I really like this question and will be interested to hear what others have to say.For me in my home area it is either pressure or access for the most part.The best bucks are taken off of private ground or they are taken way back in the mountains.The mountain land is state land which you are not allowed to take a four wheeler in on,so you are hoofing it back in,which isn't always practical from a time perspective.The private land is broken up in mostly small pieces of acreage,because of suburban sprawl creating subdivisions or lots of three and five acre lots.
I have killed my best two bow bucks on the same small piece of private land.The deer feel quite safe on this piece because they are surrounded with many small pieces of unhuntable land,and are pretty much undisturbed.Access is a tremendous consideration for us locally,gain access to some of the most desireable private ground and your odd's have escalated tremendously.
A older mountain buck is harder to find and pattern,and seemingly will go underground if you screw up in the least on them.I will be making use of lot's of shoe leather and for the first time this summer the use of trail camera's,I can't help but think the camera's will provide me with lot's of usefull information.
The private land archers and the deep mountain gunners consistently take the biggest bucks in my home area.
Our ability to gain permission on key private land is likely the most important element in our opportunity to take our best bucks.