Tick Prevention for New Hunters and Outdoorswomen: What to Wear Before Heading Into the Field
New hunters and women in the outdoors have a lot to think about before heading into the field: safety, layers, footwear, what to pack, and how to prepare for ticks. Tick prevention belongs on that list too, especially when hunting, scouting, or learning outdoor field skills takes you off trail and into grass, brush, leaf litter, and wooded edges.
In this interview, Mary from Insect Shield talks with Lisa Fierman, an Artemis Sportswomen ambassador based in Asheville, North Carolina. Lisa mentors women who are new to hunting and helps them build confidence, outdoor skills, and a stronger understanding of the land.
This article focuses on what new hunters should wear and prepare before heading into the field. For a broader hunting-specific checklist, see our full guide to how to prevent tick bites while hunting.
Key Takeaways
- New hunters often spend time where ticks are more likely to be encountered. Scouting and hunting can mean walking through brush, sitting in grass, kneeling in leaf litter, or staying still in cover for long stretches.
- What you wear matters before you get into the field. Boots, socks, pants, shirts, outer layers, and gear should all be part of your tick-prevention plan.
- Permethrin spray is for clothing and gear, never skin. Use it on eligible items according to the product label and let items dry completely before wearing or handling.
- Ready-to-wear insect repellent clothing can simplify prep. Insect Shield socks, pants, shirts, and other apparel are made for people who want protection built in.
- Tick checks still matter. Treated clothing and gear are part of a broader routine that should also include checking your body, clothing, pets, and gear after time outside.
Meet Lisa Fierman, Artemis Ambassador
Lisa Fierman is an Artemis Sportswomen ambassador in North Carolina. Artemis is an initiative of the National Wildlife Federation that helps women get involved in the outdoors through hunting, fishing, conservation, advocacy, and community building.
Lisa did not grow up hunting. She grew up spending time outdoors through camp, backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, and outdoor education, but hunting came later in life.
That perspective shapes the way she mentors new hunters. Many of the women Lisa works with are not coming from a lifelong hunting background. Some are interested in wildlife. Some want to better understand where their food comes from. Some want to build outdoor competency. Some may not want to hunt at all, but they still want to learn more about the land, animals, and field skills.
“There’s nothing like hunting or scouting to hunt that has me as present and observant in the woods.”
Lisa Fierman, Artemis ambassadorWhy New Hunters Need to Think About Tick Protection
A lot of basic tick-prevention advice is written for hikers: stay in the center of the trail, avoid tall grass, and avoid brushing against vegetation. The CDC’s tick bite prevention guidance also recommends avoiding wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter when possible.
That advice is useful, but hunting and scouting often work differently.
New hunters may spend time checking deer sign, walking creek edges, sitting in cover, moving through brush, or kneeling in leaves and grass. That means your clothing and gear choices matter before you ever step into the field.
Typical trail advice often says:
- Stay in the middle of the trail
- Avoid tall grass and brush
- Avoid sitting directly on the ground
- Check for ticks when you get home
Hunters and scouts often need to:
- Move off trail
- Walk through grass, brush, and cover
- Sit still for long stretches
- Pay attention to insects before, during, and after time outside
What to Wear Before Heading Into the Field
Lisa’s advice is practical: think about the clothing you actually wear most often, then prepare those pieces before repeated use. For new hunters, that usually means starting with the basics: boots, socks, pants, shirts, and outer layers. Before a scouting trip or hunt, build your outfit from the ground up.
1. Start with socks and footwear
Ticks often contact shoes, socks, and lower pants first, so feet and ankles are a smart place to start. Wear Insect Shield socks or treat favorite outdoor socks before repeated use.
For boots, shoes, and other footwear, use permethrin spray according to the product label. Let items dry completely before wearing or handling.
2. Choose pants you can move in
For hunting and scouting, pants need to be comfortable enough for walking, kneeling, sitting, and moving through cover. Lisa mentioned wearing her permethrin-treated hunting pants on scouting trips because they were already treated, stretchy, and comfortable.
If you are moving through high grass or brush, tucking pants into socks can help reduce openings where ticks may crawl inside.
3. Think beyond shoes and socks
For hikers, shoes and socks may be the most obvious tick-contact areas. For hunters, the exposure can be broader. If you sit on the ground or spend time in brush, your pants, shirt, waistline, sleeves, and outer layers may all come into contact with vegetation.
That is why new hunters should think about the full outfit, not just footwear.
“We were in ticks. We were in grass and brush. And we sat on the ground. We did all the things.”
Lisa Fierman, on scouting off trail4. Prepare the layers you will use again
If you have a few go-to pieces for scouting or hunting, those are the items to prioritize. Lisa encourages people to think about boots, favorite socks, a couple pairs of pants, and one or two shirts they will use frequently.
The CDC recommends treating clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin and notes that permethrin can be used on boots, clothing, and camping gear. Always follow the label for the product you are using.
Permethrin spray is for clothing, shoes, and gear only. Do not apply permethrin spray to skin. For exposed skin, use an EPA-registered topical repellent and follow the product label. The EPA repellent search tool can help you find a skin-applied repellent by insect, active ingredient, and protection time.
Protect Your Field Clothing & Gear Before You Go
Use Insect Shield Permethrin Spray for boots, shoes, packs, tents, and other eligible gear, or send in favorite hunting, scouting, and outdoor clothing for professional Insect Shield treatment.
SHOP PERMETHRIN SPRAY GET YOUR CLOTHES PROFESSIONALLY TREATEDLook to the Science, Not the Folklore
One of Lisa’s strongest pieces of advice was not only about hunting. It was about how people decide what to believe outdoors.
Outdoor communities are full of passed-down tips, stories, and folklore. Some may be harmless, but when it comes to ticks, insects, wildlife, and outdoor safety, Lisa recommends looking to science-based guidance from credible sources.
That same mindset applies to tick prevention. Use products according to their labels, understand what each product is made for, and build your routine around the activity you are actually doing.
About Artemis Sportswomen
Artemis Sportswomen helps women build skills, confidence, and community around hunting, fishing, conservation, and access to the outdoors. Through ambassadors like Lisa, Artemis creates opportunities for women to learn from one another, explore new outdoor skills, and participate in conservation conversations.
For Lisa, the goal is not only harvesting game. It is building end-to-end competency, deepening outdoor skills, and helping more women feel like they belong in outdoor spaces that have not always felt welcoming.
FAQ: Tick Prevention for New Hunters
What should new hunters wear for tick prevention?
Start with socks, boots, pants, and shirts that are appropriate for the terrain and conditions. In tick habitat, permethrin-treated socks, pants, shirts, and treated footwear can help add protection where ticks are likely to contact clothing and gear.
Should I treat my hunting boots?
Yes, boots and shoes are common contact points when walking through grass, brush, wooded edges, and leaf litter. Use permethrin spray on footwear according to the product label and allow items to dry completely before wearing.
Can I use permethrin spray on skin?
No. Permethrin spray is for clothing, shoes, and gear only. Do not apply permethrin spray to skin. For exposed skin, use an EPA-registered topical repellent and follow the product label.
Are treated socks enough for hunting?
Treated socks are a smart first layer, especially because ticks often contact shoes, socks, and lower pants first. For hunting or scouting, you may also want treated pants, shirts, footwear, and gear depending on your activity and exposure.
Should new hunters still do a tick check?
Yes. Treated clothing and gear are part of a broader tick-prevention routine. After time outdoors, check your body, clothing, pets, and gear for ticks.
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