of the best for wilderness use are citronella, lemon, grapefruit, clove, cinnamon, myrtle, pine, mint, oregano/thyme/sage, other herbals, etc. No perfume, flower, or nut oils.
Make a little spritzer bottle of DILUTED oil and water mix, and a DILUTED oil and vegetable oil mix. Spray OIL/OIL mix onto campfire, coals, or campfire ring hot rocks (incensing the area). Spray a ring of oil/oil around your camp ground area ... before setting up
Diluted essential oils can be put on insect bites as an antibiotic, antiseptic, antiviral, germicide. Some are pain relieving, and can be massaged into tired muscles/nerves. Spritz a drop of oil/water onto a tick. It will get into their breathing ways and asphyxiate them, and they will pull out, or die, and easier and safer removal.
Stop ants, spiders, scorpions, and snakes from getting into your boots ...put your second pair of socks over your boot opening overnight! Spray the exterior of the sock. When walking/hiking, spray on oil/water essential oils (mint, oregano/thyme/ sage) on your boots, socks, and lower pant legs. Do the same for your waist/belt, wrist/cuff, around your armpit and shoulder, and neck/shirt collar. Even spritzing your hat keeps bugs from falling down onto you.
The same natural anti-mosquito sprays use the very same ingredients in their product. Make your own mixtures! Spritz your open skin areas, and rub in.
Stop critters from getting into the tent. Spray the tent entrance edging with water/oil, on the soil at the footprint edging, the tent stakes, and the roping 12 inches up from the ground. Otherwise, spray the hammock tree ropings 12 inches down and away from the tree trunk/poles. if you have a hammock and tarp shelter, spraying the tarp edgings gives you an aroma area, potentially keeping other insects from getting near and landing.
Essential oils can also help in disinfecting water (water purification) (Sigma 3 Survival techniques YT vids). But use with high discretion.
Just a (hopeful) helpful comment.
John Lord Oftentimes, "Less is more." Don't use more repellent than is necessary.... "less is more" .... and use natural products as much as possible. Physical barriers(such as bug nets) are better than chemical ones, etc. Your recommendations are excellent.
That being said, in some locations, in some circumstances it is necessary to use synthetic chemicals. If you need to be in an areas that are infested with large tick populations, for example, it is important to protect yourself. Persons who are suffering or slowly dying from tick born illnesses wish that they had been more careful. Bob Knight was seriously ill with a tick borne illness. He was transferred to two hospitals, with kidney and liver failure. After such an experience, your viewpoint on using chemical barriers changes to be more careful. Of course he now "crop dusts" the area where he camps.
Great video Ken! It's a great bit of advice and I'll definitely be trying some of these techniques in the future.
Britain Reynolds Thanks Britain!
Nice video Ken. Could you show a more detailed video on natural repellent plants? I know about American Beautyberry,Marigold and Mums. The Wax Myrtle is one I wasn't aware of. I always burned punky wood for flies and Skeeters. Thanks.
Greyman Zink Good suggestion. I need to convince one of my Texas Master Naturalist friends to help with topic. Stay tuned....
Whitetail deer are the major host of the lone star ticks. The deer population explosion of the 20th century continues on today so this is an urgent concern.
Bobby Harper One of many reasons we need to control deer populations, particularly in the areas near towns .... where hunting is not permitted.... Thanks for mentioning.
Thanks for very informative video, Ticks, Mosquitoes, Chiggers are here to stay. I guess they have their part in nature but I can not think of any good reasons.
I need to do my homework and study up on what natural insect repellant plants grow in my area. I started using Permethrin if I go where I know a lot of ticks are. I also tried Picaridin when attack by gnats back in June and it worked very well. I have used DEET the most but since trying the Picaridin I may start using it more.
DiddyBushcraftnOutdoors You're welcome. My advice is to try different repellents, to see what is most effective in your area.....
Excellent and informative video, Ken.
I've begun to use permethrin spray by Sawyer to treat my boots, pants and other clothing. Luckily I'm pretty much immune to mossie bites (I don't feel em bite), but the buzzing drives me crazy!! I don't like Deet so I use Lemon eucalyptus. It needs to be re applied often but it doesn't irritate my skin and get everything oily, plus I don't like the smell. I'm going to start using the beauty berry leaves per your suggestion this season.
Gadget's Gear Deet is nasty stuff; but it does work. Thanks for watching and commenting. ATB, Ken
Great video, i love the quality of video and how its all presented. well done, very informative and fun. i will be sure to use this information on my next camping trip. thank you, keep it up, looking forward to the next video.
CptsillyBollocks Thanks for watching and taking time to comment. Much appreciated, my friend. ....ken
Some good common sense advice Ken!
Stanley Sprow Thanks Stanley.
Thanks for the info.I had no idea tha ticks were that bad.
305ssmonte You're welcome.
Hi Ken, the patch of woods we normally go to is infested with ticks at this time of year. Although we tend not to get them, my dog normally picks up several.
Ian Deakin Glad that you don't get them.... but sorry for your dog.
This sounds silly but whiskey is the way forward, if I go out slipping whiskey I don't get bit, but others who don't drink seem to get bit all over? maybe tics don't like whiskey? the problem is trying to camp & do bush craft while three sheets to the wind haha! wonderful video Kenneth many thanks.
"go camp during a season where there are less bugs" not so easy when you live in a climate that's too cold to camp at any other time than summer, lol.
IMO, everyone who spends time outdoors, in warm weather, should watch your advice. Any of these critters can make life miserable or worst. Have a family member who had un-diagnosed Lime disease, until it triggered a severe case of shingles on one side of his face & head. Spent a month in the hospital with a week of that in intensive care. It's been 2 years and is still suffering ill effects that prevent him from doing much of what he used to enjoy doing. Perhaps, one day he'll be well enough to go fishing again.
Hopefully your advice will keep that (or something similar) from happening to others. Thank you, in advance, on behalf of that person or persons.
Oldtimer Lee Thanks for commenting. I wasn't aware that Lyme disease can trigger shingles.
KennethKramm I had shingles years ago on my left hip & thigh. Doctor ordered a series of tests for other problems. Said that often shingles is a sign of a weakened immune system. Fortunately, they didn't find other problems. Decided that stress was the trigger in my case. (High stress job at the time.) My family member's doctors knew that some of his symptoms didn't match classic symptoms of shingles. As his condition grew worse, they kept running tests, till they found Lyme disease. Once they started treatment for that, along with shingles treatment, he began to improve.
Ken Kramm or Bob Knight...Question about Bob's preference for Permethrin treatment on clothing. It's what the military uses as well. I think your video mentions that. Do you follow the seller's instruction, and seal the clothing in plastic with the chemical for a while, or do you just spray it on and hang the clothing to dry before wearing? Hang and spray is a lot easier.
Ready to use Permethrin is expensive. You can save a lot of money by buying the concentrate and diluting your own mixture. The concentrate, unlike the popular Sawyer brand ready to use, does have a slight petroleum smell when first applied. But the odor appears to vanish after the clothing dries. My Lady can't detect the odor, and she has a bloodhound's smelling ability.
Larry Vickery I let the clothing dry in the open air. I don't know if putting it a plastic bag works better. However, from my personal experience.... be very, very careful with Permethrin. I am very sensitive to it...and have had serious rashes from direct skin contact, especially if the treatment is not thoroughly dried before using the clothing.
Hi Ken, Another great video. I never knew ob had to go to hospital due to a tick bite but glad he made a complete recovery. Good advice. Now I have to ask your advice on another matter. Beards. How do you control them? Mine is beginning to overtake my face!!
Sandy
Jackloreknives Thanks Sandy. I trim my beard once a week and shave the edges. A lot easier than shaving everyday. And it sure helps that my wife prefers the beard over my shaved face. Take care, Ken
How do you know that "natural" repellents aren't toxic? I once met a toxicologist who was working on the impact of the "natural" substances in skin products. His findings were not reassuring. The manufactured repellents are just mimicking natural substances anyway. At least they have been studied and we know the risks!
Nice!
ZippperBeansGaming Thanks!
Hello there, Ken. I'm in the UK so our problems aren't perhaps as bad as yours. One thing struck me, I've been told that if you feed your dog one garlic capsule each day it will help deter fleas so I wondered if a similar effect could be caused in humans. ie by creating an effect where your sweat actually exudes a 'garlic aroma' to help deter bugs and stuff. Just a thought, don't know if it might work lol ATB Tony
+Anthony Antrobus Thanks for commenting Tony. I've heard that garlic repels biting insects ...but I haven't tried it yet.... stay tuned.... ATB, Ken
OK thanks! Is their something else that might be in Iowa that does the same thing roughly?
do you know if that beauty berry plant grows in Iowa?
Great vid and sound advice. But I was wondering about ants? Particulary if I'm in a hammock will they walk on the suspension into my hammock with bug netting?
Robert Young Good question Robert. Put insecticide products on the line that holds the hammock. This should keep the ants away. ATB, Ken
Aaaaaaand i got lyme twice already
Bummer
@@KennethKramm well, when your body starts shaking for no reason and your vision goes to s**t, it sure is a bummer 🤣
For real, if you have weird symptoms about a month after camping, even if you didn't noticed any bites, go and get checked 😉 also if camping in eastern europe, you might wanna have some vaccines for encephalitis
By the way, treatment for Lyme is fast and cheap, no worries about getting cured
Wax Myrtle. I wonder why my grandfathers never mentioned it?
Maybe it doesn't exist in Germany.
Kevin S Interesting comment Kevin Wax myrtle is native to the southern USA; It may be too cold in Germany for Wax myrtle to grow. ATB, Ken
ken I don,t think wax myrtle grow here in Pa.!
Don't spray yourself with bugspray near a fire.
Never want to light yourself on fire!
Nice tip, I start to use this for catching mosquitos and for now do the work done. Check my video how easy it looks.
6:44 -- you look like the Zodiac.
Come on Ken, I love your videos, but your choice of music is horrible! LOL
do you know if that beauty berry plant grows in Iowa?
+Jasonscreative Adventures Beautyberry plants don't like hard freeze... They would grow, if they were "protected" during the winter.