Sissy Sticks For All Hunts?

Let’s get one thing straight, there’s nothing “sissy” about hunting smart and using gear to your advantage. Yet for some reason, trekking poles, the lightweight, adjustable walking sticks often seen on the trail with hikers or peak baggers, have picked up a bad rap in the hunting world. Maybe it’s the look. Maybe it’s pride. Either way, the stereotype is outdated and flat out wrong in my opinion.
 
When my father started hiking and climbing peaks like Mt. Whitney and Mt. Rainier, he learned tricks like how to use trekking poles for a proper rest step pace. I knew to follow his wisdom and quickly picked up my own trekking pole set back around the time I began guiding hunters in Alaska. Nowadays? I rarely hunt without them. Here’s the truth: trekking poles aren’t a crutch. They’re a tool. Just like your optics, boots, and tripod, they serve a purpose and should not be left at home, no matter the hunt. They can make the difference between a successful hunt and a miserable one.

SAVE YOUR KNEES

Descending a steep slope with a pack is where joints take a beating. I recently had some scoped procedures done on my left knee, trying to extend my mountain hunting years before I need a replacement. I have carried way too many heavy pack loads over the years and know I would be in a much worse place without my poles. Trekking poles absorb impact, especially for anyone who’s been banged up over the years and struggles descending the most.
 
Even when not on a steep slope, trekking poles can save your bacon. I would not be caught out in the squishy, soft tundra of Alaska without them. Now if things don’t go too well and you end up twisting an ankle, blowing out a knee, or need to repair a stay on your backpack, you’ll be glad to have a set of rigid poles to limp out with or build a splint.
 

STAY UPRIGHT UNDER LOAD

Whether you’re sidehilling across loose rock or hauling a cape and quarters through brush, poles give you three more points of contact, massively improving your balance. While sturdy boots like the Crispi Briksdal model that I prefer for steep mountain hunts help keep your ankles supported and locked down, ankle fatigue can be a real issue after many miles. Having a third point of contact to keep you vertically balanced will greatly reduce the strain on your muscles and tendons in your knees and ankles.

WATER CROSSINGS

Brady, our trusty cameraman, may have a different opinion here as he has seen me slip and fall while crossing creeks before, but I still believe without a set of trekking poles to use, I would be dead somewhere in the north country of Alaska.
 

CARBON VS. ALUMINUM

The complaint I hear often from hunters is that they snap their poles, at least the bottom third portion, while navigating in large, rocky terrain. I’m of the opinion that most of the time this is caused by improper use, like placing the pole down between two rocks and continuing to walk and push forward. For this reason, I always preferred aluminum poles that would bend in this scenario and not splinter or snap like carbon fiber.
 
However, the new Peax Backcountry Elite poles are now my trekking poles of choice simply due to the fact they contain aluminum portions at the bottom and carbon fiber upper sections. This keeps them light and is the best of both worlds.
 

POLES AS SUPPORT

While I choose to shoot off of a bipod, tripod, or backpack while in the prone position, shooting off of your trekking poles can provide a quick rest when you need to make the shot count. For glassing in the wind and when I’m breathing heavy, resting atop my trekking poles helps stabilize my glassing game. Also, when I throw up my packable shelter to wait out a rainstorm or block the sun, having two trekking poles for the corners makes setup a breeze.
 
Sure, it’s just a trekking pole, but it can make or break your hunt of a lifetime. The older I get, the more I realize toughness isn’t about suffering, it’s about adapting, working smarter, and staying in the game longer. If a pair of lightweight sticks means I can hunt harder, safer, and longer, well, call me a sissy.
 
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