Outreach Outdoors Christian Hunting Ministry

Edge Feathering for Whitetail Deer Habitat

How to edge-feather and create habitat for whitetail deer...

Hinging can be used to limit trails leading to and from fields...

As always, detailed information on hinge-cutting can be found at this link: Hinge Cuts.

Edge-Feathering for Whitetail Deer

The term "edge feathering" came about as a means of improving quail habitat and but the concept can be adapted as a means of improving edge browse for whitetails and then trail blocking to create better hunting. Edge feathering is often used to provide screening, browse and funnelling affects and is simply a matter of hinging or falling non-mast producing trees along a forest edge. This creates excellent small game cover as well and is a favoured method of enhancing quail habitat. Edge feathering can be used to help block off multiple runways entering a field and to create screening at the same time. I often fall the trees into the field and then swing them around to create a blocking effect and create a giant brush pile of cover and browse.

A nice looking field edge and with lots of browse...

Tons of browse on this edge...

There is nothing more frustrating than seeing deer travelling multiple runways and tipping over trees along the edge is a great way to funnel them through a couple main field entrances to create better hunting spots. More on creating bottlenecks and funnels can be found in the other Hinge Cut sections.

This is great screening cover for whitetails on the other side...

More screening...

For more helpful information on hinge-cutting trees and how to perform hinge-cuts in your management program or if you have questions, click here. If the hinging trees thread doesn't help, register, and send Paul a personal message.