Things You'll Need:
- Sturdy Gloves
- Pocket knife with a saw blade or a camping saw.
- Measuring tape
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Step 1
Cutting all around first to prevent crackingDepending upon where you live, if there is a wooded area nearby you can find the correct starting wood for a quality stick. Even in the desert, some cactus trunks make great sticks (be careful - there are laws in some areas against collecting cactus limbs or trunks).
Yes, in some areas collecting right after fall when the brush is cleared away is a great time to collect. If you are collecting form trees with heavy sap flows then right before winter sets in may be a great time. You may need to adjust your collecting months in your areas.
Wear protective gloves and hiking boots when cutting and collecting wood to prevent cuts and bites. Never stick your hand in an old wood piles or brush before you poke the area with a stick a few times. Snakes, spider, and other animals live in the brush and piles. Keep you eyes open and check the are before you commit a part of your body to a potential hazard.
Do not go to your local park and start cutting away. There laws against damaging public property. In some places it is considered vandalism. Find a forest or heavy wooded area. Be respectful of other people rights. If you are in a fenced in areas, a lot or behinds somebody's home be careful. Do not trespass. Consider what may happen if you re reported. Get permission first! When I collect in state parks and other areas I always check first. Some species of trees are protected.
Try to collect in an area that could tolerate some thinning. In fact, thinning even promotes growth of the saplings that are not collected. If possible leave a portion of the sapling with at least on branch with leaves.
Now use your pocket saw balded and cut around the limb. -
Step 2
Peeling a self collected aspen.Once you cut completely around the limb, then cut through it as straight as possible. The resulting limb should be 6 to 7 feet long.
Woods to collect for walking stick making are Aspen, Maples, Willows, Basswood, Birch and many other decidious tree limbs.
Be respectful of the woods and onl collect what you plan to use. -
Step 3
I prefer to collect the sticks in spring (March and April) or when the sap starts to thin and flow. In some areas, the collecting period extends into June (higher elevations). Tropical's can collect just about all year long. Some tress such as Aspen, Willow and Birch are great throughout June.
The reason we want sap is because the sticks are easier to peel (not dried out) when moist. If the tree is dried out it will be much more difficult to get the bark/skin off. Also, after winter you will find easy to collect damaged saplings caused by winter storms and even fresh fallen branches great for walking sticks.
