how do you estimate a trees height?
Answers:
That answer about using a foot marker oughta work, but my idea was to use the shadow (as per another answer, which gave no details). The shadow method is also a ratio thingy. When the sun is casting a good/sharp shadow onto level ground (if you have enough clearing to do so), place a vertical pole of known height (the longer, the better)somewhere that will also cast a clear shadow on level ground. Measure the length of each shadow (do this fairly quickly, so the location of the sun in the sky doesn't change between readings). The height of the tree = (pole height) X (tree shadow length) / (pole shadow length). If you don't have a means to get a tree shadow length, you'll have to use the ruler method that was mentioned in the other answer; that method may be a little more prone to error but may be your only recourse.
Other answers:
mark off a foot at the bottom of the tree, then take a tape measure, and walk away from the tree until your perception makes the 1 foot mark line up with 1 inch. then each additional inch is another foot.
mark off a foot at the bottom of the tree, then take a tape measure, and walk away from the tree until your perception makes the 1 foot mark line up with 1 inch. then each additional inch is another foot.
Oh man I know this one u can get it perfect if you ..... ahhh n/m
By the shadow
tape a small straw to the straight side of a protractor, and tape a string with a weight (aka a plumb bob) to the zero degree center point. measure an even distance off the tree (ie 50') and use the straw as a scope to point at the tree....then note the angle at which you are viewing the tree...then use some good ol fashioned sine &/or cosine theories and whala...you got yer tree height. easy as pie (not 3.14, but rather apple or maybe cherry).