Hinge Cut trunks

[WImuzz]

Might be a stupid question, so if it is, I have big shoulders and am ready for the jabbing!

I'm clearing escape lanes and travel corridors in my hinge cuttings. What height for a felled tree is too low for deer to duck under and too high for them to not want to jump? I get they can crawl under fencing and jump over 6ft fencing...I'm asking with regards to what would would be too high or low for them to not use that particular trail.

 

[PatinPA]

I'm not an expert either but everything I've seen is you want to cut everything leaning perpendicular away from your trail. If something is laying across the trail, I think I would cut it to make it the easiest way of travel. You don't want them to feel like they're closed in with no place to escape if need be.

 

[Bill]

I'm not an expert either but everything I've seen is you want to cut everything leaning perpendicular away from your trail. If something is laying across the trail, I think I would cut it to make it the easiest way of travel. You don't want them to feel like they're closed in with no place to escape if need be.

That is correct on all levels. Don’t box them in and don’t make them duck and jump. Their just as lazy as we are.
Shoulder height hinge cuts they can walk under. A knee high hinge is a blockade. A clear path is the best for a trail.

 

[TreeDaddy]

That is correct on all levels. Don’t box them in and don’t make them duck and jump. Their just as lazy as we are.
Shoulder height hinge cuts they can walk under. A knee high hinge is a blockade. A clear path is the best for a trail.

^^^^^^^ Jim Brauker's book in a nutshell

bill

 

[yoderjac]

Might be a stupid question, so if it is, I have big shoulders and am ready for the jabbing!

I'm clearing escape lanes and travel corridors in my hinge cuttings. What height for a felled tree is too low for deer to duck under and too high for them to not want to jump? I get they can crawl under fencing and jump over 6ft fencing...I'm asking with regards to what would would be too high or low for them to not use that particular trail.

If the are cut flush with the ground they probably can't crawl under and if you use a latter and cut them at 12' they probably can't jump over the stump.

Seriously, deer are amazing creatures. Rather than thinking in terms of "can't", think in terms of discouraging them. When not under pressure, they are lazy creatures and will generally take the path of least resistance. I would hinge cut at a height that is safest for you using a chainsaw.

Thanks,,

Jack

 

[PatinPA]

I don't even like to let larger logs lay across the trails. I cut about a 3-4' section out and spin it around so that they don't have to even think twice about it. That being said I was about to shoot a buck last year when he turned off a woods road and randomly walk right through a large pile of brush directly away from me. Absolutely no rhyme or reason to it. Also witnessed a 3 point plow through a tangle of brush and small birch trees when there was a cut trail right beside it.

 

[WImuzz]

I don't even like to let larger logs lay across the trails. I cut about a 3-4' section out and spin it around so that they don't have to even think twice about it. That being said I was about to shoot a buck last year when he turned off a woods road and randomly walk right through a large pile of brush directly away from me. Absolutely no rhyme or reason to it. Also witnessed a 3 point plow through a tangle of brush and small birch trees when there was a cut trail right beside it.

Almost the exact same thing happened to me! I had a shooter plow through the thickest part of the corridor wall when the opening was a mere 15ft ahead! Definitely not spooked since he calmly walked and browsed.

 

[Bill]

I don't even like to let larger logs lay across the trails. I cut about a 3-4' section out and spin it around so that they don't have to even think twice about it. That being said I was about to shoot a buck last year when he turned off a woods road and randomly walk right through a large pile of brush directly away from me. Absolutely no rhyme or reason to it. Also witnessed a 3 point plow through a tangle of brush and small birch trees when there was a cut trail right beside it.

Sometimes they just don’t cooperate.

 

[Knehrke]

There's a game I play using hinge cutting and trail cameras. My bucks will start to avoid trails that have cameras on them. They seems to want to walk close, but just on the far side of cover, usually downwind. You can guess how I might use this to my advantage.

 

[PatinPA]

Almost the exact same thing happened to me! I had a shooter plow through the thickest part of the corridor wall when the opening was a mere 15ft ahead! Definitely not spooked since he calmly walked and browsed.

Ya same. It was November and there was a doe and a fawn down that way so I assumed he went after her, but he paid no attention to them. Just walked down through browsing.

 

[WLD]

A couple have already said it, and it depends on your area, but where I am at I have to be careful about creating anything that is overhead that a deer would have to walk under or crawl under. I just hinge cut all my trails so the tree falls perpendicular to the trail, if it falls across it, I just cut it.