yearly rubs
 

when i scouted the other day i checked a well used old rub line (the last 2 years )
and to my supprise their was no new marks on it
no sighn on it at all the trail looks non used now
so either other hunters got those bucks or they arent using it yet
its on public land so not an option to put a camera if i had one[8D]
my question should i keep checking it weekly ?

RE: yearly rubs
 

are you just checking the rub line or are you hunting over it yet?

Keep in mind that the more times you enter an area the more chances of leaving scent behind, being intrusive to the area and alerting the deer to your presence which might make them change thier travel routes. So I would say no, less is more in this case even if it is on public ground.

RE: yearly rubs
 

According to deer researcher T.R. Michels, bucks may move from summer home ranges to fall/breeding home ranges during the fall; in the upper Midwest thismay occur frommid-September to mid-October. So the deer may have moved, or the buck or bucks that used that rub routehas died, and no other buck has moved into that area yet.

He says he always scouts any area thoroughly during the week before he plans to hunt, so he is failry surethe deer will be there the next week. If he doesn't find good sign - he moves to another area.

RE: yearly rubs
 

I wouldn't give up on an area that anually has rublines on it. Even if the buck who made those rubs gets killed, another will move in and take it over. In my experience, old bucks think alike, and whatever it was that attracted the first buck, will attract another.....that's why some stands produce good deer nearly every year.




GH

RE: yearly rubs
 

ty for your replies another note this rub line runs 15 feet away from a party camp site (4-5 tents every weekend )
ive seen fresh rubs on it last year after a kegger was at the site fri/sat and on mon am there was a bunch of fresh sign.
i think it will be ok to step into it fully scent free to check for new sign once a week . ty again mud.