This is my problem with the new series, as well. One of the things that made the original Justified work so well was Raylan's history with Harlan. He knew everyone (or at least their families) and they knew him (or at least Arlo). He knew how they thought, how they operated, he knew the out of the way hollers, and hunting cabins where someone might be hiding out, and backroads that weren't on any map.
I know this series is based on a story where Raylan is not actually a character. They shoehorned him in to the series so they could call it Justified, and it shows.