Hinge cuts.

[Bucksnbears]

Gotta admit, the more I watch channels devoted to " whitetail habitat" the more I get confused.
( kinda pissed actually).

So many YouToubers seem to follow the " Hinge Cuts" for better browsing at ground level method. I say HogWash!
You hinge cut a tree that lives and within a year or 2, the growth is outta reach.
Unusable for browse. Not only that but it creates it's own (canopy) which shades out new stuff to grow.

I've hinge cut 1000s of trees and I don't want ONE to stay alive. Do it 100% for nothing other then horizontal cover. Stump sprouts are WAY more valuable then what few limbs come off the top of a living hinge cut tree.

Never have seen a living hinge cut tree provide value for deer more then a stump sprout stump.
Am I just not seeing the " hype " or just a grumpy old guy that has rose colored glasses on?

 

[Matthewfox_45]

The fallen trees also add bedding and ground cover.

 

[Bassattackr]

Agreed..

Hinge cuts are overrated, and destructive for habitat. Also terrible for long term timber value.

Logging, Select Cuts, Clear Cuts or TSI are all much better choices, and very wildlife friendly depending on your timber stage. Get benefit of wildlife use while maintaining long term timber and land value.

 

[Sligh1]

I like a variety…. I do hinge some for structure, bedding, visual barriers, thermal cover, etc. But it’s maybe 1 out of 10 trees. It can get out of hand where deer can’t get through it and absolutely correct - not great for nutritional reasons.
Done lightly - great. Done non stop or the go-to method for managing timber, no.
Diversity IMO is key. & that could mean: 1) freeing up crop trees. Then…. 2) finding pockets you open up (could be 1/100th an acre to 1 acre) 3) thinning overly stocked timber. 4) killing invasive garbage & also getting rid of undesirable species. 5) laying stuff down & some hinging for structure, bedding, etc On & on.
There’s a variety of tactics & the bottom line is this…. Anyone can get a state forester out for a free timber consult. It very likely is going to involve: crop tree release, stand thinning & removing junk. Then all the nuances & little tools u can add your own touch to it. It is honestly & truly a bit of art in there where you can shape things in ways you like. But for someone getting started, a plan & proper tree identification will be key to getting going.

 

[Daver]

I have used hinge cutting to create a "jungle" in a couple of places on my farm...where I don't want deer passing through downwind of a given stand location, etc. I do not hinge large areas, each one is probably 1/10 of an acre, if that. They seem to work for the intended purpose IMO, although I once watched as a hot doe tried to hide in the midst of one of these tangles and sure enough a large racked buck sniffed her out and he "went in" after her and it looked like a snake slithering through the branches...so when they are sufficiently motivated they can/will go through it, but in the main, they steer around it.

I also will hinge 1-4 small/medium trees right where I would prefer that they bed, like on a knob on a timbered ridge. But I don't "slay" the timber with hinge cutting, just pick my spots here and there. I think Skip said it well above when he referenced "diversity", I would agree.