Buck Rubs on small trees
09-28-2005, 07:39 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: GR Michigan
Posts: 204
Buck Rubs on small trees
My dad just bought some hunting land last winter and i scouted it out this spring and found quite a few rubs on about 1" diameter pine trees, so i figure its a small deer but i went out scouting recently and i checked up on these old rubs and there are fresh ones right next to them on 1" pine trees. Is this a small buck or is it a buck that just prefers smaller trees.
09-28-2005, 07:57 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Atlanta GA USA
Posts: 71
RE: Buck Rubs on small trees
Well, you can't put a definite rule down...but I have always heard that if you find a rub on a big tree, it is most likely a big deer, but if you find a rub on a small tree it could be a big deer as easily as a smaller deer. Personally, I have seen big deer tear small trees apart, break them in half, and all...however, i have never seen a smaller buck take on a bigger tree.
09-28-2005, 08:39 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Leesburg Fl
Posts: 3,245
RE: Buck Rubs on small trees
ORIGINAL: DeerManiac874
Well, you can't put a definite rule down...but I have always heard that if you find a rub on a big tree, it is most likely a big deer, but if you find a rub on a small tree it could be a big deer as easily as a smaller deer. Personally, I have seen big deer tear small trees apart, break them in half, and all...however, i have never seen a smaller buck take on a bigger tree.
Well, you can't put a definite rule down...but I have always heard that if you find a rub on a big tree, it is most likely a big deer, but if you find a rub on a small tree it could be a big deer as easily as a smaller deer. Personally, I have seen big deer tear small trees apart, break them in half, and all...however, i have never seen a smaller buck take on a bigger tree.
you never can be too sure with small trees. it can go either way.
09-28-2005, 09:47 PM
#5
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: ne bama
Posts: 6,340
RE: Buck Rubs on small trees
i'll try to find some pics i've got kinda funny, one is a 140" 10pt wearing out a 1" tree the other is of a spike working on a 4" cedar, i guess he didn't know how small his "rack" was
09-30-2005, 10:43 AM
#8
Typical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location:
Posts: 857
RE: Buck Rubs on small trees
If it is early in the year,I would say a big buck is making them. Check for damage on the tree. Big bucks will shave all small limbs and bark on both sides with their tines and g2's. Small bucks won't cause as much damage. If you find the same trees rubbed 2 years in a row, more than likely you have found a good place to be.
09-30-2005, 12:59 PM
#9
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Bennettsville, SC
Posts: 542
RE: Buck Rubs on small trees
I agree that you can't really tell a bucks rack size by the size of trees he rubs.
I have hunted deer that snap small trees in half, then I assume its a nice deer to have that strength for one and to be able to get the tree tangled up in his rack enough to break it.
I like looking at each rub itself. Things like, the amount of shavings on the ground. How "deep" the deer is rubbing. There are two rubs in an area I am hunting this year that in just year alone, the buck has rubbed about 1/4 out of the tree, not including bark. I haven't gotten any pics of him yet, but I am assuming that he probably has a really heavy rack. I have hunted this spot yday and seen three does. I hunted it this morning and seen six does. I am going back this afternoon. I know theres a nice buck there, just wish he could come out with his ladies.
Its easier to tell the a deer's rack "shape" than size. YOu can do this by seeing if theres any deep gashes or uniquie things about the rub.
If you find a "sign post" rub, it probably gets rubbed by every buck that passes it. So, those are deff. hard to tell.