I usually start as soon as our deer season is over and the weather permits. We have some big OLD pines that are no good for cover or timber, so they're coming down to make room for several Chinese chestnuts. I'm also taking down some pitch pines that are shading apple and crab trees that are planted in a great bow hunting location. The apple trees are just starting to bear fruit and need more sunlight. Stihl time for those pines. Winter is a good time to do the tree cutting - no hot weather, bugs, snakes, etc. The brush piles I make with cut trees serve to make good nesting cover for turkeys, grouse, and other birds in spring - and maybe some cover for fawns if mom doe wants to park them there.