what is a dutchman in tree felling

A dutchman in tree felling is a cut or notch modification that changes how the tree’s hinge wood releases, usually to influence the direction or timing of the fall. In practice, it’s a triangular or angled cut taken out of the face notch so the tree can be steered more aggressively than with a standard notch.

What it does

• It alters the hinge’s behavior, which can help shift the tree toward a desired lay.

• Some fallers use it to reduce wedging or to swing a tree off its natural lean.

• The term can also describe an unwanted mistake in the notch, which can make the fall less controlled and more dangerous.

Why it matters

A dutchman can be useful in skilled hands, but it is widely treated as a high- risk technique because small errors can increase the chance of pinching, kickback, or a barber chair failure. Because of that, many safety guides and experienced practitioners caution against using it except in very controlled professional situations.

Plain-language example

If a tree naturally wants to fall slightly left, a faller might shape the face cut so the hinge encourages that movement instead of fighting it. That extra shaping is what people often mean when they say “dutchman.”

Safety note

This is not a beginner technique, and it should only be attempted by trained tree fallers who understand hinge wood, lean, escape paths, and failure modes.

TL;DR: A dutchman is a special notch/cut arrangement in tree felling that changes the hinge to steer the tree, but it’s considered risky and often discouraged outside professional use.