Quick Answer
Food plotting after hinge cutting is not always necessary, but it can provide a vital source of nutrition for deer during the critical spring and summer growing seasons, particularly when hinge cutting is done in late winter or early spring.
Post-Hinge Cutting Considerations
When implementing a hinge cutting strategy, it’s essential to weigh the benefits against potential drawbacks on deer nutrition. Hinge cutting typically takes place in late winter or early spring, when deer are most vulnerable due to inadequate food sources. By opening up the forest canopy, you’re allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor, promoting new growth and increasing browse availability.
The Benefits of Food Plotting
Food plotting can complement hinge cutting by providing deer with a consistent source of high-quality nutrition during the spring and summer months. By planting a mix of warm-season and cool-season forages, you can create a year-round food source that will support deer growth and reproductive success. Consider planting a mix of 30% clover, 20% chicory, 20% alfalfa, and 30% oats to create a diverse forage base. Plant these species in late summer or early fall, about 8-10 weeks before the first frost.
Managing Post-Hinge Cutting Habitat
To ensure that your post-hinge cutting habitat provides a benefit to deer, it’s crucial to implement a proper management strategy. This includes maintaining a mix of ages and species, as well as creating a diverse landscape that includes a variety of food sources, water sources, and cover types. Consider implementing a rotational grazing strategy for your food plots, allowing you to maintain a consistent level of growth and minimizing the risk of overgrazing. This will help to maintain a healthy and productive ecosystem that supports deer growth and reproductive success.
Find more answers
Browse the full Q&A library by topic, or jump back to the topic this question belongs to.