deer rub

Here’s the difference . . .

A scrape is on the ground and a rub is on a tree. Yup, it’s that simple. Scrapes are what you see when you come across a usually oval shaped patch of bare dirt in an otherwise leaf or grass covered area. It’s a good bet there’s a low overhanging branch above a scrape as well.

Do bucks rub to or from bedding?

Trail rubs are made by bucks traveling through their core home range, often from feed areas to bedding cover. These are excellent spots during the pre-rut. Deer will usually head toward the blazed side of the rub.

Where should I look for deer rubs?

As they wander about the countryside, bucks will occasionally make signpost rubs. They rub these trees with both their antlers and foreheads, which deposits scent behind from their sudoriforous gland. They may also lick the rub, which leaves behind scent as well.

Should I hunt rubs or scrapes?

Although scrapes can attract deer and influence their behavior, rubs are a much more effective signpost for deer. As noted by such experts as John J. Ozoga, bucks make rubs to show dominance. That’s why mature bucks usually make the most and biggest rubs each season.

How often do deer check rubs?

Larry Marchinton and Karl Miller of the University of Georgia, John Ozoga of Michigan DNR, and others show rubbing remains high throughout the breeding season. Bucks often select highly aromatic trees like pines and eastern red cedar to rub on, and amazingly, one buck can make an average of 300 to 400 rubs each fall!

Can you tell how big a buck is by a rub?

You know that bigger bucks tend to rub bigger trees, and you’re probably aware that a buck travels in the direction facing the rubbed side of a tree. But there’s more to be gleaned from a savaged sapling. The right rub can tell you the size of a buck’s rack, whether he has any beauty points, and how to hunt him.

How do bucks mark their territory?

One form of marking is known as rubbing. To make a rub, a buck will use its antlers to strip the bark off of small diameter trees, helping to mark his territory and polish his antlers. Also to help mark territory, bucks will make scrapes.

Should I hunt over buck rubs?

But one rub doesn’t make for a good hunting area. Rub lines are better, not only because they’ll show a concentration of sign, but because they’ll give you a clear direction that your target buck likes to travel.

Where do big bucks go after the rut?

Major Trails, Close to Bedding Areas

As a matter of fact, a post rut buck is going to look for every opportunity they can to find a secure bedding area that is typically close to a food source such a grain fields or turnip plot.

How often do bucks check scrapes?

During the two weeks leading up to peak breeding mature bucks can be expected to make between 6 and 12 scrapes every hour they are on their feet.

Will a buck revisit a rub?

Once the rut gets going, however, bucks largely abandon those locations and pre-rut rubs. Consequently, hunters typically key on rubs and rub lines prior to the rut and stop hunting them altogether once peak breeding begins. Bucks do, however, continue making and revisiting rubs throughout the rut.

What do deer rubs tell you?

Before and during the rut, bucks rub trees to mark their territory, work off aggression, and intimidate other bucks. A series of rubs made along a trail or field edge are called rub lines, and provide clues about a buck’s travel patterns. Buck rubs also serve as dominance symbols and communication signposts.

Where do bucks make rubs?

Rubbing intensity generally decreases sharply after the rut, but bucks continue making rubs as long as they carry antlers. Dominant bucks might rub tree stems after casting their antlers, but these rubs are subtle and difficult to locate.