  The deer tick, $\textit{Ixodes scapularis}$, is a vector for numerous human
diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Concern is
rising in the US and abroad as the population and range of this species grow
and new diseases emerge. Herein I consider the potential for control of
$\textit{I. scapularis}$ using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which acts
by reducing net fertility through release of sterile males. I construct a
population model with density-dependent and -independent growth, migration, and
an Allee effect (decline of the population when it is small), and use this
model to simulate sterile tick release in both single- and multi-patch
frameworks. I test two key concerns with implementing $\textit{I. scapularis}$
SIT: that the ticks' lengthy life course could make control take too long and
that low migration might mean sterile males need thorough manual dispersal to
all parts of the control area. Results suggest that typical $\textit{I.
scapularis}$ SIT programs will take about eight years, a prediction near the
normal range for the technique, but that thorough distribution of sterile ticks
over the control area is indeed critical, increasing expense substantially by
necessitating aerial release. With particularly high rearing costs also
expected for $\textit{I. scapularis}$, the latter finding suggests that
cost-effectiveness improvements to aerial release may be a prerequisite to
$\textit{I. scapularis}$ SIT.
