Mathewsboy

I found about 15-20 rubs yesterday. A couple of them were tore right up and ripped in half. I can't see a young buck doing that this early season.. What you Think?

kshunter

I've seen a few scrapes, but not any rubs yet. Sounds like they're trying to rub that velvet off.

PABowhntr

I found a few very small saplings that were rubbed this past weekend. Those were the first that I saw so far this season. My guess it that they are just early rubs and shouldn't say anything to you except that there is a buck in the area.

DoubleLung55

I have heard form my cousin that the farm is torn up with scrapes, i dont kno y scrapes this early , maybe to start marking territory? but he also said there is a TON of rubs , im loving it however cause every deer i saw out there with head gear was a dandy , we only saw one non legal PA buck , which was a 6 pt , (in my area it is 4 per side) so he will get bigger for next year , also we got a piebald and a non typical runnin around , cant wait to hunt boys!!!!!!!!!!!!

BowHuntingFool

The rubs are to get the velvet off and the scrapes happen year around!

MikeVT

In my experience, the first rub lines of the season are made by mature bucks. In my neck of the woods, the first rub lines begin appearing around the 2nd week in October. A single rub here or there is probably the result of velvet removal, but an established rub line is usually the work of a shooter buck.

Rickmur

Me and David found a hugh scrape at my kill site yesterday but I don't think if wasfrom the buck I got today. Saw 1 or 2 rubs also but they were proablly velvet rubs.

shootnmiss

Saw some rubs 2 weeks ago but no scrapes yet

PABowhntr

Tough to call. I would agree that young bucks are generally the last to rub or scrape but that isn't always fool proof. The first rubs I saw this year were on a very thin sapling. I would be more inclined to believe that was a young buck.

HuntmDown

I agree with MikeVT, a rub here and there can be to remove velvet but early rubs like you describe indicate a mature buck.