I think it is more a matter of what time of the year that you are hunting certain sign? For example, if you hunt a rub line from last year on the opener of bow season,it would still be a ways away from the rut yet and a time when bucks are still more concerned with their stomaches than with the ladies/gaining attention. Now hunt that rub line closer to the rut and then you would be more likely to see the critter that made it the year before.