Hinge Cutting: Soup To Nuts

Winter is in full force which means the foliage is gone, bugs are dead, and everything is frozen. Most are inside where its warm waiting for the spring thaw to get outside. I on the other hand have learned to love this time of year. This is the pinnacle time of year to make a real impact on manipulating your deer's habitat. The number one tool in any manipulators arsenal is hinge cutting. What is hinge cutting you might ask? To put it simply, it is cutting a tree about 60% the way through in order to bend it over so the top is at ground level. But this method of manipulation gets way more complex than that. On the plus side it is inexpensive, doesn't kill the tree, and can create various outcomes to control the movement of deer.

Above is a photo of a tree I hinge cut in combination with others to make a bedding area

Hinge cutting can be used to achieve a variety of things.   Mainly it is used in such a way to create bedding areas specific to bucks or does. Hinge cutting can be used to create a funnel. It can also be used to screen the entrance and exit of a hunter to his blind. Hinge cutting can also be used to impede the deer's travel to undesirable locations such as a neighboring property. Each desired outcome requires different considerations when cutting each tree.

1.  Creating Bedding Areas

Hinge cutting to make a bedding area is very effective if done right. All a person needs is a chainsaw and a will to work up a sweat. First you must find an area which has standing timber 6" to 9" in diameter. This selected area should also be dry. It works best if a person selects a few areas about one to three acres in size. To create this bedding area the trees need to be hinge cut about 5 feet above ground level in order for deer to be able to travel underneath it. For the purpose of bedding, the direction the tree falls is immaterial because the more tangled it becomes the better. Keep in mind that if a few areas are made stand locations between them can prove to be excellent for harvesting mature bucks. Also it is important to leave trees which provide an excellent source of food standing. A buck bedding area is made using the exact same method with just a few minor twists. First pick a tree you would like the buck to bed next to. Second hinge cut a smaller area of trees surrounding the selected tree making sure to leave an entrance and exit path. Third make sure the ground on the windy side of the tree is flat, has good drainage, and is free of debris or foliage. It might be necessary to rake the area as to remove any sort of nuisance to the laying buck. Lastly, lay a log on the ground against the trunk on the backside of the future bed. When the bed is finished the buck when laying down should be facing the wind with his back to the tree and surrounded by cover provided by the hinge cut tree tops. Make sure to revisit a buck bed once in awhile to clear any sticks or debris that has fallen in it. When clearing it you should also search for hair or sign it is being used. Once you find it being used check it less often and at off peak bedding times.

I find that mid winter is the best time to make bedding areas for a couple reasons.  The first reason being that deer love the sound of chainsaws. One can almost bet that when the cutting stops they will soon be in to investigate only to find new browse.  Another reason is that the deer are in search of browse and will find the area when they are grouped up. Finding it now means they will most likely use it later. Especially a small buck that splits from his mom. If he takes a bed that you created in a way you kind of own him. If your able to keep him close by chances are you will have an opportunity to harvest him when you feel he is ready.

2.  Creating A Funnel

Funnels are natural areas where trails squeeze together. Most common forms of funnels are creek bottoms, shallow spots of a stream, or a narrow strip of cover between two areas of little to no cover. To create a funnel by hinge cutting you first need to determine that natural path of the animals you want to hunt. Then by hinge cutting a tree about five feet up the tree and pulling it across the trail you want to create and alternating the direction you pull the tree over; you can create a trail for the deer with cover on both sides. One key factor in this is not making the sides of the new trail so thick the deer can't escape it. If it is too thick the deer will not use the trail because it is too confining. This trick works well for bow hunting because it will steer the deer to where you choose thus allowing you closer to make a shot.

3.  Screening Your Travel To Your Stand.

A hunters travel to and from his stand can often be his downfall.  All too often hunters are spotted by the deer they seek before they even step foot on their ladder. In an attempt to be more stealthy a hunter can hinge cut trees in a fashion to mask their travel. This is down by hinge cutting the trees perpendicular to the trail you walk in. Again, the cut should be made about five feet up the tree as to allow travel underneath. By falling the trees perpendicular and at staggered distances from the trail it does not create an impassible barrier but rather cover for the hunter to move undetected. In this case one has to be careful not to go too crazy but rather cut just enough.

4.  Impeding The Travel Of Deer

No one wants to admit they don't like their neighboring landowner but sometimes its the hard truth. In my opinion more times than not the demise of a small landowners success is at the mercy of what the neighbor views as a trophy. With that said, hinge cutting is an inexpensive way to create a fence. This desired outcome takes a little more planning and skill than the others but effective nonetheless.  For this purpose the cut should be made roughly between two and three feet up the base of the tree. The tree should fall the direction you would have a fence go. A few key factors should be considered when making the necessary cuts. First plan out a few trees ahead so you can lay the previous ones ass close to the base of the next one as possible. Keep laying the trees down in a line making sure there isn't a gap big enough for a deer. Deer will naturally avoid jumping unless they must.  One other use for this particular method is creating a no deer zone behind your tree stand. By hinge cutting a fence like row behind your tree stand it forces the deer to come in to your area from elsewhere. To be more effective you can cut it in a "V" shape with your stand at the point. Therefore if a deer is coming in from behind you it forces them to one side or the other. In return, you will create for yourself a sure kill shot opportunity as well as restrict the likeliness of you being winded.

I hope to hear about your experiences hinge cutting as well as any questions you may have.  Feel free to post any of your own experiences and implications of hingecutting to this blog. Please follow my articles by email or social media for future tips.