Old stone fences stretched in every direction through the mature forest, haunting remnants of the futility of farming in the Green Mountains of Vermont. At one time this land had all been cleared, of trees, but never of rocks. Now it has almost all reverted back to forest.

After setting up camp in a small orchard, we climbed about 2 miles following old roads to the top of a mountain, where we came across another small orchard and the foundation of a long abandoned farm house. Even more interesting, though, were numerous piles of partially digested apples. A few were still steaming in the cool morning air, evidence that they had very been recently regurgitated by black bears. Bears love apples so much that they eat more than they can handle.

Since I was hunting during an overlap between deer and bear seasons, I diverted my attention from bucks to bears. This consumed the better part of my hunt. And while I saw only a small bruin, shallow pad marks in the dry soil proved that at least one much bigger bear was utilizing the orchard.

When a decision doesn't work out, second guessing is unavoidable. While I sat in a tree waiting for bears, a buck was making fresh rubs and scrapes in the other orchard, the very orchard where my old brown van was parked. But of course, that is no certain proof that I would have been able to tag that buck.

And the bottom line, choosing between hot bear sign and hot buck sign makes for a great hunting adventure.

The Northeast is the most misunderstood part of the country as far as outdoors enthusiasts from other parts of the country are concerned, and even some urban dwellers in the Northeast. Usually imagined as heavily populated, in reality, the high population figures for these states are a result of a few huge urban areas. Large areas are actually only lightly populated. Green Mountain National Forest, in Vermont, is a perfect example. Here, deer hunters from the great megalopolis that stretches along the northern Atlantic Coast can find backwoods, north country hunting adventure within just a few hours driving time.

Green Mountain National Forest covers more than 325,000 acres, more than half of the public land in Vermont. It is composed of two sections, a southern section from the Massachusetts border north to State Highway 140, and a northern section from U.S. Route 4 north to State Route 17.

Habitat within the Green Mountain National Forest boundary ranges from high mountain forest to lowland farm country. Note that not all of the land within the boundary is federal -some is state-owned, some private. Respect private property rights.

Deer density varies around the National Forest. Areas which have been timbered within the past decade tend to hold the greater numbers of deer. Apple orchards and adjacent farms also attract deer. Avoid the vast expanses of forest in favor of areas with more varied habitat and plenty of edges. Aspen regeneration areas provide this variety in several places.

Generally, you can expect to find the biggest bucks either where nutrition is best, or in the more remote areas where deer live longer. Remember, though, that no matter how good the feeding conditions are, bucks generally do not start growing trophy racks until they are at least 3-1/2 years old. In some of the remote areas, you might find bucks that weigh more than 200 pounds after being field-dressed, but these are typically not areas with high deer density.

Camping is allowed on most parts of the National Forest. This presents the opportunity for very inexpensive hunting adventures. On National Forest land, there are no campgrounds with electrical hook-ups or waste dumping stations, and the most developed campgrounds offer only tenting spaces with fire rings. For campgrounds with more facilities, contact the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks, and Recreation, phone 802-241-3655, and ask for a campground guide. Some state campgrounds remain open for hunters, though restrooms are closed during fall and winter.

Dispersed camping is allowed in most parts of the National Forest, major exceptions being day-use areas such as picnic areas. You must camp at least 50 feet from roads, and leave no trace of your camp site when you leave.

Leave your ATV at home. Except for a few snowmobile trails, off-road travel by motorized vehicles is not allowed. Only licensed vehicles are allowed on designated roads.

Deer season begins with the October 6-28 bowhunting season. The regular firearm season is November 10-25, followed by late seasons for muzzleloaders and bows December 1-9. Bear season runs September 1-November 14.

For information on hunting regulations and licenses contact: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, 10 South, 103 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT 05671-0501; phone Information and Education, 802-241-3701.

For more detailed rules and other information on the Green Mountain National Forest contact: Forest Supervisor, Federal Building, P.O. Box 519, Rutland, VT 05255; phone 802-362-2307.

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