We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More \u203a<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Knowing how to fell a tree is a valuable skill set. But firing up a chainsaw and ripping into a tree is also very dangerous. So, whether you\u2019re clearing land, removing a hazardous tree from your yard, or just stocking up on firewood, safety should always be at the front of your mind.<\/p>\n In this guide, we\u2019ll introduce the basics of how to fell a tree with a chainsaw successfully and safely. But by no means should this be considered a DIY guide for how to fell any tree anywhere. If you haven\u2019t done it before, read this story, but don\u2019t stop there: You should either take a training course before cutting down a tree or tag along with an experienced person. (You should never attempt to fell a tree for the first time on your own.) Also keep in mind that some felling jobs are best left to the professionals.<\/p>\n Most of my experience felling trees comes from my time with the U.S. Forest Service. During my 20s, I worked on a seasonal trail crew in Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State. Most days were spent either making or maintaining trails, and we used chainsaws to clear downed trees and cut down hazard trees. As a requirement of the job, I received a Level 1 S-212 certification<\/a>, which is the standard chainsaw training for wildland firefighters in the U.S.<\/p>\n Separate from that position, I also worked for a privately-owned arborist company in southwest Washington, where I helped maintain, trim, and fell trees in residential areas.<\/p>\n Read Next: <\/strong>The Best Cordless Drills, Tested and Reviewed<\/a><\/p>\n I was joined in preparing this guide by my father-in-law, Ed DeCarlo, who has significantly more experience around trees than I do. DeCarlo is a career forester and retired USFS employee who spent 32 years working on timber sales and wildfires in the Western U.S.<\/p>\n To provide real-life examples for how to fell a tree, DeCarlo and I went into a national forest in southern Wyoming, where we cut down dead lodgepole pine trees. We then bucked these trees up into manageable-sized logs and brought home roughly half a cord of firewood.<\/p>\n Being prepared to fell a tree means first understanding the tools and techniques required to do the job right. We\u2019ll cover techniques in the following section.<\/p>\n Below is a list of essential items you\u2019ll need to fell a tree safely. Personal protective equipment is listed first because you should never try to operate a chainsaw without this equipment.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re cutting in a public forest like we were, you\u2019ll have to first pick out a tree to cut down. You\u2019ll also need the proper permit to legally harvest trees on public land. Alternatively, if you\u2019re cutting down a specific tree that requires felling on private property, you won\u2019t have to worry about choosing one (or getting a permit.) Either way, you\u2019ll want to assess the tree and formulate a plan before you even think about starting your saw. This is a critically important step, so take your time.<\/p>\n The most important things to focus on during this assessment are:<\/p>\n After assessing the tree, you should have a pretty good idea of which way the tree \u201cwants\u201d to fall. This is less of a concern if the tree has little to no lean. Generally speaking the straighter the trunk the easier the job because it allows you to choose which direction you want the tree to fall.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In an ideal scenario, a tree\u2019s lean will line up with an open falling lane, where the tree can fall safely without doing damage or getting hung up on another tree. In some scenarios, you can clear this falling lane by directing people, moving objects, or clearing other, smaller trees out of the way. It is possible to fell a tree in a different direction than the way it\u2019s leaning, but this is much more difficult and riskier for a beginner faller.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve established a falling lane for the tree, you\u2019ll want to establish an escape route (or ideally, multiple routes) for yourself. This route will be opposite the direction of your falling lane, but the more escape routes you can have, the better, in case something goes wrong. Make sure there are no trip hazards or other things that could slow you down if you need to get away from the tree in a hurry.<\/p>\nHow We Prepared This Guide<\/h2>\n
How to Fell a Tree<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Prepare Yourself and Your Tools<\/h3>\n
![\"Chainsaw](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/fell_a_tree_1.jpg?w=1750\")
Safety Gear<\/h4>\n
\n
Cutting Tools<\/h4>\n
\n
Other Important Items<\/h4>\n
\n
Step 2: Assess the Tree, Establish a Falling Lane, and Consider Your Escape Route<\/h3>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/fell_a_tree_12.jpg?w=1250\")
\n