GMMAT...Where I hunt outside of the rut, it's totally opposite from what you are experiencing. The Bucks take a few steps then stop and just stare while their ears are full alert and rotating towards every little sound. The Does just kinda wander, sniffing this, sniffing that.

My experience.....I look over and they're standing there. I have NO idea how an animal that large can be so stealthy walking through dried up, crunchy leaves.

hahaha!!
one minute your looking out over a valley cause you thought you heard "something"
look at your feet for s econd and catch a movement out of the corner of your eye, right next to you... hahaha
their ability to move quietly when they want to blows my mind.
especially with that rock hard footwear they sport. lol

in all my years of hunting, I can say that a buck is the loudest animal in the woods when he walks...does are slick, but he walks with authority.

This is true, I have never been in a stand before dark and heard a buck cautiously walk through the woods(sneaking). I never really thought of it but thats pretty good awareness... Bucks do tend to walk like they own the woods and does have a more slow cautious approach.

Maybe they're doing a good job at sneaking. Maybe some of them got you figured out.

same here ...

I have seen bucks take a few steps and browse or look around as does often do but I have also seen both come through on a beeline to their destination...I think it has more to do with mood and goal than sex in this case.

Bucks seem to walk more "stiff" legged, in my experiences anyway..

I think all in all does are quieter walking through the woods but thebucks can be just as quiet when they want to. I think it depends alot on pressure. When bucks are feeling pressured they become more nocturnal and tend to slip around a lot more when they do move during daylight. When they aren't felling as pressured they tend to "tromp" around the woods. While does tend to "slip" most of the time. Maybe it has to do with the fact that does have to be cautious for a longer portion of the year due to having fawns and then hunting season following. Bucks that aren't pressured tend to walk with a steadier gate that's just plain louder and more distinct. Also, I have noticed that I rarely hear a doe snap a twig when walking. I don't know if it's a weight issue or not but when I hear a twig snap, I reach for my bow....