Habitat Hook

01/02/2026

I call these bigger trees the "Canopy Killers." They crown out with heavy foilage and prevent just about everything from growing under them. Remove one and you can easily add a couple thousand pounds of new browse. This was one was hollowed out at the base but you'd never know it.

01/02/2026

Didn't realize I dropped a top right into my only way out. I really need to put a full aluminum skid plate on this thing SMH

01/02/2026

I started one of two primary goals for my home property this year which was dropping the large trees to finish off a primary travel route that wraps around the back of the property. It will have all the deer stuff....side cover, communication/social spots, good stand access, food, etc. To accomplish this I need to remove a lot of the soft maple and Red Oaks so regeneration can start. I marked 85 trees in a 2 acre area last yr. I cut around 25 today. The area is a low land and many of the trees are close to their end with a lot of them hollow at the bottom. The smaller red oaks will be removed and any White, large Red, or Burr oaks will be left but the trees surrounding them removed. I took a quick lap around the section and seen deer headed right toward where I just cut. From the time I left to the first deer showing up was 25 mins. The chainsaw really is the dinner bell.

12/23/2025

These pictures were from some Cottonwood or Willows I hinged years back that popped up in my memories. I always have great success with these species of trees. The deer rubbed the new suckers are around year 3 after hinge cutting.

12/09/2025

Mad dash for the Holidays and hinge cutting season!

11/28/2025

Jake Ehlinger it's been almost 10 yrs since we did this hinge cut already! 😳 How's it look now?

11/28/2025

Couple years ago when I was asked to write an article for Bow Hunting World magazine. Pretty cool opportunity.

11/28/2025

So many uses for a Habitat Hook. I've also seen it used for pulling weeds out of a pond shoreline, fixing a stuck flag pole rope, cleaning out gutters, and hanging a deer 😆 The deer one was creative.

11/28/2025

A number of factors influence the success or failure of a hinge cut. Jake Ehlinger shares knowledge that he has learned about some common reasons why hinge c...

11/28/2025

Habitat Podcast #34 – Jim Brauker We have EXTREME DEER HABITAT’s Dr. Jim Brauker.  The Hinge Cutting Guru in the Habitat Industry in my opinion.  We cover all things hinging.   Hinge Cutting 101 & How to Hinge Cut Trees for Wildlife Habitat Improvement 3 Types Of Cuts – Bedding, Barrier an...

11/27/2025

Going back to my old hacked habitat hook page to revive some posts. I had so many good ones over the years.

https://www.whitetailhabitatsolutions.com/blog/the-whitetail-habitat-hook?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOVxAZjbGNrA5XD72V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHu7KcCqrbX5YP8jAWbg1q8yMdpUbvdK9Jbu_b4pdNt392TaGUlicafy9vrdt_aem_QldGcXS5EzPxQyI2hIQntg

Besides your favorite saw & protective gear, the Habitat Hook is a must have tool to be in the woods with you for creating deer-habitat related hinge cuts.

11/15/2025

November 15th Michigan firearm opener. Warm with a cold front on its way for tomorrow.
2nd year RC Big Rock switch screens. Phenomenal growth! Most of it is 7'+ already. I can't wait to start blending it in with some trees. 3 years will be year 6 since buying. The first year it sat untouched. Typically by year 5 of habitat improvements, things really start to be good.