Benefits Of Combining Hinge Cutting And Food Plots?

Enhancing Habitat Diversity

Combining hinge cutting and food plots is a powerful strategy for creating a thriving deer habitat. By hinge cutting, you create a mosaic of young and mature trees, which provides deer with a variety of food sources, shelter, and bedding areas. When you add food plots, you create an additional source of nutrition for deer, drawing them in and encouraging them to stay. For example, hinge cutting 10-15 acres of woodland and supplementing it with a 5-acre food plot can create a 15-acre deer core area.

Attracting More Deer to the Area

Deer are naturally drawn to areas with abundant food and shelter, making hinge cutting and food plots a winning combination. By creating a diverse landscape with a mix of young and mature trees, you can attract more deer to the area and increase the chances of hunting success. Additionally, food plots can be designed to attract deer with specific preferences, such as corn, soybeans, or warm-season grasses. For instance, planting a 5-acre corn plot can attract 20-30 deer per day, especially during the fall rut.

Improving Hunting Success

By combining hinge cutting and food plots, you can create a hunting environment that is conducive to success. Deer are more likely to use areas with abundant food and shelter, making it easier for hunters to locate and harvest them. Additionally, the diversity of the landscape created by hinge cutting and food plots can help to distract deer from human scent, allowing hunters to get closer to their quarry. For example, a hunter using a 15-acre deer core area with hinge cutting and a 5-acre food plot can increase their chances of success by 30-50%.