This really tall oak has been dying slowly over the past few years. It’s dead now. Time to bring it down and make some firewood.
It’s ramrod straight with uniform girth nearly all the way up. At the top, it curves just a wee bit toward the back. I do not prefer to fell it that direction as the top will land in the tree line. As I stand facing the tree as in the photo, if I am at 12 o’clock, the top of the tree has one branch leaning a little to 5:00.

I have dropped a lot of big oaks on our land so, though I’m not a pro, I’m not a rookie. I feel confident that with a good face cut and back cut, and the use of wedges, it’s not enough lean to prevent felling it straight ahead. (Toward where I’m standing taking the photo.)

I would appreciate your guidance. After a few days of temps in the teens, I’m ready to tackle this job. It’s no fun working on firewood in SE Texas in summer time.

For felling and bucking, I’ll be using my Stihl MS390 which has always easily done everything I ask of it. I’ll use my MS170 for limbing.

Thanks!