Long story short, we're moving back to Oklahoma and just put in an offer on a house with 5 acres of thick oak. It's a nice place and we're hoping the inspection later this week goes well.
While there, I walked maybe 200 yards into the woods (there wasn't that much grass-- the oak leaves mostly smothered things), looked around for 5 minutes, and walked back out. I bet I pulled or flicked off 20 ticks right after that. I didn't have any bug spray on, but I was expecting 2-3 ticks, not 20. Have any of you folks encountered a similar tick problem and successfully combated it?
I've heard spraying permethrin works (though I do dislike killing too many non-tick insects if it can be avoided) and getting guinea fowl or chickens could help (it's unlikely we'll do this). In addition, I've seen suggestions of putting a 3' wide warning track of gravel around your yard (as the ticks are unlikely to cross that due to sun, heat, and lack of foliage)-- but that doesn't really help with the ticks in the timber.
Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks!