Habitat Planning #6: How to Make a Deer Bedding Area on Your Property

Hinge cutting a pine stand 5 years ago for deer bedding ends up looking like this. It worked well, but there are a few things I would do differently. Check this out before you grab that chainsaw.

[@meat-gardener]

One of the best property/habitat design videos I have seen. The way you go back and forth to the aerial photos while explaining what you did made this very easy to follow. Also waiting a few years and seeing the results and discussing your results and what you would do different was very helpful! Great Job!

[@theback40]

Hey Blake, thank you, glad it helped. All the best to you.

[@archerystud]

I've been watching alot of videos on bedding areas. You have got one of the best I've seen so far. Thank you 😊

[@theback40]

Hey Mike, thank you. Hope it helps! All the best to you.

[@TheStickinator]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with TSI..

[@theback40]

Sure thing! All the best to you.

[@scottfryling9946]

You do an excellent job of explaining things along with the visual so I understand you.

[@theback40]

Thanks Scott, all the best to you.

[@keithalbrecht4785]

Another great video Mark! I agree about more side cover. From my experience deer here in Wisconsin use side cover more. But bucks do like a spot like you have with some overhead cover. That is a prefect buck spot!!! I can't wait for all the snow to melt out of the woods at my brother's place, he said last week he had a foot of snow or more in the woods! Get the food plots cleared & better bedding areas. Want to get this going go soon!!! I feel like we have along ways to go & a short time to get there!!! Thank again Mark!

[@theback40]

Sure thing Keith. We all have lots of work to do, and want it done NOW, but need to try to enjoy the journey and look back on our progress. All the best to you.

[@kenmaurer4743]

Great video..like how you stated the yardage of everything, plot size ,distances from trails and edge of property ,and including North South directins as you pointed things out..gives a person a better perspective of your reasoning behind your describing the areas

[@theback40]

Hey Ken, thank you. Hope it helps! All the best to you.

[@jedidiah5131]

Great video lots of info. I'm always amazed at the effort with research and field time people put into deer hunting. I just walk the old logging roads here in Canada, lived in 7 provinces over the years. I get my deer every year ,usually raining and cold or just a gloomy over cast damp day when I get lucky....Thanks for the video.

[@theback40]

Sure thing Jedidiah. That's a lot of moving around, you must have great experience seeing lots of different habitat and how to hunt it. All the best to you.

[@drewhuber7391]

Try living in a state with high hunter density and a person on every 5 acre parcel around you. You have to create the best property in the area to consistently take mature bucks in those types of areas.

[@rfb7117]

Mark, thanks or taking the time to share your thoughts. I totally agree and think the key is not just dropping trees indiscriminately, but dropping them in small circles and leaving open trails and connecting the open pockets for the deer to travel and bed. thanks, Bob

[@theback40]

Thanks Bob. I am noticing that some of the spots are going to need a refresh sometime in the next couple of years. All the best to you.

[@rfb7117]

Yes...we try to do a little cutting each year. Call when you can.

[@rfb7117]

Low thirty's and 1-3" of snow in SW WI. It is currently coming down pretty good.

[@theback40]

@@rfb7117 Yup, we have snow on the ground here now too, we get your weather a few hours later!

[@icehog2367]

Great video, thanks for taking the time to post it.

[@theback40]

Sure thing Greg. Hope you're habitat work is progressing this spring. All the best to you.

[@ianlilley6430]

I like the walk through. Actually seeing a bedding area made. I'm up in Ontario and I have dense forest on my property so this really helps 👍

[@theback40]

Hey Ian, glad it helped. Good luck this season!

[@seanbalch7563]

I agree 100% about the side cover more important than overhead cover. Plus high hinges only lowering the canopy partially and sunlight get blocked from the forest floor.

[@theback40]

Hey Sean, thanks, good to hear someone elses perspective, too. All the best to you.

[@sandych33ks1]

Great video, where I live in the Adirondacks the deer seem to like and do the same. They like side cover and the deer beds against logs is what I see the most of.. I watched a buck who had a routine of where he would bed against this same log / spot during the day for two months before he got shot in it.

[@theback40]

Thank you. Well, hopefully it was a nice buck, and you are the one who shot him! All the best to you.

[@tdawgcj7]

Thank you for sharing, I have a similar area to work with.

[@theback40]

Hey JT, hope your area works out well. All the best to you.

[@matthewemanuele8150]

Overhead cover is a myth. Side covers way more important. The only time I’ve seen deer attracted to low over head cover is getting under a small pine during a storm. All in all good job.

[@theback40]

Hey Matthew, thanks. Hope you are having a great season.

[@ianlilley6430]

Watched this again 😅 I have crazy mountains and a creek going through my property all great things to have but makes it much more difficult to access or set up. Also up here in Ontario our deer migrate which makes it alot more difficult to get them in a pattern

[@theback40]

Hey Ian, not much you can do if they are migrating, this would be for the time before migration starts. Mountains with valleys are so so so difficult, especially the wind swirl down in the valley. You probably have to hunt up top with more consistent winds. But hey, you own property, which is a blessing. All the best to you.

[@bradbrockhaus633]

I bet it was pretty hard to cut a lot of those pine down...I have the same situation and for the last 3 winters Ive cut down about 15 ea year...Seeing how nice they are its a tough thing to do but well worth it in the long run

[@theback40]

Hey Brad, yup, lots of work, but fun too. Seeing how the habitat changed after cutting them down, I felt much better about it. Growth at ground level exploded and the deer came back! I did leave some standing for shade, but mostly for the Great Horned owls we have nesting and hanging around our property. All the best to you.

[@karma8001]

Good video. Bucks like to bed away from does through most of the year. U r 100% right about the high hing cuts. Them trees I would notch low and drop all the way down. Deer don't have predators attacking from the sky I don't know why some people say high hing cuts and there very dangerous keep them low if your going to do it. Popular and boxelder r great trees to hing cut drop the pine. Not being negative just my opinion and many other people's. Cutting a notch will help you drop the tree where u want it to go. U do know what works I'm sure when you do that other spot it's going to look and work great

[@theback40]

Thanks for the feedback, it's good to hear what others have experienced, helps us all learn. All the best to you.

[@karma8001]

@The Back 40 very true u have no idea how many hours I waisted and watching your video would have helped allot. I always make more work for myself because I then have 2 fix it. 15yrs food plotting and I still get some bad years. That has 2 do a little with mother nature but by now I should have built a good watering system on a trailer or wagon. That standing timber is going 2 look great I'm sure. I did like how you said your not looking for them to be there in the summer. I found that out the hard way also. I used to plant allot of beans and corn. Hunting season they had it down to the ground and moved on I also made a doe factory. 2 years 2 fix that one

[@theback40]

@@karma8001 Apparently we are both learning the most from our mistakes lol. Keep at it!

[@BlueWidow2010]

Super video Mark. Looks like great deer cover. Do you have plans for planting trees? for cover and food. ie fruit trees. Thanks ...Mark from Evart

[@theback40]

Hey Mark, thanks. Yes, I have planted chestnuts, persimmons, white spruce, streamco willows, and white pines around a lot of the property. They are all too small right now to be noticed and contribute to the habitat. I already have some mature apple and pear trees, and they are great for the wildlife late summer/early fall. Maybe I'll do a video about this. All the best to you Mark.

[@rhino062465]

Great info thanks

[@theback40]

Sure thing! All the best to you.

[@rhino062465]

@theback40 right back at you. I also agree... next cut lower. Even though it obviously worked out well for you.

[@markheidema3699]

Hey Mark, great video. I live in Holland, near Grand Rapids. We've had Jake out to our Battle Creek property. Great guy. Where are you at in West MI? Mark-Holland.

[@theback40]

Hey Mark, hope your property is shaping up to Jake's plan. It's been five years now out here, and things are much better. We're between Muskegon and Grand Rapids. All the best to you.

[@markheidema3699]

@@theback40 Hey Mark, your property is looking good! Jake sure knows how to get the best out of each parcel. If you ever decide to do a habitat day, I'd like to come up and see your place. We have older White Pines in Battle Creek that we'd like to cut and get some regeneration going. It's nice seeing West Michigan habitat videos. Keep 'em coming!

[@theback40]

@@markheidema3699 Will do!

[@hartleyhomesteadmichigan6041]

Great job!

[@theback40]

Thank you!

[@scottsimmons5186]

Hi Mark, great video. I really enjoy them. How many sheds do you find on your property in a typical year?

[@theback40]

Hey Scott, thanks. I don't really scour the property for sheds, it's difficult to get through the thick areas. But we probably average 1/year in food plots or on the trails. All the best to you.

[@andyparstino7280]

Looks great

[@theback40]

Thanks Andy. Watched nine does pile out of that spot two nights ago. It just plain works. All the best to you.

[@thistledewoutdoors3331]

I'm in northern Wisconsin and I've never seen a deer bed under a hinge cut tree on my property... They bed in the pines when it rains or snows that I've personally seen..... My Deer bed in small pockets or depressions in the ground where there's grassy clumps or small brush.... The 1 thing that indeed works is the visual barrier of hinge cut trees along my property line....

[@theback40]

Thanks for the feedback! All the best to you.

[@jeffamckee]

West Michigan, Muskegon County here! What county are you in?

[@theback40]

Hey Jeff, same here. All the best to you.

[@Browneyemafia]

Great video....someone pooped on your hat though....go green😏

[@theback40]

LOL! Go Blue!

[@mr7badass]

Lol I dont think that was filmed today. I was down in marion today and it wasnt 67 and no snow.

[@theback40]

For sure! Mornings have been down in the teens ever since this was filmed. Come on spring.....

[@thistledewoutdoors3331]

The hinge cut trees gives a visual barrier from predators - especially humans..... When deer hunting we look for horizontal lines in a vertical forest.. . .

[@theback40]

Good strategy!

[@peternelly3879]

Wow, these trails are absolutely trampled. Lots of traffic!

[@theback40]

Hey Peter, they love to be there! All the best to you.

[@herscheljacobs6361]

Go BLUE

[@theback40]

GO BLUE!!!! All the best to you.

[@rockethound69]

Like like like like like

[@theback40]

Thank you! Hope you have a great season.

[@ianlilley6430]

Good video

[@theback40]

Thanks again, Ian.