Where were you located?  I've spent several years as a kid roaming the Duluth area (brush, grass, etc.) and never had a single tick.  And then I was covered with them (about 6) south of Duluth at the same age.  Those things creep me out, especially after that "House" episode.

I picked one up from the Hawk Ridge area on the 6th. A neighbor spotted it on my jeans and became visibly excited at the opportunity to carry out his first execution of the season. 

I went for an evening hike last night in the same area and did not pick up any ticks. This leaves me wondering whether they work 24/7 or take a break at night...

The wikipedia article on ticks (no link, look it up yourself) mentioned ticks work mostly on trails.  Makes sense, considering the blood fodder available.  I spent most of my childhood roaming off-trail, so that explains the lack of tick-attacks a little bit.

Zra's right; just check yourself after hitting the woods, campgrounds, etc.   Don't be afraid, though.  A small number of cases against the population size of the US makes it about as likely to get bit by a deer tick as it is to be bitten by a shark if you're a surfer in Aussie land (this is where wikipedia would put a "citation needed").  Possibly, even less so.

I won't say that after I get one.

Edgeways,
You seem to be assuming that ticks only attach themselves to humans.  This is far from the case.  Ticks are not that picky.  Many of the "trails" the ticks are on are not human trails but deer or other animal trails.  Plus, 12 ticks is nothing, I had at least 50 on me a couple of years ago while taking a walk through Jay Cooke State Park.

The NMTC Bull Run off Hwy 23 is notorious for tick attacks.  I had 4 or 5 crawling on me at various points before and after the race, but chased them away before they could clamp onto me--I was pessimistic enough that I put a pair of tweezers in the car when I headed out.

Huitz - no, deet-based applications do not work for ticks.  Wear long pants and tuck them into your socks; both stylish and functional!  To a point...

woodtick - that's how to stay the flies.  There's a small amount of deet in "Off".  Just wondering if I should even touch the stuff.

I yanked a deer tick off my back today that's been feeding for an unknown length of time. I guess after frying 45 wood ticks, I was bound to come across their more formidable brother.