Walking stick for mountains
 

How many use a walking stick while hunting the mountains for Elk? Either a stick you picked up off the ground and made it your walking stick or one that you bought like the Leki models?

RE: Walking stick for mountains
 

Your kidding, right? A 40 pound backpack along with a bow or gun is enough gear for me.

Bobby

RE: Walking stick for mountains
 

LOL. I wish I was, but my pack isnt 40 it's 60lbs. I figured it would help on those stepp mountains?

RE: Walking stick for mountains
 

I use my shooting sticks, when rifle hunting. When I'm bow hunting I don't use one.

RE: Walking stick for mountains
 

I use collapsable trekking poles. They double as shooting sticks.

RE: Walking stick for mountains
 

I use one I pick up off the ground when packing an elk out. It helps when you have 75 to 100 pounds on your back.

RE: Walking stick for mountains
 

I started usinga lightweight collapsible trekking pole this year. At first I wasn't used to it, but now I use it all the time, and wouldn't hike without it. It really helps when packing a heavy load for keeping balance and taking shock off from your knees when going downhill. Also when hiking with a light pack it is handy when crossing streams on slick rocks, moving brush out of the way. I have a tendency to fall a couple times per trip, since I am usually looking for game or at the scenery, but since using a pole I have yet to wipe out, since it gives me something to lean against when I stumble. My friends gave me crap for using it, saying I looked like a granola hiker, but now they are looking at using one too.

I highly recommend using one, I feel with the reduction in shock to my knees and less falls it could actually add a few years to my hunting, and that is worth all the snide remarks from my dumb tough buddies.

RE: Walking stick for mountains
 

millagerobert, I use a Voile' ski strap to X my poles and they make great shooting sticks. Since they are already in my hands I don't need to dig them out of my pack. I put a heavy wrap of duct tape on the shafts below the handles for the rifle to rest on.

Chris

RE: Walking stick for mountains
 

I'll have to try that since my knees do get bothered by going downhill from time to time.

RE: Walking stick for mountains
 

Last year on a bow hunt my bother had one and I said why would you carry something else.Will half way up a montain he handed it to me ,after an hour I didn't want to give it back.It saved me on a couple of would be falls with heavy packs[elk quaters].I found a old elk rub that I still have in the back of the truck and use all the time.