No generalities? You ask a question and then make up rules that make it impossible to answer?[8D] Unless you catch the deer standing in the scrape or making the rub, like you say, generalities is all you've got to go on with scrapes and rubs!

GENERALLY, as said above, you can get a pretty good idea of the size of the buck by the size of the rub and how bad he trashed the tree and surrounding brush. Little bucks will generally pick on saplings and rub lower down. Bigger bucks will often rub bigger trees, rub higher and do a lot more damage.

Then, with scrapes, the buck that made the scrape is not the only buck that will visit it. A dominant buck will make his own scrape right on top of one made by a lesser buck.

It's not a good idea, IMO, to hunt over scrapes and rubs because you never know when they're going to be visited again. But you do know deer need food and water every day. If you find big rubs, and scrapes that have been getting hit hard and heavy, at least you've got a pretty good idea you've got a bruiser somewhere close by.

After that, it's up to you to figure out where he lives, where he feeds and waters, what his travel patterns are to get to feed and water, and set your stands to take advantage of the prevailing winds in the area... In other words, doing your homework.

Or you just set up anywhere, place absolute faith in your scent reduction products and trust to luck. Of course, if you take that route you might as well just go right on down to the tattoo parlor and have 'em put a big "L" on your forehead.