TO THE EDITOR: THE NORTHFIELD NEWS IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL fall day in Northfield. I had traveled to my home town from my new home in southern NH for the second weekend of archery deer season and it looked like a perfect afternoon to hunt. Crisp, fall air, a light breeze out of the west. I knew the apples on the trees near my stand would be drawing deer like a magnet on an evening like this.

But I didn't get 100 yards from the parking area when I encountered a cadre of young men clad in military spec camo, full battle gear and AR-15s. They were very polite when I asked them if they were on maneuvers and very interested in finding out if I'd had any luck. When I told them I was just starting out and they answered in the affirmative to my maneuvers query I turned around and went ahead with my "plan B" hunt.

It occurred to me that Norwich, being a very generous institution of higher learning that allows the public to use their land for recreational purposes, has somehow missed an important piece of the public relations game.

That is why I am writing this letter, imploring the powers that be at America's oldest military institution to please inform the public of the dates and locations of fall maneuvers each year. You could post this information on the very pages of this newspaper.

You have every right to use your land when and how you choose and again, I appreciate the fact that you are willing to let townspeople also use your land. But folks like me don't want to impinge on the cadets important work any more than we like having our plans thwarted by war games. In the interest of your cadets and the public at large, could you please let the public know when and where your maneuvers are taking place?

Thank you in advance for listening to my concerns,

DAN WILLIAMS

Concord, NH