I haven't had many ticks on myself but my dogs get their share.  I once pulled 11 ticks from my border collie puppy's ears the day after we walked through waist high grass at a local Illinois Forest Preserve.  I took my 2 year old dog to the Q in early September and never found any over 10 days.

Regarding poison ivy - Man, that stuff can be brutal!  I caught a bad case on my legs, arms and hands a few years ago (not in the BW) and I was all over the internet printing pictures of the stuff to keep in my work truck.  I suggest everyone know what it looks like and keep a look out for it in the BW.  There is a good jell or cream made that stops the itching for a while and I've brought some the last 2 trips to the Q just in case.

MT, I'm glad you start these thread topics.  Without you this site would be a ghost board.  If we all conversed via PM's and email what's the friggin point of the board?