Forest County is the least populated county in Pennsylvania, with 4,946 residents in the 2000 census. There is a lot of room to roam, even in such a small county -- with only 11.6 people per square mile, versus an average of 274 people per square mile for the commonwealth. It was long advertised that Forest County had more deer than people, and that still holds true today.

Forest County is within the Allegheny Highlands, an ancient, highly eroded plateau covered by dense, mostly hardwood forest. This is some of the more rugged territory in Pennsylvania. It is characteristic of the impression people get of Pennsylvania when they drive along Interstate Route 80 -- you are either going up, or you're going down. The land is a series of steep valleys and ridgetops.

Many slopes are very steep, and deer are practical creatures. They don't expend any more effort than necessary to accomplish their goals, avoiding steep slopes whenever possible. What steep slopes they do use, are often revealed by well-cut trails.

Scout for those deer trails along benches, narrow and fairly level interruptions in the slopes. Deer, especially bucks, tend to walk along ridge points to reach lower ground. They often cross ridges over saddles, low spots in the ridges connecting the valleys or hollows on either side.

During the fall bowhunting season, Forest County deer feed heavily on mast crops, primarily acorns, beechnuts and apples. This was some of the area where apple trees were spread by the legendary Johnny Appleseed (actual name John Chapman), who had his original apple tree nursery in neighboring Warren County. Small apple orchards are still scattered all through Forest County. Many have been shaded out by mature hardwoods. Some of them have been "released" by the Game Commission and others to promote apple growth production.

ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST
Campgrounds are operated on the Allegheny National Forest and along Tionesta Lake. Sites along the lake are accessible by boat. In addition to developed campgrounds, random camping is allowed on the national forest land, with some limitations.

Allegheny National Forest contains one boat-access campground at Tionesta Lake, which is open year-round. The U.S. Corps of Engineers maintains a boat launch area close to Tionesta Dam. Take state Route 36 south from Tionesta to the entrance drive.

Two primitive campgrounds, Beaver Meadows and Minister Creek, are open through Oct. 30. To reach Beaver Meadows, take North Forest Street (forest Road 128) north out of Marienville four miles, and then turn right onto forest Road 282. Minister Creek is 14.7 miles southwest of Sheffield along state Route 666.

Dispersed camping is allowed almost anywhere in Allegheny National Forest. Campsites may not be set up on the shores or within 1,500 feet inland of the timberline around the shore of Tionesta Lake, except in the developed campground area designated for such use.