First - keep the vegetation cut short.
Second - keep as advised above - a wide clear swath near your home
Third - Dursban does work if applied correctly, but you will likely need a lot of it and you must worry about allergic reactions.
Last - We keep a flock of Guinea Fowl on our property, and we have noticed a drastic reduction in the tick population. Seems these birds just love ticks as their favorite food. They are in a pen overnight, but every year we loose some to owls and foxes. And if you are going to run Guineas, do not spray insecticide.
Last plus - make sure your apply a good bug repellant (we like Deep Woods Off) before going outside. Be sure to spray if on your clothing from the knees down in addition to all the usual spots!
Good luck
Mark