A Simple, Safe Way to Remove Ticks

** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
tick_tip_f.jpg

The sight of a blood-sucking, parasitic critter embedded in your flesh can send shivers down the spine of the manliest of hunters. Add a tick’s tendency to carry a host of debilitating diseases—be it Lyme or, God forbid, an allergy to red meat—it’s no wonder we go to great lengths to prevent getting bitten. But it is inevitable. Spend enough time in the woods, especially in the spring, and you’re going to get ticks.

The trick is figuring out a good way to remove them once they’ve latched on, and doing it as soon as possible. Simply pulling out a tick with brute force is not a great option, as the little bugger’s head will more often than not pop off while it’s still embedded. This can leave you with an infection at best and susceptible to tick-borne illnesses at worst. There are many tools and tweezers specifically designed for the task that are all fairly effective, but sometimes very small ticks can render them useless. Plus, kids have an aversion to pointy metal things being poked at them.

There’s a better way to remove ticks of all sizes in one piece, with no specialized tools required—other than a common cotton swab, that is. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Wet the tip of a cotton swab so it will glide smoothly over your skin.

Step 2: While applying light pressure to one side of the tick’s body with the swab tip, gently push the tick in circles around the point where its mouth is anchored to your skin. You’re essentially trying to “spin” the tick on its axis. Don’t push down on the tick, and be gentle, as you don’t want to twist the tick’s body from its head. After several rotations the tick will back out, head and body intact.

Step 3: Destroy the tick, and wash the area around the bite with rubbing alcohol, iodine, or soap and water.

Latest

44 Mag HST LEDE
44 Mag HST LEDE

New for 2025: Federal’s Personal Defense HST .44 Rem. Mag.

Federal Ammunition has recently added a new HST .44 Remington Magnum “Light Magnum” load featuring a specially designed hollow-point bullet, ideal for those seeking HST performance for self-defense with magnum revolvers.

Utah Wildlife Board Updates

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few new and updated rules, some of which are necessary after recent legislative changes—including the wildlife management area license requirement for certain counties and the new process for regulating hunting guides and outfitters—along with a few other proposals during a public meeting Thursday.

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Moose

This month's Member's Hunt comes from John R. Bean of Tucson, Ariz.

Breeding Duck Numbers Decline Again in ND

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 78th-annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.66-million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023.

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

New for 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke in 450 Bushmaster

Christensen Arms has announced the release of the Evoke rifle chambered in powerful 450 Bushmaster.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.