Seems like you just described most public land in the NE.
Right place/right time.
It's a tactic that most public land hunters use.
If it doesn't work out in one spot ,move on.
Cover ground/Run and gun.
It's how the game is played,guy might only have a weekend.
Or a limited time to hunt,so you maximize the amount of ground to cover.
Probably just going that direction on the way home.
Hitting spots on the way,I would definitely do that.