hinge cut or hinge cut and squirt?

[scrimshaw33]

I have 20 acres on my 100 acre tract that is 20 yo poplar, maple and sweetgum (not very great trees for forage or timber production). There are no mature oaks around on this 20 acre tract so unless I throw some acorns out after letting some light to the forest floor.

1. Do I hack and squirt to eliminate these trees. I know killing the trees will allow light and create good forage for the deer.

2. Or, do I just hinge cut with no killing of the trees (no squirt), as I know new sprouts even from these less desirable trees will also provide forage.

...So, which is most benifitial to the deer or is it a combination of both methods?

[MNjohn]

If your going for forage and cover just hinge cut or clear cut the poplars they will resprout and be thicker than ever. If you want to open some of this area up cut and treat.

[G-Vac]

Up here in NY poplar and maple are browsed heavily in winter so I personally would allow most of them to resprout. I'd kill the sweetgum though.

[rntodd98]

It depends on what the rest of your property has on it. If you don't have any good cover, you should hinge cut all nondesireable species and make it as thick as possible. Or if the rest of your property has great cover you could clear the land and plant oak & fruit trees or/and a food plot. FOOD COVER WATER = GOOD HABITAT

[D Hunter]

RN Todd got it. Depends on the rest of your property and your goal. Think about your end goals for the whole place. The answer will become more apparent. A full 20 acre clearing will be a pretty good sized undertaking whether you are paying to have it done or doing it yourself. It also depends on the terrain. I if you are in east TN it may be too steep to figure a Food plot. I am in WNC and getting a tractor on any of my property is good for the adrenaline junky side of me. Things get pretty exciting at times. I was pretty sure I was going to die only twice last year. Once again, what is it your property lacks, food, cover, oak forest, etc and that is what you can provide to help your herd. Good hunting. "D"

[scrimshaw33]

thanks for the info guys. my prop is 100 acres and half field and half woods. half the woods are thick 20 yo growth and imo need to be cut as they have about maxed out in thickness and bring no food, only cover as no light hits floor and no plants on floor.

the other half of woods half big oaks but also big poplar and maple and need thinning to also allow some more forest floor food and since i have half fields my project over next several years is to create more cover.

i'm planting 20 acres of pines this winter for money and for creating cover. it's the fastest way to create cover here and will create some income many years from now.

hunting season has started and lack of cover is evident. saw 10 does and one four pt opening day but none since then (a week ago) as all deer in the area seem to be hitting the acorns. I have them but set all my stands over my food plots.