First off has any one heard of this I was at deer fest here in Wisconsin and it was a topic for one of the seminars and I guess he has had great sucsess with this for keeping mature bucks on his property. And if some one has done it have you had sucsess with it.
It's been around for a long time. I have never had to do it because my property is pretty thick. My understanding of it is it just gives deer some cover to hide in. Are they bedding on your land now? If not where are they bedding and how are they using your property?
I did some hinge cutting this past winter on some mature ironwood trees that once was a thick berry brush bedding area. Since the trees were mature they didn't stay alive, but it did create instant bedding area. An area I once could see 50 plus yards you can now see about 20 yards. As smaller trees grow I'll continue to hinge cut the less desireable trees to keep it thick. I belive if it's has no timber value, not feed for deer, not bedding cover, change it. Hinge cutting gives you that ability, it's a long term investment, but I can't see anything but positive results in the future.
Hinge cutting is the practice of cutting a tree 2-6 feet above the stump through enough to fall the tree but with enough left to keep the stump connected and hopefully keeping the tree alive. This brings thick cover to the forest floor along with high amounts of deer brouse. Some trees will not stay alive no matter what, some will, usually it's more successful with younger trees. This is one of the best links I've seen on the subject. http://www.iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15487
since you have done it how close do you hunt that area it in the seminar this guy said he tries hunting to it as close as possible
I only watched the second video but I was hoping to see "the proof in the pudding" from his trail camera. I really don't see myself doing this but I'd be more inclined to if I saw some of his results.
well if you look up there website all the deer you see are suposly were all killed hunting the trail to the bed http://www.whitetailacademy.com/photos.html
I believe in hunting as close to a bedding area as possible without spooking the deer. It depends on how thick the cover is, how good of an entrance and exit route I have, and weather/wind conditions. The area I hinge cut recently is a doe bedding area, I hunt the natural funnel entering the area during the rut and pre-rut. I have to plan on hunting all day because that close to a doe bedding area that time of the year, you'll have activity all day long.
My dad used to do it a lot back about 30 years ago when he was still guiding hunts.....it works!!! I've never tried it myself because I just hunt public land.
There is a lot more to it than just hing cutting a couple trees. You have to put them in certain places and you also have to make it covered on the top and have an exit on both sides. I have been looking in to doing this on my property. I only have a couple spots I can do it and it be effective though. If you just randomly place them through out your property, its no where near as effective. I am still on the fence about doing this on my property. I have a pretty big buck bedding area as it is but, if it could help hold a few more I may just try it.
I think hinge cutting in any manner is nothing but helpful for deer and your hunting situation. You can hinge cut lines through your property to create thick funnel areas, you can hinge cut less desireable trees to get more browse within reach of deer. You can hinge cut trees in areas to pursue deer past your stand. Everyone looks at creating bedding areas, natural browse is as important or more important than any amount of food plots you can put onto your property.
The land that we have has a tun of points where we could put them and i hope it will solve the problem to keep the big ones on our land
