I'd like to give this a try to create more cover, as well as some browse, on my property. But I don't want to go hacking down my beautiful mesquite trees only to find out I could have done things better/more efficiently. I love my trees, so I don't want to be cutting a whole bunch down. This requires that I be as efficient as possible with the trees I do cut. So, a few questions. I'm open to any other suggestions, as always.

What areas should I focus on? Thick areas likely to be used for bedding already, or areas that aren't likely to be in current use in order to create new bedding sites?

Are there ways to cut the trees to make the sites more appealing as a bed, such as multiple trees cut towards each other, or in a crescent shape, or in a way that blocks the prevailing wind?

Which trees should I focus my efforts on? Mature, young, mid-sized? Misshapen, angled, straight?

Can hinge cutting trees be used in conjunction with something like switchgrass to increase the appeal of bedding there?

I would focus on areas that are bedding already that you dont go into.

I would cut as much as you can. I do not know if planting grasses would work or not, but worth a try IMO.

I have done a lot of hing cutting back home. The deer freaking love it! Good Luck! I am sure more will have better input.

The focus of this venture will be inside the sanctuary. Some of it is thick, some is not as thick, nearly all is brush or mature trees. I may focus on existing bedding areas, and try to create more, as well.

Cover grasses will be planted. I will do some outside of the hinge cutting. Not sure about combining the two, but I also think it could help.

I hear a lot of good things about it. I would like to get started right away. Is any time of year better than another to avoid stressing the trees?

Never killed a mesquite by cutting or trimming. It tends to make them grow faster.

That's part of the benefit, from what I understand.

I agree. If you don't kill the roots somehow, your creating a bigger problem later.

Perfect. I can get to work right away, then.

I think it was some where on HWY 277 about the Blackwell turnoff some one cleared out a lot of under brush and a lot of the lower limbs, it was amazing how much the grass came back under the trees. That should be about straight west of you, might be worth the drive to take a look at it.

DC, are you talking about the place that looks like they planted mesquites in an orchard fashion? No brush at all, just mesquites uniformly spaced out?

Not sure, we go to San Angelo by way of Ballinger, but I just seem to remember a place on 277 when we made the trip that route.

I think there is another place that has also been cut the same way on HWY84 north of Snyder. I will try to remember to look when we head that way on Monday, if it isn't almost dark when we leave.

I think I know the place you're talking about. Someone put a lot of work into that. I remember pointing it out to my wife. It really stood out to me.

I think they did it more for fire control than beauty. From my reading about wild fires getting rid of the undergrowth slows down those wild fires. In Ruidoso they are making everyone trim trees and clean out slash.

Makes sense.

You might go to the QDMA website, there is a ton of information on hinge cutting and creating bedding areas etc.

You are going to cut a tree(mesquite) that does not provide much browse at all. It provides a mast crop in the bean. It also will freeze and loose it leaves. You want to thicken mesquites shred/cut the smaller ones and they will thicken from one trunk to multiple. You want to grow more turn cattle loose in that pasture when the beans are hitting the ground. A cow will eat the bean and not digest it. It will pass thru the cows systems and come out in fertilized mini-forest pile that is planted everywhere the cow walks. Also cutting and piling trees will allow birds a place to sit and "plant" seeds at every brush pile. The brush pile will protect the seedlings.

Okay. Thanks. I'll give that a shot.

That place on highway 84 is a few miles south of the Covered Wagon Ranch. They have had enough ran that the pasture grass is knee and waist high under those mesquites that he has trimmed back.