Deer keds?

[Stumpkiller]

I was amazed to see the deer keds (I think also called a "louse fly") that the poor little buck I took this year was carrying.  I have seen one in the last 37 years I have been hunting.  This guy had 30 or more in his crotch and along his belly.  A little larger than a hungry tick, but faster and they scuttle sideways like a crab.  They vanish under the hair very quickly.

From what I read they fly to a host and shed their wings.  Will bite humans (though we're not the preferred host) and do also carry Lyme disease.

Anyone else seeing these nasty little beggers in their regions?

   

[Kopper1013]

We've been dealing with them for years!!! Ugly little guys and when you see them your skin will crawl for hours. My buck was covered with them AND ticks this year!!

[olddogrib]

I've never seen one of those. I "rose to the plug" thinking you'd killed a deer in tennis shoes like the old Groucho safari joke about "shooting an elephant in his pajamas".....

[ron w]

Originally posted by olddogrib:
I've never seen one of those. I "rose to the plug" thinking you'd killed a deer in tennis shoes like the old Groucho safari joke about "shooting an elephant in his pajamas".....

           

[nashoba]

Charlie what part of the state are you in? I'm in
Caledonia which is south of Rochester and the only time I've seen one is when I was hunting in the north country near Harrisville.

[Tedd]

We have them in the mountain region of PA. They seem active on a warm day late in the year when you lay down for a nap. Sometimes one gets on you. You can't swat them off, the lay flat and don't move for awhile. Later when driving back to camp they you'll feel it again.

Tedd

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I have never seen one and from the sounds of it don't want to.

[Stumpkiller]

Originally posted by nashoba:
Charlie what part of the state are you in? I'm in Caledonia which is south of Rochester and the only time I've seen one is when I was hunting in the north country near Harrisville.

Just inside the northern edge of Broome County - about 15 miles NE of Binghamton (Between Tunnel and Quinneville if you have a really good map).


"How he got in my pajamas I don't know."

Never heard of those nasty little critters!!!

Bisch

[Mint]

Long Island deer are always loaded with them.

[RedShaft]

I have seen them in pa. Mostly on the turkeys I have killed.

[Mike Mecredy]

I would think a fly without wings should be called a walk.