New Tick-Borne Disease Identified

by
posted on July 31, 2013
** 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. **
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (23)

Scientists have confirmed a long-time suspicion: The Heartland virus—first noticed in 2009 when it affected two Missouri farmers—is indeed a tick-borne illness. The findings were published July 22 in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

I take this as just one more reason that all upland bird hunters, regardless of geographical region, should take precautions against ticks. Tuck your pants into your boots; wear tick repellent; do a tick check when you get home; and always apply a monthly tick preventative to your dog.

The threat of previously known tick-borne illnesses is also on the rise. According to a study by Dr. Susan Little of Oklahoma State University, a huge tick expansion is continually spreading these diseases into new areas. Little found cases of such serious ailments as Lyme, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis nearly nationwide.

Latest

LEDE 2026 Deer Calls
LEDE 2026 Deer Calls

New for 2026: Knight & Hale Deer Call Lineup

Knight & Hale Game Calls, has launched its latest line of deer calls, a collection which includes the EZ-Grunter, EZ-Grunter Xtreme, Death Chamber and Ultimate Rattle Bag. Read on for a detailed description of each.

#SundayGunday: Taurus Raging Hunter 350 Legend

On this week's #SundayGunday, we're taking a look at a capable hunting revolver that’s chambered in a caliber you’re more likely to see in a rifle: the 350 Legend. That’s right, Taurus has released their large-frame Raging Hunter in the whitetail-thumping 350 Legend cartridge. Learn more about it in this exclusive video.

Recipe: Deep-Rooted Venison Stew

Several friends and I often circle back to the same campfire debate about which wild game makes the best stew. Mule deer usually leads the pack, with moose close behind, but any well-handled game meat can stand out when you build the right layers of flavor. The real magic starts long before the broth simmers. It comes from the vegetables and mushrooms you choose.

61-Year-Old Elk-Hunting Dream Fulfilled in Michigan

Michigan elk hunters faced challenging weather and storm-ravaged terrain to harvest 153 elk in 2025. That didn’t deter Bruce Nelson of Hastings, Mich. He applied for an elk license every year Michigan has held a drawing.

New for 2026: Blaser R8 Professional 2.0

The Blaser R8 Professional 2.0 promises to be the modern evolution of the iconic straight-pull rifle. The rifle features a new, ergonomically optimized vertical pistol grip for increased comfort and improved control when firing, and its ambidextrous palm swell fits both right- and left-handed shooters.

New for 2026: Leupold BX-6 Range HD Rangefinding Binocular

Leupold has launched its BX-6 Range HD rangefinding binocular. With fast, accurate ranging capabilities out to 6,000 yards, an advanced ballistics intelligence and precision GPS pinning, the BX-6 Range HD is looking to carve out a space for itself as a feature-rich rangefinding offering.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.