Hinge Cutting

[Michael Arnette]

Here's my video:
 http://youtu.be/KT4Y_3sYX-k  

Anyone else giving this a try?

[ChuckC]

Thanks !
ChuckC

[Michael Arnette]

Glad you liked it! Giving it a try?

[Michael Arnette]

Here is another good video:
http://youtu.be/inCEZCS7u7Y

[rjackson]

Michael, Jerry Simmons showed me how to do that 30 years ago.I have been doing it ever sense.

Great Tip for everyone.
Randy

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I have an area where I know it would be beneficial but its public property therefore restrain from doing it.

Instead I move dead trees and brush to block trails

[jt85]

Michael, you get them deer good and trained then I'll come sit in your stand and let you know how it worked!!

[Michael Arnette]

Originally posted by jt85:
Michael, you get them deer good and trained then I'll come sit in your stand and let you know how it worked!!

[glenbo]

[Mike Bolin]

Enjoyed the video. I did a hinge cut along both sides of a skidder trail to let it get some sunlight so that it would dry out enough to get it leveled out and passable again. Definitely worth the time I spent. Thanks for sharing!

[Michael Arnette]

It worked by the way, I nearly had a shot at a 140-150" buck this week in the same area, he was headed for a broadside shot at about 22 yards turned right before he got into my shooting lane

[Ryan Rothhaar]

I didn't watch, so not sure if you are doing this to nudge deer towards you, or for habitat improvement.... but both work great.  You can hinge small trees with a handsaw to help direct deer, even the same day you hunt.  I've never had a deer pay any attention to the new downed tree..except maybe to eat some leaves.

I took a week off of work this March and spent it on my farm in Missouri running a chain saw.  Averaged 8-9 hours a day for 6 days cutting\\dragging\\hinging, and felling a bunch of bigger trees as well.  It is unbelievable how the habitat and deer cover has exploded in those areas in only a year. A couple spots I did this in 2012 as a trial are bona fide bedding areas now.

If you are going to do habitat hinging, be careful, it is WAY more dangerous than felling trees if you hinge anything of any size.  My personal rule is if it's big enough I don't want it to fall on me I'll fell rather than hinge.  Also, any one wanting to do this be sure to know how to use a chainsaw.

I would also caution against doing it at least half unclothed (I just saw the video and edited this)..... use proper safety gear!  You think falling out of a tree stand can hurt, try a kickback into your thigh without chaps      :eek:   ...get one of those chainsawing helmets with the mesh face shield and ear muffs too, please (if you like seeing from both eyes and hearing stuff)!  

R

[Friend]

During the winter months...employ hinge cutting and girdling,to enhance foodplot sunlight, in the winter months.

Was remarkably succesful this season in moving wide dirt path trails from up to 50 yards to where they form a junction of 3 heavily used wide dirt trails with two other well used parallel trails to permit a productive ground setup. There was much other work involved.

[Sawpilot 75]

I prefer to do it for habitat improvement rather than direct deer but both work well.

[jonsimoneau]

It works. I do it all the time now to move deer where I want them. Like Ryan said, don't be afraid to do it even the day you are hunting. Just try to touch as little vegetation as possible.

[abbatoys]

Been meaning to do this up at my property. After watching the videos I am all in..

[mlsthmpsn]

I prefer this method.

  Hinge cutting with a Wedge.


Scrape up the ground around the new opening, and frost seed some grasses and goldenrod.