Barnes...I just read that you believe the rub was made in January. That tells me that you found part of a matures bucks core area (the part of it that he frequents after the hunting pressure turns up). Scout that area with the snow, and hang a stand with late season (at the least) in mind for next year.
The rub is right along a logging road that separates the woods and a field the deer love to visit at night. And close to those fields is the road. It's a night time area for them.
However, in the rut, the big bucks will cruise this area. Mainly at night, but they seem to cruise through any time as the does like bedding near by. I rattled in two bucks in the woods behind the field in 2008. One I shot. An 8 pointer with a 23" spread. I've seen jaw-dropping bucks in the field at night during the rut, but it's a different area in the day time. When the weather is nice, people like to hike around there. I should probably take time off and hunt during the week.