I have two store bought products that (IMHO) appear a "smarter" option that tweezers. One is just a tab of metal with a vee cut in it, the other is called a "Tick Key" (
www.tickkey.com). Both are designed to not squeeze the critters when extracting them.
I am not sure how they work on the really small (deer - red ticks), thankfully, but are excellent on the others.
I actually purchased the "Tick Key" at a pet store, the other one came from the first aid section of either a drug store or a mail order catalog like Campmore, can't remember where.
Good luck to all of you, these buggers just give me the willies, and we have them pretty good here. Had 12 crawlers and 3 attached in one morning of turkey hunting up here.
Back a few years ago, on a spring trip in the Boundary Waters, we were finding like 20 a day. Each night was deemed "Minnesota Foreplay" as you would check your spouse for ticks.....