Embodiments described herein are directed to an apparatus for determining a direction in which a tree will fall and a method for using the apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a plate including a substantially straight edge suitable for alignment with a vertex formed by a top cut and a bottom cut of a notch cut into a tree and a substantially level bottom surface suitable for stable placement upon the bottom cut of the notch. In some embodiments, the plate may define an internal cavity sized to accommodate a laser light generator. In other embodiments, a rotatable housing including a cavity sized to accommodate a laser light generator may be adjoined to the plate. Embodiments may permit a laser light generator contained within the cavity or the housing to emanate a beam of laser light in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the substantially straight edge of the plate.
