I'm about to start clearing cedar in hopes of restoring more grass for ag production. I've thought of leaving some corridors in place which deer typically use to cross more open areas to food plots and feeder areas. I do have a very high deer-density; if I do clear all the cedar, will they use those areas anyway, since they'll kind of have to if they want to access the plots or feeders? There is some natural terrain that I've watched them use from time to time, so they don't necessarily have to have cover to move. Thoughts? I also have a lot of shinnery (shin oak brush) in some places and I won't be removing as much of that.

Leave some thermal cover for big freezes. Only humans like that what I call "the golf course look."

We’ve cleared most of the cedar on our place except for a few specific stands on a southern face that holds a fair amount of deer late season when the leaves are off most of the brush. Deer definitely find the gaps and bed in there but when they are moving they don’t move through the cedar they come out and hug the edge, just tends to be too thick to act as a travel corridor.

We've been pushing cedar pursuant to that state grant in areas with over 10% coverage. Lots of areas with plenty of live oaks, scrub oaks, and good brush to still hold plenty of wildlife. But we are leaving cedar in areas prone to erosion - steep hillsides, canyons, etc.

I use cedars for fish. Small fish congregate in it to escape predation. I also sink it with concrete blocks.

I think there is more to gain, than lose, by leaving some of it. It may slow the deer down as they walk by, and provide a shot opportunity. Additional cover benefits other wildlife. Most people get rid of the cedar because it sucks up so much water. However, I don't see how getting rid of all of it would improve the hunting.

My farm in Missouri I have around 20 acres on one tract that's cedars and red barn grasses covering it .I wont touch it
That's all bedrooms for deer with ponds nearby as well

I've seen large pastures where deer preferred a very broken line of trees to cross from one side to the other. I'm referring to lines where individual trees were 40-50 yards apart and yet the deer passed near them as if it were traveling along an overgrown fence line.

I'm reminded of a stand I hunted as a kid that overlooked a creek that ran across a recent clear cut. The loggers had left smaller trees and brush along the creek to curtail erosion. We put a stand near the end of the creek where it entered our lease so that you could easily see anything that was moving along the creek from either direction. The stand would become almost a turkey shoot as deer used the cover along the creek to get from one side of the cutover to the other.

Given your high deer density, it's likely that they will adapt to using the new open areas, especially if they need to access your food plots and feeders. Deer are pretty adaptable and will find new paths if their old ones are cleared, particularly if food sources are involved.
Since you have natural terrain that they already use, they might shift their movement patterns to incorporate these new areas. Keeping some shinnery or shin oak brush could provide additional cover and help maintain some habitat complexity. This will offer them options for shelter and browsing, which can be important, especially in more open areas.
Overall, your plan seems well thought out. Just keep an eye on how they adjust and be ready to tweak things if needed.

I would leave a strip of cedars for cover and protection. You could also gut an atv trail down the length of it for a travel corridor and hunt that as well.

Deer don't like hard edges. it's best to leave some cover between hardwoods and your food plot. Travel corridors too.