Your buddy is doing what so many bowhunters do all season long, and one I've done many, many times myself. He's doing what I call the CATCH UP GAME. He's hunting the sign & sightings of a deer AFTER he's alreadly been there. He's behind him all the time, and will not likely catch up to him. We as bowhunters, need to figure out ways to get AHEAD of the game. Figure out what they will do next, and be there before they are. Hunting old sign more often than not is no good, and only going to a spot where the deer have alreadly been. If your buddy knows the area well, and what the deer often do in certain areas at certain times. If he can figure that out it may help him get ahead of the game.