Hunting rublines
 

I really want to give them a try this year but I have no idea about going about this...I know scouting them and wind direction but do you set up within bow distance of the rubs...this may sound kind of amatuer but I don't want to screw it up...I know of some big rublines but I just don't know how to go about this...thanks....all your help is appreciated!

RE: Hunting rublines
 

you rifle or bow hunting?

RE: Hunting rublines
 

I think he already answered your question.

Should have asked him about hunting fence lines.;););)

RE: Hunting rublines
 

o its definitely bowhunting

RE: Hunting rublines
 

Hoyt, when I hunt rublines I have always had the best success first off determining where his bedroom and soup kitchen is (basically his routine from bed to food - basic scouting stuff). Then I will try and locate either a landmass or funnel that he uses that leads to his rublines, as setting up on a rubline itself can cause a whole bag of brown stuff(especially with a bow) being he can come at from different directions. Basically a travel route that takes him to his trashing room is what needs to be found and most bucks take the road less travelled(running parrellel to the heavy game trail) but use funnels, draws, ridges to feel safe as long as possible often intersecting with the heavy trail. Once you locate a spot that funnels him towards the rubline you can then assess wind direction, approach, etc. Hunting a rubline like anything requires everything to go your way, wind, the deer travelling that route, coming from the same bedding area and so on. I usually try to setup on the bedside, as this will give you the highest % odds of seeing him during daylight hours.

Basically lots of scouting and then pick the best spot that will offer concealment, wind favour and shooting lanes.

Best of Luck!

RE: Hunting rublines
 

wow...thanks skeeter! that probably has helped me out more than all these books i've been reading about rublines...including greg miller's book...(maybe i'm just a bit slow) ;) but ne wayz i appreciate it!!

RE: Hunting rublines
 

so wait...lemme get this straight...rublines aren't actually strict trails that they use....well i mean it is a trail...but they meander through the area...so rublines are just to show you that the buck is moving through this area give or take so many yards from the rubline/ rubs??

RE: Hunting rublines
 

mature bucks rarely stick to "strict" trails outside of their bedrooms.

Most rublines are used at night. As Skeeter stated the closer to the bed the better chance to catch him during the day.

Sometimes they are made in one night and never returned to.

A rubline alone is not a great start to a game plan. Other factors must also point to that area. terrain, food, beds, cover, doe populations should all be close by.

RE: Hunting rublines
 

I don't hunt rub lines. To me all that rub lines tell you is that there is a buck that has used this area, andhis usual direction of travel. Find his scrape line and you have really found something to hunt!

RE: Hunting rublines
 

Hoyt, like rack said mature deer rarely are routined by a trail or path they prefer to just roam. However when it comes to the bedding areas they become a little more predictable and thus why if you can get their that is where you want to be. I have been rarely successful harvesting a good buck directly over any scrap or rubline, but on the funnel area to these areas I have done quite well. View it as a good starting point for finding a better spot to set-up, much like a puzzle putting all the pieces in a pile it is hard to see the picture but start fitting them together at it becomes very clear. In pre-rut I have rattled out more bucks situated close to his bedroom and fall line to his activity areas than any other technique...but it was only because I knew where he lived, ate, traveled, rubbed and scraped.

Jag we'll have to agree to disagree as a scrape doesn't even bring my blood pressure up but a rubline in transition areas makes it jump to feverless pace. Though I think it depends on your area, as I see loads of scrapes that could only be done under darkness and while same can be said for some of the rubs it can and does point you in the direction he travels...where as a scrape is little less to the point.

RE: Hunting rublines
 

So would you look for a better spot when you don't have a funnel or the other stuff you mentioned in conjunction with the rubline? Because I can think of 15-20 rublines off the top of my head at the one property but most don't have those features...i.e. funnel/terrain. I have a good idea of where the bedding area is...but do you think that I should make sure I know exactly where they are or should I just start from where "I know" that they are?? Thanks again guys!

RE: Hunting rublines
 

Rack, how do you go about hunting a bucks bedding area?? Do you use rublines? And how far away do you get from the bucks bed?? Any calling/rattling?? Scents?? Thanks! Jim

RE: Hunting rublines
 

Hoyt I am a little confussed by this statement, either you know where they bed or you don't. I am assuming your refering to the sign they leave (ie: tracks, rubs, etc) vs actual bedding areas. When I scout I always start at sign and make way back from there. Finding activity areas is always a good thing but I don't stop their, like mentioned you need to find where "He" calls home, where "He" eats/drinks and where "He" travels(this can be several routes BTW). Then you form a plan that will give you the best odds at catching up with him during daylight hours. I will gaurantee there is something that deer uses in land mass to channel his movements from bed and out, you just have to find it, which is what scouting is all about. These land masses can be funnels, draws, points, saddles, ridges, fencelines, etc - don't get caught up in the funnel word persay but look for routes that offer concealment and safety to the deer. Nothing is more important to a buck than safety, you find his safe zone and hunt the shadows you'll have your chances on bucks.

Setting up in his bedroom can be tricky business and you must know his movements with direct corelation to wind direction...hence the importance of scouting. How close I get depends on the time of year, in early bow I stay a bit further away usually on his route to food or water, as rut approaches I then transition closer trying to catch him or call him out to the fringe of his bedding area. I even setup right in his bedroom if the area will allow it, this is when I use rattling techniques to entice him to come searching. However like any calling one must remember it gives your ambush spot away so it is very important to use the wind, land mass & cover to your advantage but always have a backdoor open for a shot. DO NOT OVER CALL!!!! Big deer can come hard and loud or soft and silent so be prepared know your lanes & shooting distance well inadvance. Extremely important to keep a finger on the pulse when doing this so close to his home range as one sniff and he's long gone. I pan constantly and keep very attentive, yes many a squirrel has almost caused me to go into heart failure but one must be on their toes and ready to excute. Of course staying quiet is another option and go on your scouting to bring you the deer. Both have worked for me when I put the pieces together. I can honestly say since I started hunting closer to the bedroom I have had more success and much more excitement, but this hasn't come without its share of mistakes. Experience/knowledge are the defining factors with hunting IMHO, as such the most important things are: practice, patience, persistance and never stop learning. Scouting falls under many of these skills. Interpertation of sign is something that must be learnt, we can give you help but the man looking at must be able to use it to his advantage...only way I know how to do this is to actually DO IT!!!!! With it will come both highs and lows, just don't be discouraged and use the lows as learning points.

Best of luck:)

RE: Hunting rublines
 

Skeeter, we'll just agree to disagree. Anyone who shoots 7MM, knows a thing or two about hunting!:D
In my area, I'd much prefer the scrapes! I do agree that they are mostly freshened at night, but a fresh scrape tells me he has been there very recently, while the exact age of rubs is hard to tell.
I also have seen bucks work their scrapes during daylight hours too.
Another thing I like about scrapes is that when you find a lots of them in one area, you know you've found his bedroom!
I think that the method of hunting scrapes would not be too different than hunting rubs. As always pay attention to wind, and travel directions, and try not to set up too close!

RE: Hunting rublines
 

[8D]:D