Rubs and Scrapes

[EHOIV]

Novice deer hunter here. Seeing how Bow season starts in a month, when do most people start going out into the woods looking for scrapes and rubs?

Thanks,
Ed

[rhahn427]

I would usually scout for trails in Late July and early August ........... if you find heavily used trails in the summer then you will also find rubs and scrapes in the fall .......... point is to try to keep out of the area as much as possible until you're ready to hunt ......... this keeps your scent out of the area and usually you won't run the big boys out.

That said ........ you can find scrapes right now but they are usually just meeting places. Places they leave their scent to announce they are in the area or something like that ..... nothing to do with mating.

Usual start seeing the first rubs around the beginning of October and the rubs and scrapes mid Oct to mid Nov ........

I know others will have different experiences ....... this is just what happens where I hunt every year for the last 10 years ........

[KJR]

If you have fields within your property watch them from a distance or road early morning and late evening, take note of where the Doe and yearlings enter and exit. Chances are they will not change their patern eary season but the bucks will. When its time for the Bucks to come looking for some tail these will be the hot spots. Also, if you do get into the woods look for the tallest White Oaks and Oak trees on the edge of clearings, these trees tend to get more sun and will drop there nuts first starting in Oct. depending how far south you hunt, it's been a year sense the deer have had fresh acorns and this area will have alot of activity early.

[slacktide]

Easiest way to determine whrn the rut is on is to watch for increased dead deer on the side of the road... usually late October/early November...

The rubs are from the bucks removing the velvet covering from their antlers...the scrapes occur later with some rub action as well...

Good luck

[h2oboss]

the rubs you see now, especially on the feild edges, are from velvet removal. some year round scrape action occures....usually at intersecting trails. However, for the most part you'll start to see some increased scraping and rubbing around the middle of Oct and you will really see a large increase toward the end of the month and into December.

[h2oboss]

oops, I didn't mean into Dec..........while you will see scraping, it will have slowed considerabley off toward the end of NOV, you will then most likely see another flurry of similar activity (albeit not as much) in early-mid Dec as does that were not bred will come back into estrus.

[hoosier daddy]

If you are hunting a new piece of land, you can walk and find old rubs from seasons past.. I have found that deer will travel the same or similar trails and routes year after year.. That may change if the use of the land changes.
Paul