Shooting sticks-are they a must have item?

[Hummer]

Are shooting sticks a definite must have item for my first Elk hunt? Mono or bipod? I was planning on getting some but the cost of getting geared up for hunting is way higher than I expected.

No. For your first elk hunt, forget the sticks. Too much weighty crap to burden and distract you from the task of finding elk. They would be more useful for pronghorn hunting in tall grass and sage, much less so in most Colorado elk country.

Obviously, there are a lot of opinions on the matter. Mine is just get as much practice as possible shooting prone, sitting, kneeling and offhand. I think you'll get a lot more mileage from a good sling (both in carrying and stabilizing the rifle).

If you feel you haven't spent enough money and need more things to carry, knock yourself out.

Agree 100% w/Zombie Steve, four-position practice with a good sling is better, faster, and a sling is already part of your hunting gear. No extra cost, weight, or fiddling around. Go as light as you can and limit your gear to what's necessary for survival.