Top 5 "Hinge-Cutting" Mistakes

[@troutfishholland]

I’ve found that boxelders over about 10” diameter always break off. Just tough to hinge. Smaller ones are okay. Favorite is elm. That stuff is made of rubber bands.

[@PFHabitat]

Interesting, I love boxelder and have hinged many large trees. I'll have a few snap off but they're normally a pretty solid hinge tree. You are spot on with elm, those are pretty much money to hinge every single time.

[@EpicWhitetailHabitatLLC]

spot on, Sam! Great video with very valuable info on hinge cutting! And yes, hinge cut areas require maintenance.

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks Ryan! Yes sir, definitely can't just set it and forget it!

[@backinthewoods2022]

Great video I have found this all to be true as well you taught me to cut some stuff clean off I. The bedding area that makes a lot of sense.👍

[@PFHabitat]

Glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching!

[@stevedenoyer5956]

Made many of those mistakes myself, I’ve not had good luck with the overhead canopy for bedding. Deer don’t use it that way in my area. You have to test these things out and see what works in your area of the woods. Sunlight is your friend 💯

[@PFHabitat]

Amen brother! Deer definitely have different preferences in different areas for many different reasons. So much of this habitat work is trial and error.

[@njwhitetails5286]

Enjoy your videos thanks for sharing 👍

[@PFHabitat]

I appreciate that, thanks for watching!

[@northwoodswhitetailsfoodpl2663]

Great information. Well done

[@PFHabitat]

Much appreciated John!

[@stevegermain1222]

Great information

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks a lot Steve!

[@patrothwell9138]

Those are all Awesome tips👍

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks Pat!

[@MikePoupore-dd5bn]

Great Video!

[@PFHabitat]

Definitely appreciated Mike!

[@deercamp3479]

Best hinge cutting info on you tube! Thanks! BTW was just curious what your big buck you got this fall scored?

[@PFHabitat]

Much obliged good sir! I waited the 60 days and had him officially taped. He grossed 180 0/8. Pretty unreal, definitely a buck of a lifetime for me.

[@deercamp3479]

@@PFHabitat .. wow! What a buck congrats!

[@PFHabitat]

@@deercamp3479 thanks, it was a fantastic fall!

[@kurtcaramanidis5705]

Well done.

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks brother!

[@savagewagon6038]

Do you have sweet gum trees in your area? It’s a very low value tree in my area and wondered if the deer would benefit any from them

[@PFHabitat]

I'm Minnesota. No sweet gum up here so I don't have any first hand experience with them

[@backinthewoods2022]

What are your thoughts on hinge cutting hard maple in my experience they are very difficult to hinge cut

[@PFHabitat]

I've been able to hinge them up to probably 12" DBH pretty successfully but they do snap off a lot. You'd have more success hinging them in the summer with the warmer temps and leaves slowing their decent.

[@vodekz1534]

Sam, what about hinge-cut white pines?

[@PFHabitat]

They will die. You can certainly hinge a few if you need to prop up the cover in a spot. But just know none of them will live

[@Jay-hu1pc]

I wanna do a few small clearcuts here in Mn and add some spruce trees. How long will a seedling take to get six to eight feet high? Also what kind of conifers would you recommend? I’ve heard they browse white pine?

[@PFHabitat]

Black hills spruce seem to handle the winter the best though you can plant white or Norway spruce, they're just a bit more susceptible to winter burn. Yah they will browse white pine so you may need to bud cap those if you plant them or even cage them. Growth really just depends on the environment and soil in the area you're planting. 6 to 8 feet will take a good while. You don't get much growth at all the first two years and probably a foot to foot and a half a year after that, depending on moisture.

[@Jay-hu1pc]

@@PFHabitat thank you

[@staceyswelding]

I’ve been studying this for a while just wondering if it’s worth doing on property lines one to steer the deer the other to keep some screening from the other property??

[@PFHabitat]

Yes it works great for that. I've done a couple videos on screening off a property line with cutting/hinge-cutting. The only reason I wouldn't do it is if they have the good cover and you have the good food so you're relying on that movement off of their property

[@staceyswelding]

@@PFHabitat good deal thank you I’m going to give it a shot on a small scale and see how it works!!

[@PFHabitat]

Sounds like a good plan to me!

[@gregruotsala6266]

But ironwoods are so fun to cut/run over/pull out haha

[@PFHabitat]

Haha I can't say I disagree. I get a great feeling of satisfaction with everyone I see hit the dirt :) They are one native tree I could do without

[@stevegermain1222]

Grading information

[@PFHabitat]

I only know this cuz I've made all the mistakes ;)

[@hawkman302]

All I see is dead fall and firewood.

[@travist6366]

You know how to run a chainsaw?

[@PFHabitat]

Well, I'm at least good at pretending I know how ;)