Tick tubes and permethrin are effective.

Ticks get on you when you walk through tall grass or trees and brush against them. If you're not brushing against stuff, you're fine. If you are, check yourself frequently, and throughly when you get home.

Usually you don't have to worry about them in the winter, but that may be changing as we get warmer winters.

There are vaccines for Lyme disease in development right now. It's worth investigating.