Snprdog,
I just started making walking sticks this year, too. The closest I have worked to Cedar is Juniper, which is sometimes called cedar. I chose some dead branches (standing deadwood has been kept off the ground, so water and fungi have a very small chance to invade the dead wood) to cut off a living tree. Deadwood is nice to start with, as it has been "seasoning on the tree". My juniper sticks were already shedding their bark naturally, so I finished stripping the bark to make my sticks.
I have gathered quite a few green sticks this spring, those I leave the bark on. I cut them long, then mark the cuts with a 'Sharpie" pen with the species and year. I cut all small branches about 2" (5 cm) from the main branch, and coat all cuts with melted paraffin wax, dipping when I can, a cheap paintbrush when I can't dip. Then I store them to cure. We'll see if this is an effective strategy in another year and a half!
I have stripped Elm and Chokecherry while green, successfully. They strip the outer and middle bark quite easily. Then I have used a knife to "Back scrape" the inner bark completely off of last years ring of growth. This worked very well in early to mid-spring. The core was already dry from winter, and didn't crack or check very much at all. I have found that doing this in late spring and after is not effective, however. Evidently, the trees moisture migrates into the old core as it warms, and takes a long time to dry again, causing the splitting and checking.
I'm still experimenting, but having Fun!