Buck Rubs – The Rundown On Deer Rubs
With the deer hunting season fast approaching in many areas of the country, many deer hunters are looking for buck sign in their favorite patch of woods. Rubs happen to be one sure sign that a buck has been in the area. Doe deer don't make rubs.
Over the years it seems that rubs are one piece of buck sign that most deer hunters mis diagnose when scouting. I'm not sure why, perhaps they haven't taken the time to really educate their self on the different types of rubs. I've even heard old Grizzled deer hunters call deer scraps "rubs" and deer rubs "scrapes".
I hope to shed some light on the different types of buck rubs and the timeline you'll likely see these rubs.
Late Summer Buck Rubs
Starting in late August through September in most parts of the country, you'll start finding rubs on small bushes and saplings. In my area, the Sumac, Pine and Cedar are favored bushes that bucks rub on.
Bucks rub on these saplings at this time of the year to help remove the velvet from their antlers. In fact, it's not uncommon to find these bushes with pieces of velvet still on them.
I've never seen a buck come back to these rubs on a routine basis. For them, these are simply a tool to remove velvet. They simply tell you that a buck, or bucks, have passed by and rubbed velvet off. Nothing to see here folks, just keep moving.
Pre Rut Buck Rubs
I was once told by an Old Timer that bucks rub on trees to mark their paths. Ummm....okay. I have a small problem with that theory. Bucks live in their little patch of woods year round, why do they need trail markers just for the fall? How would they find their trail at other times of the year? I've never bout that piece of advice personally.
The type of rubs I find during the hunting season leading up to the rut are what I call the Pre Rut Buck Rubs. These are rubs bucks make going to and from bedding and feeding areas. You'll likely find many along deer trails.
Look for trees in your area that are very fragrant when the bark is peeled back. Sumac (called Shoe-Makes in my neck of the woods), Cedar and Pine are all favorites of bucks around here. Bucks love to rub trees like these. My theory of why bucks prefer these trees is that it's possible the thick sap holds scent from their glands for a longer period of time. I believe these rubs are bucks letting other bucks know they're in the area. Marking their territory so to speak. Kinda like your dog walking the perimeter of your yard and peeing on ever little bush it comes to.
It's been my experience that bucks will make clusters of these rubs near their bedding area. Once you get outside of their bedding area, you'll start to see rubs spaced apart along a trail. You can sometimes tell when and what time a buck made the rubs by looking at which side of the tree the rub is on.
If the rubbed part of the tree is facing the feeding area, it's likely this rub was made by a buck on his way back to his bed. That's generally in the Mornings.
On the other hand, if you find the bare part of a rub facing the thicker bedding area, it's likely the buck made the rub in the afternoon or evening as he is heading to the feeding area.
In big woods areas, I've also found these types of rubs between Doe groups. I can generally find these along ridgelines or along remove waterways such as creek beds.
Sign Post Rubs
Nothing, and I mean nothing, screams "Big Buck" like a sign post rub.
I don't think that there is another piece of buck sign, other than a sighting, that will tell you that you're dealing with a He Man of a buck.
I've heard several theories of why big bucks make sign post rubs. But in my opinion, they're made to tell all other bucks to "stay clear, The Boss lives here."
The buck that makes these rubs may rub smaller trees, and generally does. But I've never seen a smaller buck make a sign post rub.
I generally find sign post rubs near a bucks bedding area. When I find one, I start paying real close attention to the surrounding area and on which side of the tree the rub is. It's not uncommon to find a sign post rub that has been rubbed entirely around the tree.
Most sign post rubs I've seen have been on trees 2 inches in diameter and larger. The largest one I've ever seen was on a Cedar tree back in the sticks in Eastern Oklahoma. The tree was nearly 4 inches in diameter.
If you find an area that has fresh sign post rubs and dead trees from previous years rubs, you've found the Mother Load. This tells you the buck has lived here for at least two years.
Deer Hunting Tactics For Rubs
I've known hunters who found a few rubs on small bushes early in the year and hunt the entire season over those rubs. Like I said earlier, those early season rubs don't amount to anything other than getting rid of some velvet.
The rubs you really want to concentrate are the ones made in the Pre Rut. These are the ones that Bucks will generally follow, simply because they make them along their paths.
Here's a hot deer hunting tip for you. When looking over trails, look parallel on both sides of the trails for buck rubs. The reason why is that some smart old bucks will not travel down the same trail as does and smaller bucks, but will travel parallel downwind. If a Buck is paralleling a deer trail, I generally find it around 50 to 70 yards on either side of the main trail. Smart old bucks know it's not wise to walk down just any old trail in the Fall!
If I find one or more sign post rub, then I try to back off just a ways along the route I think the buck is coming into or exiting his bedding area. I pick a spot where I have favorable wind. Many times, I'll only be able to hunt this stand a few time during the season. The buck picks his bedding area because of the benefits to him, not because it's easy for you to set a stand up on him!
Hunting Rubs During the Rut
During the rut, everything is off. By this time, if I haven't killed a Buck, I'm switching tactics and hunting the Does. If a Buck is with a Doe, he's not worried about making rubs and scrapes.
If he's an older Buck but hasn't found a Doe yet, he's traveling looking for Does, making and checking scrapes and looking for Does. Generally he doesn't have the time nor desire to make rubs.
In my opinion, hunting bucks along rub line during the Rut is low priority for me. The bucks are either going to be with the Does or traveling between the Doe groups. (although they may follow trails that have rubs along them when traveling between Doe groups)
So get out there and look for those Pre-Season buck rubs. They'll likely point out where your buck is traveling. Now all you need to do is find the best spot to take him in!
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how would i hunt a field with at least 30 rubs in one 10 x 10 area on the edge of a field
Hi Wyatt,
It’s difficult to say not knowing what type of field it is or how big it is.
More than likely, those rubs were made earlier in the year by a Buck rubbing the velvet off their antlers. I wouldn’t pay that close attention to them.
Instead, if this field is a feeding field, try to find where the Deer are entering the field. This should be fairly easy and there are probably more than one area where they do enter. Resist the temptation to set up on the field.
Instead, I like to set up between the field and bedding area. This way, I can catch Deer as they move to the field in the afternoons and as they are heading back to the bedding area in the mornings.
Normaly I’d set up about 150 to 200 yards back from the field. It all depends though on where the Deer are bedding and how they are using the field.
Good Luck,
Don
This is my first year hunting so there is still a lot I have to learn. I was scouting an area today in NH. I was only about 100 yds or so in the woods when I saw two maple trees and a few large rocks in the middle of a clear cut. I looked down and spotted some fresh deer scat, then looked around and saw at least 20 or so trees with rubs on them all facing the clear area. I just returned from hunting all weekend up north and didnt see anything like this up there. Are these pre-rut rubs? They looked like fresh rubs. Should I take a stand near the area? I also noticed plenty of trails and prints in the same area. Thanks for your help!!
i have been hunting a strip of planted trees no wider than 60 yrds. thats have over 15 post rubs and about 10 scraps. but i have only seen a few little bucks but not seen no big buck. i have a few trail cam pics of big buck a 100 yards down in my food plot. The woods are realy thick. How would i hunt this area to see the big bucks makin all this sign??
There is a long bar pit on one side that hold water year around and a cut bean field on the other side. All the sigh is on the edge of the bean field
@ Eric
Sounds like you found a good area. If the rubs are fresh (oozing sap, fresh bark shavings around the base, etc) then I’d consider the area. If the trees are rubbed on the side as the deer is heading to the clear cut, then they may be made at night or in the late afternoons.
Since the rubs are in the middle of a clear cut (i’m assuming a fairly new clear cut) I’d go back in the woods a ways and look for where several trails come together before they enter the clear cut.
I also like to find draws or fingers of timber leading out into new clear cuts. Deer can travel these areas and remain in cover longer. Corners are also generally good spot to look at.
@ Justin
The buck may be traveling down wind and scent checking the field and scrapes. This way, he doesn’t have to show his self during daylight hours.
I’d back off the field and try to find trails coming from the thick woods to the field and set up near the thick woods, with the right wind direction. Chances are that most of the sign you’re seeing is being made at night.
What time were the trail cam pictures taken?
One time that the buck may appear in daylight is whenever a major cold front is nearing. All animals (and a lot of old deer hunters =-)) can sense the change of weather and move very well just prior to a major front arriving. The Does will be out filling up on groceries in preperation for the front. The Bucks won’t be far behind in most cases. This is one of the few times I’ll actually hunt a field.
Don
HI,I FOUND ALOT OF BUCK RUBS FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS IN THE SAME AREA ABOUT 3 TO 4 TREES HAVE BEEN FRESH RUBS AND ABOUT 4 DIAMETERS AROUND AND ABOUT 8 OR SO FRESH SMALLER RUBS IN THE SAME AREA.WE SET A SCOUTING CAMERA UP FOR A WEEK AND SEEN NUMEROUS BUCKS RUB THEM ALL SPIKES AND A COUPLE 4 POINTS AND ONE BIG 8 POINT.MY QUESTION IS THAT WE ONLY SEEN THE BIG BUCK ONCE AND GOT PICTURES OF HIM RUBBING A CUOPLE TREES,IS THAT HIS AREA OR THE OTHER SMALLER BUCKS??I HAVENT SEEN HIM SINCE,DO YOU THINK HE WILL BE BACK AND I SHOULD SIT IN MY STAND???ANY ANSWERS WOULD BE APPRICIATED…THANKS
THE TIME ON THE CAMERA WHEN HE WAS THERE WAS 7.00 IN THE MORNING AND HE CAME BACK AT 7.30.
most of the big buck pics were takin mid sep. early oct. between 10pm – 3am
there is a little bean field not 100 yrd square that the farmer let grow up about 400 yrds from the big rubs. it has scrapes all the way around it with a thicket 60 yrds south of it. i hung a stand and hunted it 3 times seen 1 doe and havent been back there yet. i have one trail cam pic from the little bean field of a big 8 or 10 point (didnt get a good pic) but it was at night
i hunt a dense wooded area with several fields surroundin it.their are several trails and one leads to a pond.all of the trails meet at a creek bottom where 2 rubs are on small ceder trees right off one trail.Does move through here reguarly!!should i hunt the creek bottom?
@ Chase
It sounds like the Creek Bottoms is the place to hunt. I love watching areas where several trails come together. Of course, keep in mind I’ve never seen the area where you hunt. But if the wind was right, I’d be hunting where those trails converged.
@ Angie
I wouldn’t base my entire season on a few trail cam pics and some rubs.
Since you saw the trail cam pics of the rubs in the Morning, the buck was more than likely making them as he headed back to his bedding area.
Of course, with the rut, all bets are off. But if you can find his bedding area and find trails entering and leaving it, you’ll be doing yourself some good. I’d set up several stands a 100 yards or more away from his bedding area and hunt them when the wind was right.
@ Justin
It might be worth it to hunt the fresh scrapes around the field. I’d set up about 50 yards downwind. Some big bucks will walk downwind and scent check scrapes. Other than that, I’d try and locate the Deers bedding area. The thicket to the South may or may not be his bedding area. But this time of year, you just might find him searching for Does. The Does will probably be hitting the bean field, especially just prior to a front blowing in.
Don
I went to the area where my son killed is first buck it scored 162 the last day of gun season.I walk back there an found some rub starting on 4 inch trees about 80ft away he had rub 10inch tree .It look like he is going to a bedding area has I kept walking to the bedding area The ground got soft . I pulled the leaves back an it was where deer have been an more rubs . I believe I have found a path to there beds I plan on setting off the main trail an hope to get a shot with my bow or should I have set up some where less
Hi Gary,
It does sound like you found a trail a Buck is using to slip into his bedding area. It also sounds like you have a good plan. Just remember not to get “too” close to his bedding area, you don’t want to spook him out of there. Sounds like the spot your son killed that Monster is a good area.
Also, remember this spot for next year. These areas tend to hold Bucks year after year. After all, if one Buck finds safety and comfort in a bedding area, it’s reasonable to expect others will do the same year after year.
Don
Today is Dec. 7,2008. 11:36 a.m.
I have found a buckrub three days ago on a tree about 4 1/2 in. around. the scrape was about 2 foot up and down. I went back today and he has scraped more and has also began to paw at the ground. He had left a 2foot clearing in front of the tree where he has scraped. It looks as if someone has raked away the leaves, that is how massive it is. What I was wnting to know is should I use the Dominate Buck luer or the Doe in heat about 5 to 10 yards from the rub? He has rubed on trees in a straight line every 10 yards starting at the first tree where he has scraped the ground. What would you suggest I do? I want to bag this deer! Should I hunt close to the rub or wait until the second season which starts in 2 weeks? Would you rattle and grunt or just sit and wait? What do you think? PLease respond ASAP.
Thanks,
Roy Franks,
Savannah T.n.
Hi Roy,
Sorry for the delay in getting back with you. Been a little busy with the house and hunting season.
It’s really difficult to tell you where you should be hunting since I haven’t laid boot leather on the ground in your area. But I’ll try and help you out.
Which way is the Buck heading when he makes the rubs? Where is he heading to, bedding or feeding area?
Don’t forget that he could be making those rubs at night, especially with this Moon we’ve had lately.
The best tactic I would use is too set up a trail camera and see what time he’s coming in. That information would be great in planning a hunting strategy.
Anyway, if the Buck is making the rubs as he’s headed back to his bedding area, then he’s probably doing it in the mornings. If he’s making those as he’s heading off to a feeding area, then you can expect to see him in the afternoons. That is, if he’s making them in the daytime!
I’d set up downwind of the rub lines and only hunt the stand when the wind was favorable. No use in spooking the Buck.
As for scents, I’m not big on them. I would try grunting, as that’s one technique I’ve had success with many times. I like the tending grunts. This may make him believe that another Buck has came in and found a Doe in Heat and is tending her, in his own backyard!
Good Luck and keep me posted of how it goes,
Don
Whats the easiest way to tell if a rub is recent or was done earlier in the year or the previous year if there is no signs of velvet on the tree?
Hi Taylor,
With experience, you’ll learn how to tell fresh rubs from old ones. The inner bark darkens over time. I dull and dark rub is an old one.
New rubs stand out like a sore thumb. They’re bright and shiny and can be seen for quite a ways.
Try this. Go out and scrape a sapling with a knife or whatever you have handy. Then watch it over time. You’ll see how it begins to turn dark. This will give you an idea of how old the rubs you’re seeing are.
Don
Don, You mention alot about finding bedding areas. I have trouble determining when or if I have found a bedding area. What things do you look for when identifing a bedding area. Also, do bucks have more than one beeding area, or do the use several different areas?
Hi Dan,
I’ve found that bedding areas can be hard to find depending on where you live. For example, many times in my area, Deer will bed in their feeding area, especially in the Fall if they’re feeding on acorns or standing corn.
What I look for when looking for a bedding area is thick cover, like a thicket. Once inside, look for their oval beds, droppings and maybe some hair. These can be hard to spot in the Fall. That’s why I love it when we get a little bit of snow. They’re much easier to spot then.
It’s been my experience that Bucks outside of the Rut generally have an ‘area’ where they like to bed. This doesn’t mean that it’s the same 10×10 patch of ground every time, but rather, a general area. It may be a 5 acre thicket or a bench on the side of a Mountain. But they will tend to bed in the same general area unless disturbed by Predators or the Weather.
During the rut, all rules go out the door. Many times you’ll find a Buck bedding with a Doe. If the Buck is in his home range, he’ll be trying to heard a Doe In Heat back to his thicket so he can guard her against other Bucks.
Hope this has helped. If you get snow on the ground, get out and find where those Deer are bedding. Look for the out of the way places where a Big Ole Buck might like to lay up also.
Don
um iv been hunting just about every day this year when january hit i stoped seeing any deer at all were did they go an what should i trie next years late seoson hunt
its about a week after hunting season and i wanna keep a watch on the deer i have by my house. I have a 5 acre feild with a deer trail going inti about a 35 acre wooded land and then it goes on about a 200 acre tree farm…I see tracks… rubs everywhere….most old but some new…my problem is the deer come out at night. So i wanted to know what i could feed the deer to make them healthy…and how to get them to com out at night
hello,
I had a few questions that hopefully you can answer..I hunt an apple and peach orchard in central ohio, there is about 180 acres and A LOT of deer in this area, the signs are there. I have seen many nice bucks and a numerous amount of doe on the property…I have trail cam pictures and I have also seen these deer scouting..but my problem is everytime i hunt the area i never seem to get anything to come into bow range…sometimes even range for my shotgun during gun season..any suggestions as to how i may be able to get the deer to come within bow range? I do everything to the T as far as scent control goes. They do not come to calling, rattaling or anything? I even have mineral sites and also a couple feeding sites as well, just cant seem to get them to come when i sit in my stand. I have seen trees as thick as my legs with rubs..if you could possibly give me any advice it would be greatly appreciated!!
Hi Brandon,
I couldn’t answer this question fully without knowing more about your set up. A few things I would keep in mind is the path you’re entering the hunting area and the wind direction while you’re on stand. If you cross deer trails as you walk in, chances are you’re spooking any deer that walk down those trails. Always have several ways to get to your stands.
Also, it could be poor stand location. If you’re setting up over feeding areas hoping to get a shot, then you may want to look at setting up over funnels or bottlenecks or back in the woods along trail intersections.
Many hunters make the mistake of sitting on top of a food source and never change their stand locations. Don’t get lazy, move your stand if you’re not seeing deer!
hello i hope to get some answers if possible i luv to scout for deer and the challege it gives i have been huntting this area for two years i was scoutting the other day to get ready for the season when i came across trails rubs and clearing spots from paw diggin it runs along a spring fed creek woods open and thick and wide open fields it has everything you can amagine but from what i have read above then if i have open field then open wood and the creek then the thick woods and the rubs are on the side going i believe the thick woods is where their bedding then over they come from the fields from eatting the do the rubbing so that would mean they are doing it in the morning when they are done feeding on the way back to the bedding then if i could get some answers that would be great and im diff getting the camra i think that would help a great deal thanks everyone
i found a good rub on my property during the pre rut. during the early season i found a rub line on small trees. im wondering if i will ever see this buck during the rut or im just wasting my time. thanks
iv got a buck rubing on 3 paths one from a cow paster and one going into and out of some thick brush and cover iv only seen 2 scrapes on the trail comeing from the cow paster to the beding area well it looks like the beding area its an over grown filled with honey suckels all around it last year the does and buck all came out of it at about 6 to 7:30 pm will thay change ther beding every year also the rubs from the paster go right down the beding area into some thick thick stuff will a buck stop rubing and scrapeing when the rut completly comes in.
why do they pee in the spot
Why do deer prefer cedar trees over any other?
Hello. I was out hunting in western Pennsylvania during late season archery on an abandoned farm where i’ve seen 5 doe before. There is an old pasture and a large cornfield that is still processed yearly by someone renting the land. Anyway, I looked all around the surrounding wooded areas for rubs and scrapes in late October-Mid November and found six rubs on a bunch of sumacs grouped together on the edge of the cornfield as if they were made while leaving the feeding grounds. I got up early everyday for about a week and posted in a tree about 50 yards away overlooking this area and did not see the buck that left these rubs. I’d check for scrapes on the ground and there would be some new ones atleast every-other day. I thought maybe this buck is making his rounds at night, so I posted from noon till 5:45-6:00 pm. Still no buck around. I then decided to hunt the doe in the area when the season started.
The late archery season starts and I decide to hunt the woods near the pasture which is maybe 100 yards from the cornfield and the spot of trees where the rubs and scrapes were. Now I’m ready for these doe, and out of the five i’ve seen, I wasn’t going home without one of them. I knew that they came from one side of the pasture into the woods I was hunting at around 4:30-5:30pm so I posted between two trees on the ground with the wind at my face. I look into the pasture and see 4 deer heading my way at a gallop and one was no deer that I saw there before. It was big. I waited with my crossbow in hand and heard them rustling in the woods coming towards me through some heavy brush. The one that I never seen there popped out and walked slowly between a bunch of small trees. The other ones stayed back. I stopped it by making a “Mer” sound, and it popped its head up. My god, this was the buck that I’ve been tracking. His neck was thick and he was huge. I didnt have time to count the horns, but I knew he was more than 10 points. He had a thick rack.
I didnt have a good shot at him where I was, so I moved slowly once he put his head towards the ground again. I was only about 15-25 yards from this beast. I took aim and let out another “Mer,” and took the best shot that I had on him. Pow!! My bolt hit a small tree and the buck ran off the opposite way. It made me sick, because my heart was pounding and adrenaline was flowing. If that small tree hadn’t been there, I was going to hit him right in the kill. He was infact heading towards that patch of rubs and scrapes. I went back the next morning and followed his tracks that he left in the snow from when I shot at him, and they lead all the way back to where he left the rubs. There were new scrapes and he pissed all over the place.
I found out from a neighbor that this same buck has been in his yard eating from his apple tree in the fall and he had a picture of it. It was indeed a mature 12 point buck.
With two days left until the late season archery ends, you bet i’ll be waiting for that buck. And if I dont get him during this time, I figured I’ll study him some more by setting up trailer cams to see when he makes his rounds regularly and to see the trophy I may one day have on my wall.
Hey, I just found a rub line and the rut is starting to slow down. Do the deer start working those rubs again late in the season after the rut ends.