Understanding Rubs and Scrapes

At times scrapes and rubs are just not interrupted correctly. There are many things to consider which can give you tremendous insight, then again if your not aware of the meanings could fill you with false hopes.

By late summer you should start finding fresh rubs during your scouting expeditions and there are some important things to be aware of when you do find them. First of all the rubs created during this pre-rut season basically achieve one purpose, to remove velvet and mean little more than a buck has been in the area.

If you plan your hunts around rubs you find during this time of year, you could very well be disappointed for they may not be visited again by the buck which made them.

As time goes by and patterns begin to form, notice which side of the tree the rub is on. What is the terrain like on the opposite side of the tree? Does the cover open up into feeding areas or does the brush thicken up? These tale-tale signs can help you local bedding areas.

Are the rubs in clusters or are they spread apart, Cluster rubs are a sure sign of bedding areas. Some hunters believe that small rubs are a sign of a small buck, but this just isn’t true. True a small buck will not make large rubs due to the spread of his rack, large bucks often do make small rubs on saplings. Cedar, pine and sumac are all favorite rubbing trees, and the size of the tree does not seem to mater to a large buck.

Just prior to the rut you will find many rubs along deer trails, but be advised large experienced bucks won’t be using these well established trails. Smaller faint trails should be found parallel and downwind to the main trails. If you find fresh rubs along these small trails chances are that you have a trophy buck on your hands.

Large bucks are very territorial, they mark their domain well with scrapes and rubs to warn off subordinate bucks. These scrapes will be worked through out the year unlike normal rubs with the bark shredded and deep gouges into the wood. Also the ground in the surrounding area will be trampled with paw marks.

These types of marking also suggest a large buck bedding grounds are close by. Although an active scrape is not a guarantee that the buck visit’s the site daily, it is a sign that he will return.

As with any scouting trip always remember to use good scent control, never touch a rub or scrape and always use a quality scent eliminator when entering the woods. Wear unscented clothing and rubber boots.

As with any of my post I invite other views on the subject and I hope you enjoyed the read.

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