Something that hasn't been emphasized is that here in Maine not all deer ticks are infected. They probably arrived with tourist dogs. More likely than deer immigration. If you discover a deer tick on your visits to CT the home of Lyme there is a very high chance that the tick is infected. there is an extremely low chance of beeing infected with a disease in Maine from a dog or woods tick. (spotted mountain rocky fever)

In order to put a hurt on the tick population you need an extended period of 20 degree or less cold without snow cover. Last winter wasn't very hard on them. And you can pick up ticks all year long that there isn't snow, so look carefully during winter thaws.