[Ron T]

Where do you find your sticks?

Most of us on the forum here love sticks, like sticks or use sticks. However, not everyone has access to the woods. Admittedly I am envious of those who can stroll through the woods whenever they choose. It was like that for me when I was on the road. Whether it was pulling over on the side of a highway or spending the day near a wooded area or perhaps looking for dead fall in a park, sticks were everywhere. Now, my days of looking at sticks are pretty much confined to the TV. When I see disasters on the news or weather reports, I'm often looking at the background. After my initial shock of seeing the damage done by a tornado or a hurricane or perhaps an ice storm, I can't help but look at all of those damaged trees and think of all the sticks that will end up either in the wood chipper or the landfill. And, imagine all the trees destroyed by wild fires, too.

Several years ago a record breaking windstorm blew through our area. It knocked down hundreds of trees and damaged thousands. I remember my wife and I driving down the streets that were filled with downed trees. At that time, all I could think of was what kind of sticks I could get if I had a saw with me.

The am curious to know where all of you get your sticks. It would be helpful to new members if you would post your experiences at finding or acquiring walking sticks.

 

[CV3]

Living on the gulf coast we experance a tropical storms most years and a hurricane or two every few years. Mobile also averages over 60 inches of rain a year. This year we are at 70 inches. Down trees an branches are a on going source of sticks around here. I carry a folding limb saw in the car.

 

[MJC4]

Always on the scout for sticks here as well. After storms I scavenge sticks from the brush piles people put out at the road for the town's brush chipper truck. New subdivision developments also provide a source for sticks as well as walks through the county/state parks. We also travel in an a small motorhome 4-6 weeks every summer and the National Forests provide a good source of sticks. Tool handles and other wooden pieces found at flea markets, garage sales & auctions I have used as well.

 

[norson]

As mentioned here many times (including earlier today) ever so often we head out just looking for limbs/branches/etc. Some time back I made an acquaintence with the manager of five local Catholic cemeteries. I now have his permission to scan their grounds looking for sticks - for if I don't take them he has to pay for them to be carried away/burned/chopper etc. So that's an idea you might try.

I also carry long handled limb cutters - better leverage and quicker than a hand saw - in the trunk of the car.

And a pair of gloves.



-neb

 

[RandyL476]

I guess I'm lucky when it comes to having places to get sticks my house sits on 15 acres I look around on it, and I'm a member of a 12,000 acre hunting club with good roads to ride and look.

 

[Rodnogdog]

I carry a bow saw, folding shovel (with sharpened edges!) and a hatchet in my vehicle always. There are a lot of wooded areas near my home in North Carolina so I love to hunt sticks in the woods. I could cut nice straight saplings all day long if I wanted to but I prefer sticks with "character" or with a nice root ball.

On weekends I take my dog with me to play in the woods and one of our favorite things to do is walk the creek (in the creek bed, in the water) when weather and temperature permit. I am always on the lookout for good sticks, I have recovered them from brush piles, tree trimmings, deadfall along the roadside and wherever I can find them. It has become an obsession!

 

[cobalt]

I usually spend a afternoon or so in the local wood which is surrounded by hazel and have permission to cut what I want. Sometimes cut ash and holly when I can and always on the lookout for blackthorn

2years ago I cut 100 sticks approx. last year I harvested about 70 and this year hope to get at lest 60.

I like my shanks 2 years old so there well seasoned. and straighten them as I use them. not a long job with the heat gun

I will try to get a few hazel that have a natural thumb stick .Also hoping to get a few to make a one piece crook.

I will cut of a few y branches if there suitable for a thumb stick topper.

But what I really like is the shanks that don't have any side shoots on them so its a clean stick and don't have to cut any shoots of the shank .These I always keep for my own use as they look the best

I did take about 10 to the local stickmakers club last Sunday exchanged them for a few off cuts of rams horn

Hoping to make some horoscopes sign and people initials . from them to fix onto a shank. tits easy enough to shape them to fit round a shank I the script based on the book of Kells highlighting the pattern on them with drawing ink.

 

[Rodnogdog]

Took the dog to the woods, below are pictures of my stick collecting efforts for the day. I think I can get two canes out of the one with the root ball - one with the root ball for a handle, the other, I will add a handle to the twisty end. Three twisties in one outing!

 

[Rodney]

Great looking sticks!

I don't know that I have much to add here. Most of the types of places I look have been covered.

I keep a set of loppers in the car. They're good for up to 1 1/2" diameter sticks with a little twisting. Right now I'm limited to areas with easy access like next to roads and trails.

I'll add some pruning shears, a saw and maybe a landscaper's pick to my kit for digging up saplings at some point after I can get around better.

.

What tools do you guys bring with you when you're looking?

Rodney

 

[Pennswoods]

Most of my natural ones come from family ground about an hour from my home but when I take a load of brush to the township recycling center I'm scanning the bins for candidates. I don't rule out old tool handles either. The stick that's always in my car is a recycled 1" dia. tool handle about 54" long. Ash I think. I hollowed out the top and made a cap so I could put matches, etc. inside. Spiked the tip and did a removable cord wrap for the grip. I can't stand to see an old wood-handled broom in a trash can. That's a pre-straightened, sturdy stick just waiting for a second chance. Better that than in the landfill!

 

[Whiteroselad]

Hi Fellas, I get myself out into the woods whenever health allows, I have some land that I am allowed to cut sticks from that I used to control vermin on when I was fitter. I always carry; loppers, a folding saw, secateurs, a knife and some lengths of twine or string. I also have a nephew who is a tree surgeon so if ever he is working close by and I can get then I will nip along and see what is getting trimmed or cut before it goes into the chipper. If ever I am out and about and I see the odd stick in a hedgerow that won't leave a hole then I will cut it, this is rare so it would have to be a very special stick. N.

 

[Ron T]

Took the dog to the woods, below are pictures of my stick collecting efforts for the day. I think I can get two canes out of the one with the root ball - one with the root ball for a handle, the other, I will add a handle to the twisty end. Three twisties in one outing!

Hi Gordon, those are very nice twisty sticks. Did you have to go very far into the woods to find them? Most of my twisty sticks came from Louisiana. Almost all of the ones growing along the side of the roads were cut down. You had to walk quite a ways into the bayou to find the really good ones or sometimes any at all. They do make a really good canes and walking sticks with character.

 

[Rodnogdog]

I take the dog so he can go out and run - he loves it and runs in big circles all over the place. We were maybe a 1/3 to 1/2 a mile out in old farm land that has become overgrown and reforested. I can't walk too far, my old knees hurt pretty bad, I have to quit after a couple of miles. It is interesting that all the twisty sticks I find in this area are only partially twisty. The twisties I used to find in Georgia were more completely twisted. I haven't figured out why yet.

 

[alador]

It's ironic, when I first moved here I cut a nice vine twisted stick, put it away and forgot about it. Then I spent 30 years trying to eradicate the Honeysuckle vines. I sprayed, pulled, cut, burned, dug, and cursed at them. They're still here. Now I'm back looking for twisted sticks. If ya can't beat 'em, leave 'em to it I guess.

 

[sludge]

Nice looking sticks, that's the only problem with where I live its mostly pine some cotton wood so I'm just going to have to buy of line I'm looking for the twisted sticks as I want to do another snake stick ,so I envy you guys good info though

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Buy a folding saw and keep it in your auto.

 

[cobalt]

Its just been to wet to harvest sticks at the moment need a week or so of dry weather .

Waiting to go myself and cut 50 -60 hazel shanks

I take loppers that they say will cut 2 inches thick they never do but as I look for around a inch its not a problem. I also carry a pruning saw and rope to tie them in bundles and carry them . and large ground sheets to try and keep the car clean along with wellingtons .

The wife thinks I am nuts but I enjoy it its all part of stickmaking to me

 

[Rodney]

I just picked up a fairly decent flowering cherry stick from some pruning that's being done at a local apartment complex. I think the biggest thing about finding sticks is keeping your eyes open. A set of loppers in the car doesn't hurt either.

Rodney

 

[Whiteroselad]

Loppers are quite easy to explain if the police pull you. An axe, machete or billhook is another case. N.