RE: Spring deer patterns
I have found exactly the opposite to be true in one location and in another found it to be true. I think the lay of the land will be the biggest factor though. Most of the land I hunt is hardwoods and once the leaves drop the deer travel patterns change. I found this out the hard way on one of my properties last fall. I was still seeing deer but not like I had been all summer. This time of year they are right back to their old patterns again.
If the woods are unchanged and the food is unchanged it's quite likely that you'll catch them in the same patterns.
What type of cover are you seeing the deer in?