Mdees,
I'll try to make my response truly helpful here without sounding like a tail. I've always questioned the hinge-cutting craze as it would apply to cover, since most of our state is loaded with cover and there exists much better ways to create substantially more attractive cover. As the subject would pertain to food, I would also immediately in my gut say that hinge-cutting has minimal affect toward quality and especially quantity of food produced. I was listening to a youtube video this morning with Dr. Grant Woods in which he addresses the "ludicrous" act of hinge-cutting and furthermore what to do instead. I believe you can find it by punching in "Grant Woods answers questions Tennessee". I believe you will enjoy the Q&A. He's very practical in his land management as in how it pertains to us here in the South. I hope this helps and maybe pushes you to a more profitable outcome for your herd. Have a great one! --BHH