RE: finding a big buck in the summer
IMO - Driving around is about the best method simply because you can cover more territory. Depending on what you're looking for - I would highly recommend doing this from as far of a distance as possible. Some of the biggest bucks that have ever been killed were killed because they showed themselves to a road and/or a hunter driving by. Finding a "trophy" in an area is the first and probably hardest part! Once you know he's there, you just have to kill him!