There is no doubt about it, old does are very wary and sharp. But, old bucks very seldom even show themselves. How many times have you sat on the edge of a field in the evening and had does and fawns come out to feed and the only bucks to show were 2 1/2 and younger? I still believe that except for the rut, old mature bucks are the sharpest. I think its because a lot of people pass on does and not on big bucks so they have more to fear and take even less chances than does. In the areas where I hunt, a lot of the older bucks are mostly nocturnal until about Oct. 20th or so, when they can't stand it any more and start leaving their beds earlier in the evening to check on does already out in the fields.