Yes, I believe that as a buck gets older his core area gets smaller. I also believe he becomes more elusive and nocturnal as he ages as well.

Where I have to disagree is in the belief that they can't live right under our noses in the areas that we heavily hunt/scout/live without us knowing it.

I hunt about a third of the days of a ninety day season. I see a lot of younger deer on a routine and repaeat basis. But there are those magical days, usually after a multi day inclement weather event but when the temps are still cold, that all kinds of deer show up, many of them mature, that I have never seen before, either in person or ona trail camera.

It is worth noting that the above citings are independent of the rut where I think most of us acknowledge a good percent (not all) of mature deer expand their core area. I am talking about late season way after the rut.

Then there is the occasional "large to very large" shed that I find that is unlike anything I have seen on a deer the prior season. Where did it come from if they have a small core area but yet can't live right under our noses?

If you still don't think they can live right under your nose, ponder this. When out scouting,hunting or whatever you may be doing in the woods,do you see all or even most of the raccoons, coyotes, possums, badgers, skunks, bobcats, porcipines,etc, etc. that calls your hunting area home?
I would venture to say very few.

These animals may be dumber than us and it may not be rocket science, but they are after all referred to as "wildlife" and have survived the intrusion of man for a reason regardless of whether its intelligence or instinct.