More scrapes and rubs questions
 

I didn't want to hijack Peak's post.....but I had a couple questions I'd like for you all to answer.

We keep hearing about hunting these type sign (I don't do it).....but I don't hear people elude to something very important (or...it would be in my eyes...if I were actually hunting them).

1. Have you ever witnessed abuck working/making a scrape?
2. Have yo ever witnessed abuck making a rub?

I've seen severalbucks working scrapes, including four working the same scrape with an hour or so of one another (everythig from a 6 pointer to a BB).

I've never seen a buck make a rub. I've seen lots of rubs....just never seena buck making one.

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

I have seen both but I recall one season it was early November and for 4 days same
3 bucks came in and checked the scrape, Pissed in it and rubbed the over head branches.
This is the only time of the year I see this occur it seems.
But rubs are usually from bedding to feeding and feeding back to bedding it seems also.
I see this a lot and it is usually a lightly used trail and not on the doe trails.

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Idon'tchoose a location just because there are rubs or scrapes present. I choose my spots based on terian and often there does happen to be rubsand scrapes present whereI hunt.

But to answer the question...yes, I have observed bucks working both scrabes and rubs many times...not that I think it really matters. Oviously we know that bucks are rubbing and scraping whether we actuallyobserve them doing it or not.

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Common ground.

Would it matter if they were doing these things at night?

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Seen different bucks make both at about 10 yds. I was hunting an EAB (earn a buck) zone and hadn't taken a doe yet so no shot oppurtunity.[:@]

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Never actually seen it happen, but have had it happen just out of eyesight on 2 occasions. Absolutely sure the scrapes were not there when I got in my stand. Heard the deer making it both times. Just could not see thru the brush either time.

I do not hunt right over scrapes and rubs, but I will hunt near them. (20 to 40yds away) I feel that if they came thru there once, they "may" return. If they make scrapes and rubs in that area, at least one time, that area held interest to them for some reason. I will add, if I do not get any action, whether scrapes or rubs are present or not, I will be moving a short distance away.

LT

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

I have witnessed both several times. Watching a deer rub is far more entertaining to me than watching them scrape.

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Yes and yes.

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

ive seen both, seeing them making a rub, is one of the most exciting things i have ever seen, especcially when you see the tree getting worked, before you see the buck

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

I watched a nice 8 make a scrape once. He was dogging a doe, and she stopped to feed under a white oak. He started working a licking branch, quite vigorously actually, and made a scraped under it where he promptly peed in. In just watching that, it SEEMED to me as if it were a way to off load some aggression and frustration.

I also saw a buck make a rub once. Little spiker worked over 2 saplings pretty good. When I exited my stand that day, I went over to look at them. Yeah, he actually tore them up pretty good.

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Yes, I have witnessed both of these phonomena.:DOnce while in Alberta, I watched a smallish buck rub a tree, then make a smallscrape at the base. I don't "hunt" this type of sign though. I believe it's too "hit or miss", no punn intended.;)I like to spend my time inmore consistent travel area's.

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

I've seen a Spike making a rub. It was pitch black and I was already in my stand. Sounded like the woods were getting the s*%t kicked out of them right below my feet, and that was in fact the case. the spike broke 2 6foot tall saplings at the 2''diameter trunk and was letting the rest of the saplings right below my feet know who their daddy was. lol, this was my first ever time in the woods, didn't take my doe yet(stupid NJ) so that spike lived to see another day. Haven't seen it happen since, but I was a great experience for my first ever time out hunting!

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Yes to both questions, not only have I witnessed it, I've caused it on many occassions with calls.

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

I've seen bucks working scrapes and rubs several times. The largest bucks I have seen were not stopping to rub or scrape, but they were on their feet moving around their beddings areas. Needless to say, I never got a shot at any of them....but I don't usually hunt directly over sign, but use sign to help me tighten my options down in regard to a place where I think they are coming/going from....

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

I've seen both many times over. In almost all the places I've hunted, sign goes hand in hand with travel corridors and edge areas. I don't get the whole hunting over "one or the other" debate? Maybe there are just too many deer around?

And like Rob, I have made a buck thrash up a tree every time I'd grunt at it.

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

I never seen them work or make a scrap but last year I watched a buck destroy a tree and then I shot it!

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Why would you shoot a tree? [:-]

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Yep, seen them both onmany occasions. Most every year I see it and alwaysconsider and implementmy hunting stratagies accordingly. It's advanced techniques involving more than Food source, Winner dipping, and night night spots. :D:D

RE: More scrapes and rubs questions
 

Many times I've grunted at a Buck and had him to instantly stop and work a scrape or make a rub.

To be an effective Deer hunter in many areas a person really needs to learn to be flexible. Buck/Deer behavior can vary widely from one area to the next. Sometimes even only 30miles can make a big difference.

I havebeen moderately successfulby remaining flexible, aggressive, and willing todo what it takes. I have killed Bucks by watching trails, hunting funnels, calling, decoying, rattling, setting a rub line, or setting a scrape line.

Some of these methods I rarely use, and others I use quite often, but I know I have used them all with success and if the situation needs a change I'm willing and ready to try what I think might work.

The worst thing any Bowhunter can do is become so set in his methods thathe never switches it up;)

Dan