Huntin an rub or scrape ????

Hunting a rub or a scrape can be really hit or miss.

Bucks many times will visit a scrape well after dark. They also tend to make a lot of small scrapes that they never return to. Additionally, activity at scrapes does not always coincide with deer season. I look at scrapes much like tracks and scat piles. They tell me where the deer are, or pass, but I wouldn't necessarily bet my season on a scrape.

Rubs are even more random that scrapes (bucks DO make scrapes that they regularly, though it could be well after dark) as rubs are mostly a "one and done" affair. They tell you that bucks are in the area, but there is slim-to-no chance that a buck will revisit a rub.

If you are seeing rubs and scrapes you are in the right area. I would hang my stand in the area between a likely bedding area and a good "staging area." The staging area is where the deer go prior to going to the feeding areas. Setting up between a bedding area and a staging area gives you a better opportunity to see deer during shooting light, as deer tend to hit the feeding areas right at last light. Good luck and remember to post pics in the 2010 hunting and fishing pics thread...
 
sometimes a good rub can give you an idea of the bucks size. my brothers ranch has a telephone post that has been worked on pretty hard. this looks like a 600 lb. hog.
dennis
 
I will agree with hlee on this. I've been using trail cams a lot the past few years and have learned a great deal about scrapes. I will admit that I thought a scape was basically "owned" by a single buck and does would check it out and sometimes a different buck. That is not the case. A scrape seems to function more as a community check point for bucks that are currently in the very general area. Last year I had a camera set up on one scrape that was visited by seven different bucks. Does are in the minority as far as visitors goes. I think the most pics I had of one buck was three. About 90% of the scrape visits are at night. I'm seeing the same type of activity this year. Now if you asked me "should I hunt a scrape line?....I would say hunt in that area. The scrapes are there for a reason and that is because the bucks know that deer are at least passing through there.
 
What stage of the rut are your deer in? Once you see the first breeding forget the scrapes and rub lines, if they visit it will only or more than likely only be at night. If there still pre rutting as your just now finding your first scrapes and rubs and their all still very fresh, then hunt em.

Hunt it the next day after you find it and hunt mid day, say about 8 till 3, its a tough sit but chances are best he'll show up about mid morning 9.30 ish or between 12 pm and 2 pm.

Scapes have been more productive for me than rubs unless its rub line where numerous rubs can be found generally in a line and some scrapes mixed in along the way, pay attention to see if the scrape has a licking branch over it where the buck can actually rub his forehead and face and lick some branches. If this is the case and they have not actually begun chasing yet, hunt it.

If the rut has started go to that area where the rubline and scrapes is at and put out about four wicks or cotton balls are whatever with tinks placed them about 10 yards apart in a line where the wind say blowing from the north will blow it down through the area where the rubs/scrapes are, then back off and hang your stand about 80 to 100 yards south and about 30 to 50 yards to the east depending on how thick the woods are and how far you can see. This way you can ambush him as he comes in and you should be ok with the wind, because he is going to come in from downwind so you have to be off the side and back to catch him sneaking.

That has been my experience at least.
 
DennisStrickland said:
sometimes a good rub can give you an idea of the bucks size. my brothers ranch has a telephone post that has been worked on pretty hard. this looks like a 600 lb. hog.
dennis
Click to expand...

I havent deer hunted a whole lot but I observe rubs and scarapes a whole lot. It seems that that little bucks will rub the heck out of small trees , sometimes clusters of small trees will be rubbed raw and even broke. I think they spar with saplings. Bigger rubs = bigger bucks and they wont tear up as many trees.I dont think they want expend as much energy on trees saving it for fighting and big brown eyed does. Thats how it appears to me , anyhow.
 
man thanks for the info guys, yeah it's a rub line there's probably 12 to 15 tree's varying in size that have rubs on them.....the whole area is probably 100 to 150 yards long......
 
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