its ok to cut trails now, just do it without the lawn mower. most grassy stuff will die once you walk through there a few times. I cut my trails the end of september usually. This past saturday, I wanted to clear another trail so as I was doing so, a deer steped into the trail about 10 yards from me, my blackpowder gun was sitting against the tree, so I couldn't get to it in time. The deer seem to love my trails, they use them the day after I cut them. Anyhow all I use is a bush axe, and a big pair of snips (brush cutters or whatever they are called, they cut small trees). I like to to a rake along after I cut the trails and make it a little quieter for me to walk in by getting rid of some of the leaves.