Bogus Information, Dangerous Results: Wildlife "Hinge" Cutting

Last week we looked at a dangerous cutting method used by some loggers to drop high quality logs.  That undercutting method may kill you, so it is not recommended, but we need to know about these things so we can read stumps when we are looking at timber.  Gain some cutting skills, look at a lot of stumps, and pretty soon you can tell who cut which trees during a timber reconnaissance.  This week we will look at a method that is just as dangerous, maybe more so, because it allows a tree to gain elevation and get above the cutter. 

Before we even start, I want to make clear this is not proper Hinge Cutting!  A proper hinge is about 80% of the Diameter at Breast Height in length, and about 10% of the Diameter at Breast Height in thickness (up to around 2"), with an open face on the front so the tree can rotate to the ground while the hinge remains intact.  The people promoting this obviously do not understand chainsaw safety, and have no knowledge or skills in applying silviculture; the science of growing trees.

The contractors who are promoting this tell customers that this type of cutting will provide woody browse for the deer herd by putting the crown down on the ground.  Of course, trees will not live for very long in this condition and they will cease to produce fruit, which is important for all wildlife.

Cutting trees this way turns most of them into barberchairs because a proper hinge has not been made. The trees go into motion and split, which elevates the butt end of the tree puts it right up into the cutter's face.  Do this, and you will be hit in the face!

Cutting is done only on the tensioned side of the tree until the tree begins to tip.  I have seen many good, young pole size trees that would have produced timber and decades of mast crops for wildlife destroyed with this bogus method.

In addition to wrecking timber production, every tree you cut this way may become your death trap.  The butt kicks up in the air, and that may kill you.  It can also fall after tipping if the back of the barberchair fails, so you have two chances to be maimed or killed.

If you use a chainsaw and you have not taken a safety course, seek one out.  The University of Illinois Forestry Extension is providing classes at various locations around the state.  You will learn about the personal protective gear you need, basic chainsaw maintenance, and safe methods of falling and bucking trees.