--- /tmp/erri-hunt-before/ERR_HunterService.c	2026-10-04 12:52:07.062255262 +0200
+++ addons/core/Scripts/Game/ERR/10_AI/ERR_HunterService.c	2026-10-04 12:52:07.173449725 +0200
@@ -131,13 +131,17 @@
   ERR_ConvoyPlacement placement = new ERR_ConvoyPlacement();
   if (m_Hunters.Count() < 3)
   {
-   if (!m_Opening || !m_Opening.Ready()) return false;
-   int slot = m_Hunters.Count();
-   vector openingPosition = m_Opening.Positions[slot];
-   vector openingAngles = m_Opening.Angles[slot];
-   if (!ERR_HunterOpeningPlan.AwayFromPlayers(openingPosition, players) || !placement.Clear(openingPosition, openingAngles[0]))
-   { ERR_HQ.Event("HUNTER WAIT", "reserved opening road occupied; no unsafe spawn"); return false; }
-   return SpawnHunter(hq, now, openingPosition, openingAngles, "prison-opening");
+   if (!m_Opening || !m_Opening.Done()) return false;
+   if (m_Opening.Ready())
+   {
+    int slot = m_Hunters.Count();
+    vector openingPosition = m_Opening.Positions[slot];
+    vector openingAngles = m_Opening.Angles[slot];
+    if (ERR_HunterOpeningPlan.AwayFromPlayers(openingPosition, players) && placement.Clear(openingPosition, openingAngles[0]))
+     return SpawnHunter(hq, now, openingPosition, openingAngles, "prison-opening");
+   }
+   // Coastlines and sparse road networks may never admit three opposing
+   // bearings. A completed/occupied opening plan must not lock out all patrols.
   }
   for (int i = 0; i < m_Mode.Sites().Count(); i++)
   {
@@ -147,11 +151,15 @@
    vector position, angles;
    vector seed = site.Definition.Position + Vector(Math.RandomFloat(-200, 200), 0, Math.RandomFloat(-200, 200));
    if (!ERR_SupplyConvoySystem.ApproachDirected(seed, position, angles) || !placement.Clear(position, angles[0])) continue;
-   bool nearPlayer;
-   foreach (IEntity player : players) if (player && vector.DistanceXZ(player.GetOrigin(), position) < 400) nearPlayer = true;
-   if (nearPlayer) continue;
+   if (!ERR_HunterOpeningPlan.AwayFromPlayers(position, players)) continue;
+   if (m_Hunters.Count() < 3 && vector.DistanceXZ(position, m_Opening.Center) < 600) continue;
+   bool occupied;
+   foreach (ERR_HunterVehicle deployed : m_Hunters)
+    if (!deployed.Released && deployed.Entity && vector.DistanceXZ(position, deployed.Entity.GetOrigin()) < 100) occupied = true;
+   if (occupied) continue;
    return SpawnHunter(hq, now, position, angles, site.Definition.Id);
   }
+  m_NextSpawn = now + 10000;
   ERR_HQ.Event("HUNTER WAIT", "deployment deferred: friendly road obstructed, occupied, budget full or players within 400m");
   return false;
  }