 A Biltmore stick allows for quick estimation of diameters to the nearest 1 or 2 inches. The stick is held against the tree at breast height, usually 25 inches from the eye. Manufactured Biltmore sticks can be purchased from forestry equipment suppliers, or personalized Biltmore sticks can be made to match your natural arm reach. To make your own Biltmore stick, first obtain a broom handle or large dowel or other blank that can be used for your Biltmore stick. When holding the blank comfortably against the face of a tree at about 4.5 feet above the ground, have someone carefully measure the distance from your eye to the blank. This is your personal arm reach for creating your Biltmore stick. You will notice on manufactured Biltmore sticks, there are usually graduations of 2 inches used to estimate tree diameter. You can calculate diameter graduations for your personalized Biltmore stick using the following formula. For A equals arm reach in inches and D equals the diameter of the tree being measured. For example, if you have an arm reach of 24 inches and you are trying to determine the graduation for a 4 inch tree, the formula would be 24 times 16 divided by 24 plus 4 all under the square root. When you work that out, it comes to 3.7 inches. You can complete and record the calculations for your personal arm reach. Do this for diameters starting at 4 inches and continue in 1 inch or 2 inch intervals to 20 inches or more depending on the size of trees you will be measuring. Once calculations are complete, you may start crafting your Biltmore stick. To do this, find a starting point that is about 6 to 10 inches from the top of the stick and mark it with a pencil line. Starting the markings here will keep your hand from rubbing off the marks. Then measuring an inches and tenths of inches from the starting point mark the appropriate number of inches for your 4 inch tree. For example, if your 4 inch tree calculation was 3.7 inches, you would measure 3.7 inches from the starting point. Then for your 5 inch tree, you would repeat this process marking 4.5 inches from your starting point. Continue this process labeling each mark as you go until all diameter markings are complete. Once you have the graduations marked with a pencil, check them for correctness. Measure several circular trees with a diameter tape and check the Biltmore against these measured trees. Utility poles work well. After you are convinced your stick is properly marked, go over your pencil marks with a permanent marker or in another permanent method. This is your chance to be creative. Now you are ready to measure tree diameters using your personalized Biltmore stick.