I grew up hunting big woods deer in Vermont and my buddies property I hunt in Oneonta, NY is pretty much big woods hunting. I learned a lot about deer movement, you kind of have to that way. I would start the same way you describe. Find what and where they are eating. Then look at wind movement/terrain features/possible bedding areas. I really hunt certain terrain features that force the movement in certain areas.........saddles, certain stream crossings, etc.