Rubs & tree size???
 

I have heard that rubs & tree size have a direct correlation to the size of the rubbing buck. I need some answers. I have seen many rubs this year and the majority of them are on trees with less than 2" diameters. I have also seen a couple on trees with a 4" dia.. Am I correct in assuming that my Bullwinkle has been the bad boy tearing up the larger trees? Also can you guess the size of buck by the height of rub on the trees? We have one more weekend of late Ny bow season and I'd like to try hunting that monsters rub. Any suggestions?

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

not true at all[:o]where i hunt in georgia,there are at least 20 different trees on the 500 acres that are community rub trees.we have pictures of spikes up to 2 big 10 ptrs rubbing these trees:Dwhat you need to look for is how high up the rub is on the tree.just mho and experience in 35 yrs of huntin.(bow and gun).i killed a nice 8ptr thanksgiving morn.green score 128,232lbs.sasser co.,ga.,at one of the trees that are being used as a community rub tree.oh well just my opinion.good luck.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

I tend to somewhat agree with the above post. There are other factors besides the size of the tree that can help you determine how large the rack is....though I tend to follow the rule of them that though a large racked buck may rub a small tree a small racked buck will rarely rub a large tree.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

:) Thanks men. Keep the replies coming. I know of an ol' timer who swears by the correlation. I'm trying to learn so I can help my son learn from the pros.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

I pretty much agree with PA. I've seen larged rack bucks work over small and large trees....and even seem some med rack bucks work over larger (3"+) trees. But I doubt many small bucks are making the real big rubs (4"- 8"+). Usually that is a good one. :)

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

Well I can tell you the small bucks are not rubbing a big tree, the bigger the tree the bigger deer (I have seen deer rub telephone poles!!) and the higher the rub goes up the tree that is how much longer the bucks tines are!

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

Depends on what you consider a Big Buck:)

A wide , mature 80" 6 point can make very big rubs that could probably rival a 160" 12 points rubs.

If you have good sized trees that are torn up good - I would assume that a "racked" buck is doing it - How big the Rack??? - you gotta shoot him to see:D

And as stated - Big bucks will make little rubs - sometimes lots of them

Good Luck

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

I can't tell you how many magazine articles I have read that support the theory that little bucks don't rub big trees. They even get so bold as to say this is the direction the buck was headed in and this is the direction he is going...It makes me laugh and I think it is an unintentional insult to experienced hunters.

Apparently the deer I hunt don't know what they are doing. I have seen them contradict the "experts" time and time again. We are dealing with free ranging wild animals here...there are no absolutes. I have witnessed a fork horn rub a six inch diameter fence post, I mean really work it over. By the same token I have seen good sized deer rub a small sapling and leave in the opposite direction. I guess it just goes to show that the only absolute you can count on is that deer can't read and they don't watch TV. :D

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

ever seen this: 1 central tree 6-8inches around surrounded by a 2foot diameter scrub brush "perimeter". only the central tree was rubbed, and mauled at that. the deer must have really stretched, worked and wiggled to get his antlers inside the brush to hit this big tree. I hope i'm describing it right.

it was weird, and in this 100foot by 50 foot area he did this 14 times, only on the trees that grew just like that, no other trees.
strange!
moose

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

Big bucks will rub little trees and saplings BUT, just before and during the rut, that new fresh huge rub WAS NOT made by an immature buck or by many bucks, it was made by the dominant buck in that area, most likely a shooter. I've seen too many of these instances.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

:) Thanks Moose1915, I have seen that strange phenomenon also. The big boy I think I'm dealing with has been mentioned in other post by myself. I named him Bullwinkle because of his enormous rack I got a glimpse of one day while he was chasing a lady. This guy just tears trees something aweful. I'm hoping to put my boy, Joe in his path this weekend. He's never seen a monster like him but he tells me he has a 100gr. 3 blade Muzzy waitin for him. Wish us well and keep the help line buzzing. You folks are great and willing to share your knowledge freely.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

I agree with all posts here. Especially that big bucks wil rub small trees, and typically a small buck will not rub large trees. One thing to note FOR SURE though, is the height of the rub. Two years ago one of my buddies had a big rub appear in his area, amongst smaller ones, and this thing was nearly up to his forehead. He took a 165" 11 pointer in this area and yes, it was a big bodied, tall deer.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

I agree with what's already been said. If you've got big rubs, you've got a bigger deer making them. I found a couple of big rubs (cedar trees 8 inches in diameter) just a few weeks ago on our families lease. I had a close encounter while bow hunting a few days later with a bruiser but it just didn't work out right to take the shot. Because of the extended hours that I work I wasn't getting much time to hunt. I told my dad to go sit in the same stand location near the two large rubs and you guessed it, he took a great looking 9 point over 19 inches inside that was visiting a scrape right by one of the rubs. Hunt the rub line and maybe you're son will get a chance at that monster. Good Luck!!:D

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

thanks jimpok for posting this ? have always been wondering about this to when I see a rub. Thanks guys for the responses

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

Rubs? A favorite scouting find indeed.

Here's my take: First of all, someone said that the longer the tines the higher up the tree the rub will go????? No, no, no, a buck rubs a tree primarily with his brow tines and the glands at the base of his tines. A bigger buck stands taller and that is why rubs that go higher up the tree "can" indicate a bigger buck. Secondly, look the rub over and try to understand what's going on around it. For example if a rub goes low to the ground such as within 3 or 4 inches of it, then a small buck made it because his antlers didn't prevent him from lowering his head so far. Another good thing to look for is branches close by the rubbed tree, if they are scraped lightly and sit about 6, 8 or 10 inches away from the primary rub you have another indication of tine length. Finally, I primarily use rubs to indicate to me that a good buck is in the area. I don't use them to pattern the deer at all. They, don't hit the same rubs everyday/night at the same time like they are on a schedule or a pattern. Rather, if you find the rubs, then find the food, you should have lots of does and that will bring you bucks.

Who wants to talk about scrapes? LOL

TBO

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

Bucks if pressured or if changing their travel routes will go in the opposite direction as the rubs when returning but, many if not most bucks who visit their made rub will travel the same direction as the rubs.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

;);););) Thank you all for the education. I shall try this weekend to put it to good use. Weather forecast looks good for our plans and am pleased to know that the wind will be in our favor.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

This is an older post but I have to add to this one because I was lucky enough to watch a buck make rubs this year. It was a nice 8 point, 15-16 inches wide with short tines, looked like a 2 1/2 year old buck. I rattled him in once to 50 yards and rattled again 10 minutes later and he came in to the base of the tree I was in. He stood for 5 minutes just looking. He walked 10 steps to a 2" tree and destroyed it! He rubbed for close to 20 minutes. Then he walked 10 more steps to my right and destroyed another 3" tree for 20 minutes. He was within 20 yards for close to 45 minutes! When he was done and gone, I got down to take a look at what he had done. The amount of damage he did looked like he was a monster but he wasn't he was only a 2 1/2 year old. I'm glad I didn't shoot him because he made it through the bow and gun season. I attached a picture I took last week of him. I'm now glad I didn't take him because he should be around for next year. I passed this buck a second time two days before gun season with a bow. It looks like he may have had a close call with a bullet from the look of mark on his back. I personally look for power pole size rubs and genearlly you can find a few if look around. This shows me that there are big deer around. I'm going to put the trail camera on one next week to see what I get a picture of.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

i find that it depends how aggressive the deer is>:)

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

i agree with cougarmag the largest of rubs are made by the big dominant bucks

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

I agree with Cougar Mag, as soon as the rut started we had a mature 10pt.
destroy a 4" tree, at the base of the tree there was a pile of shavings as if someone had been carving on it for an hour. Saw him several times just couldn't get a shot on him.

RE: Rubs & tree size???
 

I posted this pic back in November. The rub was made on a big cedar tree that is 11" or 12" in diameter. Nobody killed this deer this year, to the best of my knowledge. I don't see how it was anything less than a nice, mature buck.