I was thinking bear, but no claw marks. If it's a rub, big boy is out there. Best of luck.

OK, for all you that doubted me the first time. I went back to the area this morning and set up my climber. I was up about 20 ft when I heard some thrashing going on about 50 yrds towards the rub from yesterday. For GMMAT and the others who claim that porcupines and giant squirrels are the culprit, or even disease...This was as fresh as I could get to it.

He was definately a bruiser. I heard him barrelling down toward the creek when he caught wind of me and snorted like a freight train.



I figured I would zoom in and show the antler marks on the center.



I guess the squirrell that took off was n a horses back, The area around hre is loaded with sign. Acorns everywhere, scat, scrapes, and this is the third fresh rub since being there yesterday.

What do you think GMMAT? some weird bark disease that makes the tree shake its bark off? Or just the wind?

Where are the bark shavings on the ground??LOL

Umm......I have those all over my property and its not a rub. Its the bark pealing. First of all a deer doesn't stand on his backs legs to rub is antlers.

.

Good luck with him Jeff. Hope to see some pics come October.
Chris

Ok...Its not a deer. The scat and tracks all around these trails are from last year, and what I heard was a mouse. I have seen the deer in these parts. Three singular sapplings torn to pieces. I guess its just a fluke.

I wont be taking your advice though, and will show you him when hes down on the ground with me holding his rack in my hands. I know this property like the back of my hand. The scenario for this part of the woods is prime whitetail habital, and the 9 pointer taken last year during muzzy was just a pretend deer too.

I wish you luck in WI with rubs that arent rubs. However the rubs have been popping up all this week in places where I know the deer are eating my corn, having pictures taken, etc.

I was just sharing my 25 years of scouting, and I have seen many instances where bark decays and falls, branches and trees dying and flaking, birches flaking...but never before, in these woods, have I seen this and it not be a buck rub. Usually they are alot smaller, on smaller cedars and sapplings, but this is not a small deer.

Im not the only witness to these markings, or the sighting of the deer. The neighbor was the one who pointed me to the edge of the field where he had been seen going in and out of. I guess I will tell them it was a fluke.

Maybe the 4 ft squirrel ate them. I have no clue, but it does not in anyway sway me from KNOWING its a huge buck rub.

Where in the hell do you see a deer standing on his legs to make a rub. its a big freakin deer I tell ya!

Well if its a deer, I wish you all the luck in getting him.