Rubs and Scrapes...
 

We were out hanging stands this weekend and came across several large scrapes (2 were about 3x 3' the big one was approx4' x 5') and one tree torn apart..

My other half has stated that the only time he has seen signs this early is when the larger boys are in the area / their hormones kicking in early.. showing territory..

What are your experiences with this..

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

I've never seen a scrape from a whitetailbeing worked this early.

I've never seen signofa whitetail rub on a tree this early.

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Are you sure they weren't from the end off last fall's late rut?

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Brand spankin' new. If we head out to those stands before the rut I will most def. take some pics.

The tree wasn't too big. But, it was completely stripped. Fresh sap running down and the bark laying at the base.

* To add... from my other half.
"No older then 2 days old when we saw. Last time I saw one this early it was a nice drop tine rack.. beautiful 12 pt .. years ago... "

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Wow that's a new one on me. Part of it could be the bucks trying to scrap off their velvet too.

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sounds like porcupines and turkeys are playing tricks on you

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That's an old tactic to keep your interest up..I bet the "scrape" Matched thepatternofthe sole of his boots.

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LOL.. I would believe that if I wasn't the one pushing to walk through the woods!!

We do have a couple younger bucks out back .. He knows one of them has tossed his velvet socks..

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

How many of you guys have seen gobblers strutting with hens in the fall? Seems strange but its happened.

I believe you. It may be odd but anythings possible.:)

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

I heard gobblers gobbling their fool heads off on Thanksgiving Day '05. Full strut (13 of them)......and 65 total birds in our set, that day. It was the most God-awful commotion you've ever heard.....them coming through the woods, that day.

I only listed MY experience with early season rubs/scrapes. I'm no expert...but I've never seen it this early (either).

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

You just reminded my my other half of the two gobblers we had struttin' across our hay field about a month ago. This is going to be a strange year.

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Not too unusual for this time of year, just feeling their oats after shedding their velvet. What state are you in?

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Southern NJ

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I saw that one year on new year's eve, pretty cool.

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I have seen trees ripped up this time of year.

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Yep.

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Well, just looking forward at a shot at the big boy.. Our season starts Saturday. Have to take a doe first but I am hoping that will be done by 730 am :D

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I never seen activity this early here in Pa. but hey god bless ya and good luck. That would have me pumped up to! Anything is possible.

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

lets see some pics of these scrapes and rubs please id be interested in seeing the proof

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Java
I have seen this same thing the past couple years. Huge scrapes under smaller trees. We found about 5 of them in a hundred yard area a couple years ago and the ground was destroyed, trees all marked up. It was this time of year too.
We thought it was pretty strange too. But it does happen.
We thought it was a big buck(s) that did it because of the scratches on the bark of the tree were pretty high up..

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

I was out in the woods a couple days ago and I thought I seen a couple scrapes. They were about 2 x3 and there was 3 or 4 of them all in the same area and there was buck poop everywhere. I heard that the only bucks that make scrapes this early are the big boys. I dont know how true it is, but anything can happen.

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Ol' man said if we post pics will you doubters truly believe ? or will you accuse theunknown of making it up ? :eek:

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All the scrapes and rubs are at one end of our property.

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Thats calling it out right there! LOL!! There is a nice group of guys in here that you show them proof and then they will pull out the photoshop card and still call you a liar! Your old man is wise!

I have seen some rubs in the first part of September. The bucks will start to establish there territory as soon as the velvet sheds and falls off. When the velvet is on, the bucks will still be in there close bachelor groups. Then when the hormones kick in and the velvet dies and then falls off they will disband and start to make rubs. If you have a buck with hard horns, thenhe will be making rubs, not sure how much size has to do with this though, not doubting the ol'man. I have seen scrapes in mid September one year. We had that year what seemed to be a early rut, size could have something to do with this depending on age of dear and how soon the glands work, not sure. Post pics, I would like to see a scrap with green foliage in the background be called a liar by the photo police! LOL!!

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Bucks are tearing up trees here.. no velvet left on any of the last half a dozen bucks I have seen since Sat..

As far as scrapes go...its early..but I've watched them hit licking branches and work them over in July...

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Java, I just got home from Illinois yesterday and on sunday we were filming in a bean fieldand when we return on monday night there was 5 scrapes opened up and two of them were 10 feet from our pop up blind.. Walt

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I was hanging stands in Hancock county this past weekend and saw a 1 in. tree broke off at chin level and shredded. It had velvet all over underneath it. 25 yards away on the edge of a bean field there were 3 2x2 scrapes that had been recently worked. You could see the cuts in the ground from the hooves. First time I've ever seen that type of sign this early, and the first I've ever seen a run with velvet underneath. I wish I would have had the camera.

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

first week of september is when westart to see a lot of rubs and scrape. most of it i think is rubbing velvet and scrapes are more territorial then anything.we also see a lot of littlebuck making lots of little scrapesall the way down the tree line.

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Thanks for all the stories guys. I wanted to go get some pics last night but we ended up working and cutting some shooting lanes at the other side of the property.

Just before dusk we headed to his fathers barn to check out the biggest colony of bats I have ever seen in person. Very cool[8D]


But, it's glad to see we are not the only ones experiencing it this early.. 2 more days to go.. Good lord it can't come fast enough.. I have been practicing so much my arm hurts.. Dead on at 30 yrds now.

RE: Rubs and Scrapes...
 

Found one early last year, and went back to check it this year, and yep--it was already being visited.I went to anther area to pick out a couple of trees for me and my 15 year old son to hunt out of opening day, and there was another one. Don't listen to the nay sayers. Just becasue someone doesn't experience it does not take away the validity of what you know and have seen with your own eyes. BTW, th eone I saw last year I hunted close by and had a nice 9 that would come in when it was too dark to make a shot. He never came all th eway to teh scrape, but he was always from the same direction,
and he would scent check it from about 3-5 yards. He got poached the night before gun season opened and I found him that morning on my way out of the woods.And for those who are going to say, how do I know he was poached the night before--I go in and out at the same point, one way in and one way out. He wasn't there the night before,and he was there next morning. There were no gun shots that morning, and I was in my stand 45 minutes before daylight, and I found him with a .22 bullet wound, lying in the trail I had been hunting,about 150 yards from my stand.He wasn't there the night before, and I was before daylight. I later that day, began to see teh scope of the poaching problem( had to run off 2 that tried to come in that day)that I had, having the rest of the season ruined by mulitiple poachers in this area, and got 2 arrested,but too late.