Chainsaw Felling Techniques

Why is felling so risky?

A falling tree weighs far more than most people picture, and it does not always go where you expect. Trees can twist, kick back off the stump, split up the trunk or strike other trees and swing. Dead limbs can drop from above without warning.

Because of this, many serious farm injuries involve felling. Respect for the job starts with accepting that videos and good intentions are not enough. Look for a chainsaw safety class through your extension office, state forestry agency, community college or a logger training program.

Experience can make people overconfident. Even long-time loggers treat every tree as a new problem and stop work when conditions change, such as a gust of wind or a new crack in the trunk.

What should I assess before I start?

Read the tree and its surroundings before the saw is even started. Look at the lean, the shape of the crown, any dead branches, the wind, nearby trees, power lines, buildings, fences and the ground underfoot. A tree with heavy lean in one direction does not behave like a balanced one.

Look up as well as around. Dead limbs, tangled vines and hung-up branches are hazards in their own right. If you see power lines within reach of the tree, stop and call your utility. Do not proceed.

Take a few minutes to walk all the way around the tree. Many people only look at it from one side, and miss a dead limb or a rotten section behind the trunk.

• Lean and balance of the crown
• Dead or hanging limbs overhead
• Power lines, roads, buildings and fences
• Ground that is slippery, steep or uneven

Why plan the drop zone and escape route?

Every felling job needs a planned direction and a clear retreat path. Clear brush and trip hazards from around the base and along the route you will use to walk away. The path should lead away from the tree at an angle, not straight back from where it will fall.

Keep other people and animals well away. Anyone who helps should know the plan and stay at a distance. A tree can fall far from where you think, and falling debris spreads.

Think through what you will do if the saw pinches or kicks. A plan made calmly beforehand is much easier to follow than one made in an emergency.

What is the idea behind the cuts?

Felling cuts are designed to guide the tree and control how it releases from the stump, using a notch on the side you want it to fall and a back cut that leaves a controlled strip of wood to steer the fall. This guide gives no measurements or how-to, because getting them wrong can kill you.

Learn the cuts, the sizes and the safe sequence from a certified instructor, on real trees, with feedback. Ask your extension office or state forestry agency where local classes are held.

Different trees behave differently. Leaning trees, trees with heavy limbs on one side, trees with rot and trees with forks all need special handling that a trainer can show you in person.

What if the tree does not fall as planned?

Trees sometimes lean on another tree, a condition often called hung up. Do not try to work under it, cut the supporting tree or climb it. This is among the most dangerous situations a woodcutter faces.

Stop, mark the area, keep everyone out and call a professional. Time and money lost are small compared with an injury.

Sometimes the right choice is to walk away. A tree on a power line, over a house or caught in another tree should be handled by professionals with the proper tools.

What about fatigue, weather and health?

Never fell trees when tired, distracted, rushed, ill, or after alcohol or medicines that dull attention. Avoid felling in strong or gusty wind, heavy rain, snow or ice, and poor light. Dull saws and poor fuel mixing also cause problems.

Work with another trained person within calling distance, carry a charged phone, and keep a first aid kit. Tell someone where you are working and when you will be back.

Keep your saw in good working order, with a sharp chain and a working chain brake. Dull saws force people to push, which increases the chance of accidents.

Where can I get training?

Many state forestry agencies, extension programs and community colleges teach chainsaw safety and felling. Some fire departments and logging associations offer classes too. Costs and formats vary.

Hiring a trained crew is a reasonable choice for large, tall or leaning trees. Ask for proof of insurance first.

Remember that responsibility continues after the tree is down. Check the stump and the area for hazards, and warn others about any hung branches left in the tops of neighboring trees.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.