Jeff, im not certain the area that you hunt, but from the sounds of it, we hunt similiar areas. Im normally hunting small residential developments. There arent any "destination" crop fields or food plots. The deer i hunt are typically feeding on acorns or in peoples back yards on their expensive shrubs. My best hunting area is a small funnel which is only about 40 yards wide. Its in between two larger wood lots so the deer naturally walk right by me. I see both does and bucks on about an even percentage in this area. The other areas that i hunt are alittle different. The properties are bigger, one being about 50 acres backing up to 200 county park acres and the other is about a 150 acre piece. The deer bed where ever they get tired, or so it seems, i cant put any reason to where they bed. I have noticed that the majority of bucks, and definetly the larger bucks that i have seen have all been by the creek bottoms of these properties. So to answer your questions:

1- Yes i normally see does and bucks in about a 1-1 ratio.

2- Im not trying to avoid them, but i hunt in alot different situation than most. There are only so many areas where the deer can go.

3- I do try to hunt the thickest most "remote" areas i can. That being said, one of my more "remote" areas i hunt, while in stand, i can see 4 houses, normally see kids playing in one back yard and a dog run in another. But to get to this stand i have to walk through 2 creeks and a swamp.

4- I dont hunt sign, i hunt funnels. The only time i waiver from this is if im seeing a field hot with activity. Often times here a field will go off for a week or so. If you wait to get on the activity, it will pass as quickly as you come and you will miss out.

5- Im seeing bucks in the crek bottoms all season, my best funnel area i see the better bucks during the rut.

6- Funnels between bedding areas.