Jec

I agree hunt all day and don' t leave until it is dark. If you don' t see him then he is nocturnal. Your going have to pattern the buck back to his bedding area? Are the rub line facing a bedding area or feed area or both. If it is going back to a bedding area were it is thick setup as close as possible to his bed(75 yards) and you can catch him when he gets up to head to a feeding source. If the rub line is heading away from a feeding source then your going have to be in your stand before he goes to bed. I would wait to hunt him until closer to the rut if this is the case. If you get busted by him going in early at his bedding area then the game is over, he will move out to a new bedding area (especially if he is a mature buck). Pattern the deer and I think you will get him. TR Micheals forum has a excellent post on patterning deer check it out.........good luck!