For most people who spend time outdoors, ticks are an annoyance. For legendary outdoorsman Babe Winkelman, they became the beginning of a life-changing ordeal. Known for his decades of teaching America how to hunt, fish, and respect the wild, Winkelman never expected that something as small as a tick could derail his health, his career, and his sense of normalcy.
His battle with Lyme disease wasn’t quick, and it wasn’t simple. It was years of misdiagnosis, frustration, countless doctor visits, and a long fight to get his life back. Today, he shares his story not for sympathy, but to warn others — because Lyme is real, it’s growing, and too many people still aren’t taking it seriously.
A Symptom Journey No One Could Explain
Winkelman recalls the early days of his illness as the most confusing period of his life. Strange symptoms began showing up out of nowhere — crushing fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, and an overwhelming sense that something was deeply wrong. He consulted doctor after doctor, but the answers never matched the way he felt.
Some dismissed it as stress.
Others thought it was aging.
A few simply couldn’t pinpoint a cause at all.
The reality was much more dangerous: Lyme disease was spreading through his body, unchecked, because no one had caught it in time.
By the time he received a correct diagnosis, he had already been through more than 30 healthcare professionals and nearly 2.5 years of confusion. That delay made everything harder — the treatment, the symptoms, the recovery.
A Family Hit Hard by Lyme
Winkelman wasn’t the only one in his household struggling. His daughters, Jasmine and Karlee, also faced Lyme disease — and one of them was misdiagnosed the first time around, just like their father.
For a family that practically lived outdoors, the realization was devastating. They had done everything right in the wilderness for years… except for one thing: taking ticks seriously enough.
That’s when prevention became their new mission.
Finally, the Diagnosis — and a Path Toward Healing
Once he finally had a confirmed diagnosis, Winkelman began a treatment plan that included conventional antibiotics and ongoing monitoring. It wasn’t an overnight turnaround, but it was the beginning of progress.
Slowly, the symptoms that once controlled his life began to ease.
Energy returned.
Mental clarity came back.
The crushing fear that he might never feel normal faded.
Winkelman often explains that early diagnosis would have changed everything — and that’s why he talks about it today. Too many people brush off the early signs or assume they couldn’t possibly have Lyme because they didn’t see a tick. His message is simple: don’t wait, don’t ignore, and don’t assume.
A Turning Point: Spreading Awareness
Instead of putting the experience behind him, Winkelman turned it into a mission. Lyme disease had blindsided him despite his years outdoors — and he didn’t want the same to happen to others.
He began speaking publicly about his experience, educating people about prevention, and eventually launched the Tick-Borne Illness Information Center to make accurate, practical information easier to access.
His prevention message is straightforward and easy to follow:
- Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot
- Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants
- Stay on the center of trails
- Use EPA-approved repellents
- Treat clothing with permethrin
- Do a full-body tick check every time you return indoors
- Shower within two hours of outdoor activity
These simple steps, he says, helped protect his family ever since — and he wants every outdoor lover to do the same.
Why His Story Matters Today
Lyme disease isn’t rare anymore. It’s no longer a “Northeast-only” problem, and it’s not something limited to deep wilderness. Ticks are spreading across the United States faster than ever, and with them, tick-borne illnesses are rising too.
Babe Winkelman’s story is a cautionary tale, but it’s also a hopeful one.
He survived.
His family healed.
And now he uses his platform to help countless others avoid the suffering they went through.
His message isn’t dramatic or complicated — it’s practical, grounded, and rooted in real experience. Lyme disease can change a life. But awareness, prevention, and early action can save one.
