Rubs and Scrapes
03-27-2007, 07:49 AM
#2
Fork Horn
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Cape Cod MA
Posts: 303
RE: Rubs and Scrapes
hi and welcome to the addicting world of bowhunting.
1Rub- a rub is a place that a deer has rubed his antlers on a tree. Bucks rub for many reasons, they however do not rub very seriously to remove velvet. ( i figure id get that rumor out the way).One aspect of rubs is the intimidation factor. When evera buck gets the chance, they rub to overly intimidate other bucks. Much to the effect of guys strutting there stuf in a weight room. It establishes pecking orders. It says im here and im huge so dont mess. Rubsarnt made to define the boundries of a bucks home area,howeverthey hold scent and visual communication between bucks. when bucks rub, they leave behind odors from the saliva, and forhead and preorbital gland( agland on the bucks head-that why u shouldnt touch the rub) Rubs can also be made along a bucks prefered trail to his feeding area and then another one back to his bedding area. It is safe to say that a rub made facinga feeding area was made by a buck in the morning when he was returing and then a rub faceing away from a feeding area was made in the afternoon while he was coming toward the area.
2. Scrapes- are areas of ground that a buck paws out and deposits scent in. there are a few typesof scrapes-primary(which are usally in cover and very large) and other scrapes. Scrapes are a calling card for bucks asking for a date. Im not that Knowledgeable in scrapes so i wont fill ur head with stuf that i think are true
well theres my 2 cents hope they helped you a little im not by anymeans an expert but i have found out some stuff threw 100s of hours in the woods GOOD LUCK
1Rub- a rub is a place that a deer has rubed his antlers on a tree. Bucks rub for many reasons, they however do not rub very seriously to remove velvet. ( i figure id get that rumor out the way).One aspect of rubs is the intimidation factor. When evera buck gets the chance, they rub to overly intimidate other bucks. Much to the effect of guys strutting there stuf in a weight room. It establishes pecking orders. It says im here and im huge so dont mess. Rubsarnt made to define the boundries of a bucks home area,howeverthey hold scent and visual communication between bucks. when bucks rub, they leave behind odors from the saliva, and forhead and preorbital gland( agland on the bucks head-that why u shouldnt touch the rub) Rubs can also be made along a bucks prefered trail to his feeding area and then another one back to his bedding area. It is safe to say that a rub made facinga feeding area was made by a buck in the morning when he was returing and then a rub faceing away from a feeding area was made in the afternoon while he was coming toward the area.
2. Scrapes- are areas of ground that a buck paws out and deposits scent in. there are a few typesof scrapes-primary(which are usally in cover and very large) and other scrapes. Scrapes are a calling card for bucks asking for a date. Im not that Knowledgeable in scrapes so i wont fill ur head with stuf that i think are true
well theres my 2 cents hope they helped you a little im not by anymeans an expert but i have found out some stuff threw 100s of hours in the woods GOOD LUCK
03-27-2007, 09:55 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Portage WI/Racine WI
Posts: 2,320
RE: Rubs and Scrapes
Very well answered BigBuck. I will add that, though scrapes and rubs are important to locating deer and the areas they frequent, you don't want to focus hunting them too heavily. Many times during early season scrapes and rubs are freshened up during the evening/night/early morning hours when they feel safe to move in the dark. Once the rut kicks in, you can probably hunt rubs and scrapes more heavily however, since deer are moving at all times of the day.
I stick to using rubs and scrapes for locating deer on a specific part of a property. Once you can find a general area that they hang out in, you can pattern them quite easily. A few trail cams and some scouting, and you'll be set for hunting season!
I stick to using rubs and scrapes for locating deer on a specific part of a property. Once you can find a general area that they hang out in, you can pattern them quite easily. A few trail cams and some scouting, and you'll be set for hunting season!
03-29-2007, 06:45 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winnipeg, Mb, Canada
Posts: 1,309
RE: Rubs and Scrapes
Great informatiove posts. I also look to see if there is multiple rubs and scrabes in a patterened area. Finding a scrape line is like finding gold. If you can find a line of 4,5,or even 6 scrapes in a line then it becomes easier to pattern the buck. He'll be very territorial and work well being called in. Has worked many times for me.
03-29-2007, 07:40 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Denton, Texas
Posts: 1,335
RE: Rubs and Scrapes
Rubs
Rubs are a sign for bucks to advertise themselves in the area visually and communicate his social ranking to other bucks and does in the area. Their forehead glands allows the buck to spread his own individual scent on the rub.
When a buck makes a scrape on a sturdy tree he is strengthening his neck and chest musclesto show his dominance in the area.
Bucks runwhen they move, so rubs are also directional signs for hunters.
General rule is the larger the diameter of a rubbed tree, the larger the buck that made the rub. Bigbucks occasionally rub small saplings, but young bucks rarely rub large trees.
Studies have shown mature bucks make an average of 250 rubs per year.
Scrapes
Scrapes are pretty much a sign for advertisement. Usually scrapes can be smelled before they are found. Bucks are said to do this because of a change in their hormone system. The bucks usually lick the branches above the scrape to let deer know they have been there andscrapes area gathering place for deer.
Studies have shown that maturebucksmake an average of 35 scrapes per year, most of them 24 to 36 inches in diameter.
Hope someof this helps.
Rubs are a sign for bucks to advertise themselves in the area visually and communicate his social ranking to other bucks and does in the area. Their forehead glands allows the buck to spread his own individual scent on the rub.
When a buck makes a scrape on a sturdy tree he is strengthening his neck and chest musclesto show his dominance in the area.
Bucks runwhen they move, so rubs are also directional signs for hunters.
General rule is the larger the diameter of a rubbed tree, the larger the buck that made the rub. Bigbucks occasionally rub small saplings, but young bucks rarely rub large trees.
Studies have shown mature bucks make an average of 250 rubs per year.
Scrapes
Scrapes are pretty much a sign for advertisement. Usually scrapes can be smelled before they are found. Bucks are said to do this because of a change in their hormone system. The bucks usually lick the branches above the scrape to let deer know they have been there andscrapes area gathering place for deer.
Studies have shown that maturebucksmake an average of 35 scrapes per year, most of them 24 to 36 inches in diameter.
Hope someof this helps.
03-29-2007, 07:54 AM
#9
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: WC FL
Posts: 26,323
03-29-2007, 10:16 AM
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 81
RE: Rubs and Scrapes
ive had too many coutless hours in atreestand bowhunting over scrapelines and big rubs.
i found that finding there trial to these scrapes and rubs and setting a treestand downwind about 70-100 yards from the scrapes and rubs is better than hunting directlyover the rubs and scrapes.
i dont bowhunt over scrapes and rubs anymore, but more on bedding, feeding, waterholes, and field edges.
my best advice if finding a fresh scrape is hunting that scrape for 2-3 days straight. that buck will come back to check up on it.
this is from my hunting experince bowhunting the Ozarks in Missouri.
i found that finding there trial to these scrapes and rubs and setting a treestand downwind about 70-100 yards from the scrapes and rubs is better than hunting directlyover the rubs and scrapes.
i dont bowhunt over scrapes and rubs anymore, but more on bedding, feeding, waterholes, and field edges.
my best advice if finding a fresh scrape is hunting that scrape for 2-3 days straight. that buck will come back to check up on it.
this is from my hunting experince bowhunting the Ozarks in Missouri.
