they definently get smarter. exspecially in areas of high pressure. in areas of high pressure deer dont get old by being dumb and they learn more and faster because of the high pressure. and in areas of high pressure where QDM is hard to practice bucks will get bigger only if they are smart and learn how to escape danger. PA is a prime example. before antler restricitions if you didnt shoot that spike and it made its way down the ridge it was most likely dead. it honestly took me 4 years to see a buck BEFORE antler restrictions. the first year of antler restrictions i killed a legal buck. how that happened i dont know lol. but he was only 1.5yo

i dont know about the pressure of NC...i think you are lucky and have alot of land to yourself from the sounds of everything i hear from you..but could be mistaken. i dont know how older bucks will act in areas like that. there is no reason for them NOT to go about their day like the rest of the herd if pressure is low. if thats the case id say you got a very good chance at him. bucks generally follow a summer pattern until about october. then they seem to go nocternal until the end of october/early november when things heat up with the rut(here in PA atleast) i been reading books about hunting mature pressured bucks..they go along with that too. said that early season and the rut are the best chances to kill mature pressured bucks. but also mid day can be good, and rainy days can be good as well. my bow stand i hunted all season i will be honest and say i never hunted passed 10 or 11 am. i either hunted mornings or evenings. i made alot of mistakes. hunted it way too much and went in a half hour before the sun came up...spooking deer. the first day of rifle came..i was excited as heck because pressure from other guys SHOULD had the deer moving by me all day. i got in there WAY early. close to 2 hrs before sun up. i had deer moving around me all morning before the sun came up that i probably kicked out of there when i was going in in bow season. come 11 am both bucks came back. 1 was WAY mature. the other i couldnt tell i was focused on the big boy. never got a shot, but a kid killed him later in the season...he was a brute. i never seen him in bow season though he lived there. i just messed up way to much to even have a chance at him. then i didnt hunt for 2-3 weeks and let up the pressure..he went about his normal routine and i seen him because i was in stand longer. now for next year i just gotta find me a mature buck and hunt him properly. you gotta learn about the deer in your area..i really have no idea about areas of minimal pressure like i think you hunt..my areas are hunted hard from october-january. by me an tons of other people..thats what i learned about mature bucks in my area so far...got alot of learning to do but i think im doing good so far..good luck...i definently think if you play your cards right i will be hoping to be on your team again next year!!