here is an idea,

but could ticks be migrating on transported deer that people have killed in one area and brought home? Where I hunt down in the southern part of new york, there are these bugs that I thought were ticks but turned out to be something different. Very similar though. Anyways, the deer I harvest have these on them, which are still alive when I get home. They drop off and find a new home I think.

So could we be helping the ticks find new homes, sort of shooting ourselves in the foot..