From Dr Grant:
"Never hunt maximum sign"
He suggested hunting trails to it.

Yeah makes sense if 'maximum sign' means a core bedding area. I still like to set up as close as possible considering the available approach cover and wind conditions. But not so close as to risk busting them out by sight or sound or scent. Also good to have more than one stand location with different entry options for any given spot. And multiple different areas to hunt so as not to over-use any one spot.

His support was that the area was likely a safe area with some unique characteristic such as a wind swirl that prevented successful predator intrusion.
I have always hunted maximum sign areas when I found them. Perhaps I should reconsider.

Only time I'll hunt "maximum sign" areas is if I've got a short window of time or the few days right before gun season on my properties I lose for firearm season.

All good points...I'd like to add that many years ago I read that in order for there to be a "Lot" or " Maximum sign" present, a buck must spend a LOT of time in that area...therefore he must feel safe there. If he's mature and spends a lot of time in one area then there's probably a good reason he feels safe enough to return here often and leave more sign. Always made sense to me. I'd also add that when I began seeing mature bucks routinely...there was RARELY a rub or scrape where I saw them. I haven't been hunting deer much the last few years but to me, the ONLY reason to search for buck sign is to make me feel good about the fact that there are good bucks in the area. I'd never set up where that maximum sign was.