What kind of things do you use to plan a hunting trip? Gazetteer and ??? How do you scout a area you have never been to? I would think most trips are planned by word of mouth or now the internet and sportsmen shows. I know I have showed up for the secret spot on opening day and was scared stiff with the spot filled with hunters coming from all directions...yuck!!
My most successfull method is to talk to the locals. Some of them will fill you full of lies but if you talk to enough people, you will find out who the bad ones are. Also local sproting good stores normally have stories posted on succesful hunts in the area. Locals, sporting goods stores and finally maps.