By Jarrod Spilger
Ticks are an unfortunate reality of spring turkey hunting. My worst experience happened many years ago while bowhunting along the Loup River. I must have stumbled into a nest of ticks. Afterward, I picked dozens, if not hundreds, of the critters off my body and clothes.
Thankfully, those days are over. Last season, I didn’t find a single tick on me all spring while hunting, or all summer while fishing, despite frequenting some pretty buggy places. That’s because I wore specialized clothing infused with Insect Shield, a permethrin treatment that not only repels ticks, but also chiggers, mosquitoes, gnats and other insects.
A couple of well-known outdoor brands offer hunters, anglers and hikers several bug-free apparel options, all of which are infused with Insect Shield. The first is Sitka’s Equinox Guard line of tick-repelling clothing. It consists of a hoody with an integrated facemask and pants with integrated ankle gaiters that tuck into boots and gloves. Color options include several camo patterns suitable for spring turkey hunting or early-season archery deer, as well as earth-tone solids for outdoor lovers and tick haters who don’t need camo. Learn more at Sitkagear.com.
Gamehide’s ElimiTick line offers an even larger selection of bug-proof clothing. Options include lightweight, longsleeve T-shirts, button-up shirts, pants, bibs, gloves, facemasks and socks. ElimiTick’s Cover-Up Jacket and Pant can be worn over other clothes when hunting in cooler weather. Many of these items are also available in women’s sizes. Colors include Mossy Oak and Realtree camo patterns perfect for spring turkey hunting, as well as solid earth tones. Learn more at Gamehide.com, including how to maintain these products after wearing them multiple times.
Oddly, Sitka nor ElimiTick offer an insect-repelling cap, but one is available directly from Insect Shield. It comes in either Realtree or Mossy Oak camo. I wore the Insect Shield cap last season, and it did a fine job of keeping gnats away from my eyes. Buy it at Insectshield.com.
Stay safe and comfortable this spring and summer — bugfree.
Lifelong Nebraskan Jarrod Spilger has been hunting turkeys for 35 years.