Notching in bucking or felling is used to control the direction of the fall. Which statement best describes where the notch is placed?

• A. Notch is decorated and has no function.
• B. Notch is used to measure diameter.
• C. Notch is carved on the side to guide the fall direction.
• D. Notch is used to hold the rope.

Answer: (C)

Notching provides a controlled guide for the tree’s fall. The notch is carved on the side facing the direction you want the tree to fall, with the opening oriented toward that direction. When you complete the back cut, the remaining hinge wood helps keep the tree from tearing unpredictably and steers the trunk to fall along the path of the notch. This makes the notch the functional cue for directing the fall. Notches aren’t decorative, they aren’t used to measure diameter, and they aren’t for holding rope.