rubs indicate size of deer
 

Each year I always look for the largest rub to hunt the larger deer. Is it true larger the rub larger the deer?

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

If I come across a rub in the bush and its raked raw as high as I am and its on a 4-6 inch tree, hmmmmmmmmmm.... yes that is a nice one, but if you happen upon a small rub, this does not necessary mean that it is a small buck... ;)

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

The size of the rub does not necessarily indicate the size of a deer. Sometimes a large deer will make a small rub and vece-versa. The only way to know for sure is to see the deer making it or maybe see large tracks under the tree.

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

i heard somewhere that somtimes you can tell by how high up the tree the rubs are. Im not sure if this is true or not though.

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

Yes I believe you can get a gauge by a rub. I look at size, reach(height), rap around(see if he is getting on the sides as well as the face), gouges and a pronounced rubline. The most important one is the pronounced rubline. I want to make sure he is routinely coming through the area to hit his rubs. Once I have found his rubline I look at the all other factors. Such as: height, quality, loaction, where he is going and coming from, etc.

Theories abound on this subject, but the 100% way is to catch him on film or by eye. That is why game cameras are so hot.

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

A big rub I wouldn' t necessarily hunt, but a big fresh rub with scrapes makes my mouth water.

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

I think generally the bigger the tree and bigger the rub, the bigger the deer, but its not always the case as seen with the pic posted earlier this week on the mb.

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

Yes, to some extent I think it does. I have never seen a small buck rub a large tree though I have seen several large bucks rub some small ones.

If that helps any...:)

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

I agree with Skeeter 7mm for the most part if the rub were higher etc... then that might tell somewhat about the deer. I would not use the rub as a fact that the deer is bigger though. I' ve seen some 4 pointers rub the crap out of a tree you would of thought a 12 point had been there. Depending on how many other deer are around, and on how pumped up they are is how big there rub will be.

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

Any buck, big or small, can make any rub, big or small. If you find a huge rub, was it made by a spike there often and for long periods of time, or a really big, brute 12 pointer just doin his thing? If you find a small rub, was it a smaller buck there for 15 minutes, or a really big, brute 12 pointer there for 2 minutes.

As mature deer don' t have alot of height difference, the height of a rub isn' t a good factor to figure with either. Know what I mean? There aren' t deer who are suited for say basketball, and others who are canidates for dwarf tossing.

There is no way to really tell!

If you really want to know the size (not necessarily points) of the deer who is rubbing these trees - find a track! Big deer have big tracks. Little deer have little tracks.

Uncle Matt (in Illinois)

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

I have to disagree with you, I think the heght of tine marks is the best way to determine size of rack. Even if a small rack and large rack buck are the same size, the tines on a good buck can easily reach over 15 -20 inches over his head. When I find a rub with tine marks past my chest (I am 6ft-1in),on a tree that will not give and bend, there is a very,very good reason to believe this is a mature large racked buck.

I still wouldn' t hunt the rub, unless there was a good line of them inside a bedding area. Now my blood is boiling just thinking about it:D

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

I have seen small bucks making rubs on large trees and I have seen large bucks make rubs on small trees. The only sure way to tell if you are hunting a rub line of a big buck is to see the buck in the process of making the rub. I have been fooled more than once by the little bucks.

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

One thing to consider, just because you see a smaller buck hit a rubline in which you thought was a good buck, doesn' t mean that isn' t a good bucks rub. Sometimes deer will rub on other deers lines, usually not a small (inferior) buck on a dominant but I have seen that happen before.

I do you can gauge by the height and quality, but wether that deer is a big 4x4 or a real bruiser 5 x 5 that is the hard part to disguish. Tracks also are not a clear way, you may have an over the hill downslide who is carry big feet but smalls sticks:D. Best way is to see him and use all the other factors that help point you to what the animal caliber is. Hunting season is too short to put all your eggs in a rub basket[8D].

Anybody notice that larger (mature deer) tend to rub eye level and smaller (immature deer) tend to rub below eye level? I have noticed this to a small degree here, not sure if this a characteristic or just chance? Wondering what some you others have seen? Thanks (maybe a new theory to add to the debate;))

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

Skeeter..you are correct.The larger bucks with a good rack will rub at a higher level than a spike or fork horn. The rub will be on a sturdy tree and some times go within a foot of the ground. When can see individual tine marks on a four inch diameter tree I know this is a nice big deer, and start to look for other sign in the area to see if I can pattern him. Sometimes they will fool you. One year I thought I had a big buck only to have it turn out to be a middlin' sized 6 point.Put him in the freezer anyway! This years turned out to be a nice sized deer with a tiny 8 point rack, not an old deer either, healthy too, just a very small rack. Walked right up to my stand, so I did the right thing...put him in my freezer.

RE: rubs indicate size of deer
 

if they have big tines they can snap off threelimbs. but i do beleive that the bigger the rub the bigger the antlers

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