My vet said not to worry about ticks or fleas in Central Oregon, and no meds needed unless I drove down through California. I've had one tick on me in 7 years here and never seen one on my dogs.

I have cut a tick out of me and sucked it with a venom extractor that I only carried once in my life and used it on that trip. Probably wasn't a good idea but I was in the middle of nowhere and it seemed a better choice to lose a bit of flesh snipped out than to burn it or leave it in.

Hello my name is Jim and I hate ticks. I used to hate spiders also, now I merely avoid them but let them live in my house if they aren't too pushy.
Jim