Hinge cuts in the 3- … Identify some good spots where you could create or enhance a deer bedding area. It doesn’t have to be much — a ridge, mound or hill. From Tornado Zone to Bedding Area - 3 Parts Tour of a Hinge Cut Bedding Area Checking For Deer Beds Justin’s Property Update  Habitat Day with Jim Ward 2016 Hinge Cutting and Bedding Areas Hinge cutting isn’t too difficult, and really anyone with a chain saw and the will to work can use this strategy to immediately improve bedding cover and food availability on a property. To hinge-cut a tree, cut halfway through a small tree 5 to 6 feet above the ground. Also, make sure you aren’t cutting valuable timber that you can make money on. First off, when it comes to hinge cutting an area, I’d typically recommend cutting as many trees as possible. The beauty of hinge-cutting is that it keeps the trees alive and your wall lush with cover for years. If you have a lot of really mature timber, simply logging the area will create new early successional bedding habitat. More is not always better. Some folks hinge cut very heavy along property lines to keep deer from wanting to leave the property. The tree will drop to the ground, continue to grow, and offer browse for the deer to feed on. Multiple very large trees that are hinge cut at 10' or so and fall into each other is a great way to block a road. Do not drop too many trees. Good ones to hinge-cut include most native, non-invasive, non-food-producing species. First, locate a high point. The area should resemble storm damage when you finish. Before embarking on a hinging project it is imperative that you consult with your area forester and discuss what your goals are for your timber. Strategic hinge cutting can add bedding areas for deer. 4. The difference between hinge cutting for deer travel and hinge cutting for deer bedding is that with the bedding, you are going to go back through the entire area and clear out the smaller branches underneath the hinge cut trees. That said, let me lay out a few words of caution. Look for natural bedding areas to hinge cut, such as near ridge tops and south-facing slopes. Most mature forests will have a canopy of oaks, maples, basswoods, or aspens and an understory of smaller or younger trees. My technique for this job is half-cutting, also known as “hinge-cutting.” Trees are cut only halfway through. Once the trees are cut, deer can feed on the resulting stump-sprouts. This thread is about the practice of hinge cutting or falling trees in a variety of places to create screens, encourage new browse, create bedding areas, block off runways and funnel deer. This plan creates living cover for wildlife at the same time as providing abundant browse. 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