KYHunter
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2018
- Messages
- 1,113
I’m really learning a lot from your posts so thank you! They are very insightful and I can tell are based on experience.Sure, but not all situations are suited for clear cutting. Certain tree species and the age of those trees may be worthless as timber, or not enough quanity for even pulp. The location of the spot can also be problematic for getting logging equipment in or out.
In my case, this section of my property was hayfield when I bought it in 1985. There was not a single sapling in these fields. I decided to allow it to naturally revert to forest. But I wanted it to stay in early succession once it developed. The area exploded with hawthorn, crab apple, wild apples, 3 varieties of dogwood, but it also began to grow unwanted black walnut, elm, maple, and black cherry...species that would shade out mast producers within a decade.
I wanted to keep it as a brushy, wild orchard of heavy cover.
As the unwanted trees started crowding and shading out the wanted trees, I employed hinge cutting.
I did not go into a mature forest and attempt to hinge, I hinged in order to KEEP the cover in the early succession stage, not to CREATE the cover.
I'm not saying that in every case hinge cutting is the end-all, beat-all. In some cases a timber cut would be a better choice.
But some posters have dismissed hinge cutting as a short-term deal.
I'm here to say that is not the case. When done properly, hinge cutting can be very advantageous.
I also know for a fact that hinging has extended the life of my ash saplings. Ash borers dont seem to attack young ash. Ive kept a number of ash in a young and living state by hinge cutting them. Time will tell how this will play out, but for now, those trees are still alive after several years (some now need re-hinged). They would have surely gone the way of the mature ash by this point...dead.
If anyone ever gets the opportunity to tour Tony Lapratt's 55(?) Acres in MI I highly encourage it. It's amazing what proper hing cutting can accomplish.
Have you done any attempts of hinge cutting in mature timber to any success?