Send patrols out as far as you possibly can and for as long as you can. Patrols of a few hours, or even just 24 hours aren't really going to cover a lot of ground and won't manage to get all that far out.
Foot patrols of say 3-4 days should probably be the norm and consist of no less than a plattoon (depending on expected resistance, etc of course).
Vehicle mounted patrols may be able to cover more ground, but they're also more likely to miss detail.
The general idea around the patrols is to keep the enemy as far away as possible, or if they do approach, give as much warning as possible. Patrols don't have to actually make contact with enemy forces to achieve these goals either. A foot patrol for example can (hopefully) spot signs such as tracks, campsites, observation points, etc.
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If it moves, shoot it, if not push it, if it still doesn't move, use explosives.
Nothing happens in isolation - it's called "the butterfly effect"
Mors ante pudorem
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