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Whitetail tree rubs, what do we know about them?

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
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Whitetail buck tree rubs, what do we know about them?

Thought this would be a good discussion to have. Did a quick search on the topic and nothing really popped up specifically so, if you have any good information or in-depth knowledge on the topic, please share with all of us, including any other media forms/sources such as, photographs, videos, films, printed magazine articles and/or books. Even if you have some of your own example photographs of any that are perhaps rather unique or impressive of Whitetail tree rubs, please share them with a little bit information about them, like when, where in general, old versus new; etc.; etc...

I hope to learn something more about them from you, thanks!
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Here is a newly released YouTube video put out today by 'Deer and Deer Hunting' called, "The Science Behind Buck Rubs".

(Video description)
Have you ever wondered why bucks make rubs and what happens when they do? Daniel E. Schmidt explains the science behind buck rubs in this episode of Deer Talk Now. Season 10. Episode 6.

 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
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The only constant that a man can take to the bank is buck deer make rubs. They're a good indicator of animal presence and population but outside of that it's reading the tea leaves. The majority are made at night and usually in visible areas that outside of the rut a buck wouldn't be around during the day.
 

bowhunter1023

Owner/Operator
Staff member
48,879
274
Appalachia
They face the deer as it was making the rub, meaning you can assume that's the direction he came from. Assuming (again) he didn't walk around the tree to make it.
 
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OO2

Well-Known Member
2,566
111
In the Uplands
Man let’s see some data or something in the video, just seemed like a lot of fluff in the video to me.

Let me guess they will make a pheromone test kit that allows hunters to swab the most recent rub in the woods to see which of the three pheromones was left behind.
 
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The thing I learned over the years is in early season finding a rub line can pay off as they are made as they mosey towards food, water or bed. As the season gets closer towards the rut those rub lines become less useful in hunting traveling deer as they start becoming more sporadic/nomadic in their adventures. One good thing about rub lines is they can lead you to a buck's bedding area however once the rut kicks in that bedding area can become used less and less as they start getting on their feet to find does.
 
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Creamer

Active Member
1,584
81
Athens
The only constant that a man can take to the bank is buck deer make rubs. They're a good indicator of animal presence and population but outside of that it's reading the tea leaves. The majority are made at night and usually in visible areas that outside of the rut a buck wouldn't be around during the day.

Agreed. Never assume it's only big deer hitting a big tree. My father in law had a camera in video mode watching a large cedar tree in his yard that gets hit yearly. It was routinely visited and worked by a 1.5 year old buck.
 
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Stressless

Active Member
2,127
85
Keene, OH
With trail cams - I've not paid as much attention to rubs, but "historical" rubs or areas where there is a 'cluster' in dense or thickish brush seems to be an area of daylight buck movement. Unlike scrapes - or mock scrapes I don't believe they can be used to focus deer travel patterns. Jeff explains his theories and views behind rubs and what he takes away from them.


There is telephone pole on my land that that ALL the bucks use, video below of a young 8pt using it beat the snot out of it for bout 10 mins - I have no idea why, that bucks use year after year, to the point that the pole is rubbed in about 3/4" all the way around. Between that and the mock scrape in that broadway on 30 yrds one 20 yards a pattern of movement works.

 
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Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
I intend to add more from my thoughts and experience later in the discussion.
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How To Read Whitetail Buck Rubs | Why Do Bucks Actually Rub? - Sep 25, 2019​


Video description: QDMA Director of Conservation, and wildlife biologist Kip Adams goes into to detail on why bucks actually rub trees. There is a lot more going on with a buck rub than most people think!


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One of my TC captures.


 

Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
Large rubs give me the hope that there are good bucks in the area. A rub line will give me the direction of travel, from bedding to food or bedding to bedding. A bunch of rubs in a small area will tell me I’ve found a staging area, a place where the deer feel safe and will hang out waiting for darkness to venture into a food source. I’ve never hunted a rub line but will hunt over scrapes if they are in the right spot. A huge rub will get most hunters excited and are nice to see but I would rather find a scrape line.
 

Fletch

Senior Member
Supporting Member
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Rubs???? I don't get TOO excited over them... As George said a large rub will give him the sense that there is a large buck in the area... Well I was up a tree once and along comes a buck that had one side ( 3 points ) the other side he was broken off just above the brow time... I watched him for roughly a 1/2 hour tear the shit out of a tree that was the size of my arm... Destroyed it using the busted off horn... Never rubbed the good horn, just kept working it with the jagged stub... When I got down I went over and looked at it... Had I not seen it with my own eyes I would have thought there was an elk in those woods....

One year out in Western Pa. the Sunday before opening of firearm season we hiked to the top of the mountain to scout for the next day... Not a single rub was found... Next day we shot 5 bucks all of which were 8 pointers or better... So go figure.
Out in Illinois we don't see a ton of rubs, yet shoot decent bucks every year...

What does excite me is a community scrape that's bigger than a car hood... With each sit, you never know what's gonna show up...
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
The ones you see that pop up every year and early usually point towards an older deer population/more mature herd. I read about this year's and years ago and it makes sense. The older deer know what they are doing and why. These young bucks haven't had the experience or learned enough yet. By 3 they know what to do.

I also believe most of this work happens at night. I'll take a scrape over a big rub!

This one on this Black Locus freaks my brain out every year. @finelyshedded tried talking me into putting a cam on it, but I like the way my imagination flows when I see it.
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triple_duece

Ragin Cajun.
9,126
159
All I got it this. Big rubs make me happy thinking there is a giant lurking around. A rub line gives me first hand knowledge of travel. He or they may be using it mostly at night, but we catch deer on their feet occasionally in the daylight hours. Any size buck will rub any tree, only way to tell it’s a good bucks is by the heavy grooves in the meat of the tree. I don’t hunt rub lines nor scrapes much as it’s a crap shoot to know when it’s being tended to, rather hunt the area knowing there is traffic. Focus on edges and transitions is my go to way of hunting, also morning as they usually run late back to bed. I’m not the best hunter nor a good hunter as good bucks are rare compared to Midwest numbers....this is fact. There is hammers killed down here that would rival any deer killed elsewhere but 90% of hunters here rarely see a 130” buck or bigger.
 

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
I'm currently listening to this. Thought it would be appropriate to add to this thread.
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During out November Beer & Deer Webinar, NDA's Chief Conservation Officer, Kip Adams, discusses rubs, scrapes and other ways deer communicate with one another.