Great video as always. We've been using a lot of your tips on our 13 acres in Battle Creek. It's tough on small properties because you have no room for error. It's so critical to have the right Access routes with bedding areas and food plots. Screening is so important , You can't afford to get detected on smaller properties.
Couldn't have said it better, the smaller the property the less room for error. Almost every square foot needs to be accounted for on the 10 acre parcels.
You could have harvested these nice straight oak trees, let sunlight hit the forest floor, accomplished making deer bedding areas and made some money. Many times, I hunted in cut over timber and jumped deer. They are attracted to that kind of disturbance in the woods after the loggers are done.
That was actually the first route we tried to take. Unfortunately no one wants red oak right now and they cannot get back to those trees without destroying my driveway.. not worth the 25k repair. We use all the wood to hear our house throughout the winter so it doesn't go to waste. But my first choice is always to harvest the mature trees. saves me time and $$$$
Without seeing the property it’s hard to say for sure but one of the first things you want to consider is access. If you have top access, maybe place bedding below a cruising bench, then hunt above it. If you have bottom access, might be a good idea to place bedding above the bench and hunt below it. You’d need to hunt these at different times of day due to the way thermals rise / fall but that’s how I’d start to look at it.
How large would you generally like the entire bedding area to be? You stated how large the openings should be but what’s the smallest and what’s the average size bedding area you’re looking for?
Hey Matt, you can absolutely make a bedding area within a stand of pines but I wouldn't hinge cut them. Conifers don't hinge well and if you got one to hinge, don't survive very long. It's better just to drop them to get more sunlight into the area. The shape / structure would be similar. I would try to get a few on the ground, tip time away from the center or the open pocket where you want the deer to bed. This way you can have a screen of downed pines, open area in the middle and 3-4 different ways in and out of that pocket. Walk 20 yards and do it again. Hope that makes sense!
Great video as always. We've been using a lot of your tips on our 13 acres in Battle Creek. It's tough on small properties because you have no room for error. It's so critical to have the right Access routes with bedding areas and food plots. Screening is so important , You can't afford to get detected on smaller properties.
Couldn't have said it better, the smaller the property the less room for error. Almost every square foot needs to be accounted for on the 10 acre parcels.
You could have harvested these nice straight oak trees, let sunlight hit the forest floor, accomplished making deer bedding areas and made some money. Many times, I hunted in cut over timber and jumped deer. They are attracted to that kind of disturbance in the woods after the loggers are done.
That was actually the first route we tried to take. Unfortunately no one wants red oak right now and they cannot get back to those trees without destroying my driveway.. not worth the 25k repair. We use all the wood to hear our house throughout the winter so it doesn't go to waste. But my first choice is always to harvest the mature trees. saves me time and $$$$
This was good. Part 2 video still to come?
It should be shouldnt it? Lol. I will have to make one soon!
How many of these pockets do you suggest doing on say a 60ac square piece. Majority is hardwoods
My property is mainly mountain side ...i only have 20 acres and im not sure where i should place said bedding
Without seeing the property it’s hard to say for sure but one of the first things you want to consider is access. If you have top access, maybe place bedding below a cruising bench, then hunt above it. If you have bottom access, might be a good idea to place bedding above the bench and hunt below it. You’d need to hunt these at different times of day due to the way thermals rise / fall but that’s how I’d start to look at it.
@whitetailevolution is there anyway to private message you and I could show you aerials of my property
How large would you generally like the entire bedding area to be? You stated how large the openings should be but what’s the smallest and what’s the average size bedding area you’re looking for?
I normally cut them about .25 to .5 of an acre. Go 20-30 yards and then make another one.
When cutting/hinging the trees, what do you do about pines?
If you're cutting it down and not leaving for thermal cover, just cut it. Hinging pines won't really work.
can you make a bedding area out of hinge cutting pines?
Hey Matt, you can absolutely make a bedding area within a stand of pines but I wouldn't hinge cut them. Conifers don't hinge well and if you got one to hinge, don't survive very long. It's better just to drop them to get more sunlight into the area. The shape / structure would be similar. I would try to get a few on the ground, tip time away from the center or the open pocket where you want the deer to bed. This way you can have a screen of downed pines, open area in the middle and 3-4 different ways in and out of that pocket. Walk 20 yards and do it again. Hope that makes sense!