I hunt all sorts of terrain, but where I see the most big bucks is at a transition zone between large forest and reprod/clearcuts. I ride my bike on these scouting trips, and have found that the first hour of light at daybreak and last hour before sunset are the best for finding them out in the open. I have some 7x50 binos that really gather in the light, and they are steadier than some of the higher power models, so they come in handy for spotting the big guys in low light.
My group has regularly taken at least one big deer (3-point w/ eyeguards or bigger) a season for the past four years by hitting the big woods. These are mature sections of forest next to clearcuts. We find many more of these big guys will hole up in these areas. Look for tall trees with ferns below. The ferns supply many good hiding places for the big ones to bed down in.
Getting into these sections of forest can be hard at first, but once inside you will find many deer trails. The light is low in there, so you should wait until an hour after sun-up to hit it.
We only use open sights on our rifles when hunting these areas, as some shots are taken while the deer is in motion.
We will hit an area with at least 4 hunters, and up to 6, with a blockers at the edges of the timber as we move down. Go slow, and you will jump more deer. We also communicate by radio for safety.