The game was played by two pullers kneeling, with the hip on their pulling side facing each other. Each would grip their half of the tapered stick, so their thumbs and index fingers face each other at the centre line of the stick. On signal each would try and pull the stick out of the others' hand. No pushing with other parts of the body was allowed. Instead, a hard steady pull by your own hip was required to win.

While the stick pull could be done anyplace, the traditional way was set up with two tents facing each other, with doorways about ten feet apart. Competitors would line up in each tent.

One puller f rom each tent would start the game, with the winner running to the opposite tent, where a new challenger was waiting. The winner of that pull would in turn run back to the other tent where a new challenger was waiting. The defeated pullers would move outside joining the cheering section. The one competitor who is left undefeated after all have had a try is the winner.

Sometimes the stick was greased with caribou grease to make it tougher to grip.