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Rubs

USSHornet

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2018
Messages
316
Location
Kentucky
I have a new theory on rubs. The OG’s say rubs are used by bucks to mark their territory and show dominance to other bucks to stay out.

I disagree (newbie no clue guy) I think rubs are used by bucks around scrapes to let the doe’s know where to find them.

I have seen rubs close by scrapes and I have followed those rubs. I think a buck creates a rub line to help the does who come by the scrapes to find that buck not necessarily a track to his bed but close by.

I don’t think it has anything to do with showing dominance and scaring off other bucks.


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I think that is part of it. I think they have a lot of different reasons for rubbing. First off, I think it feels good to them, like scratching your back against a door frame. I think it is a way they relieve some built up frustration when their testosterone builds up in the fall. I think they rub when they don't have another buck to spar with, sort of like a punching bag. I think they sometimes do it to rub off velvet. I think they do it to leave scent behind for other deer. I think they do it as a visual signpost saying, "I was here, and I own this place". I think they do it out of boredom, like rubs in their bed.
 
I think that is part of it. I think they have a lot of different reasons for rubbing. First off, I think it feels good to them, like scratching your back against a door frame. I think it is a way they relieve some built up frustration when their testosterone builds up in the fall. I think they rub when they don't have another buck to spar with, sort of like a punching bag. I think they sometimes do it to rub off velvet. I think they do it to leave scent behind for other deer. I think they do it as a visual signpost saying, "I was here, and I own this place". I think they do it out of boredom, like rubs in their bed.
And probably 10 more reasons we will never understand.
 
From what I have learned from the professionals, not just hunting legends but also deer biologists, it has nothing to do with saying this is my territory. It’s mostly for communication. They leave their scent and say, Johnny Big Tines WAS HERE! If bucks were territorial they would fight all year long. I believe some of it is letting out aggression and sometimes it my be boredom as well.
 
I agree with many of these aforementioned reasons for rubs. I think there are two types of rubs as well. The random ones along a travelway especially near bedding or in staging areas I believe are more about displays of dominance and frustration with being a teenager again going through puberty...... deer only get this way in the fall but they do it every year..... remember sitting in class behind a hot chick and something "popping up?" Well the bucks smell what we see.... and they probably see things too and it gets them "riled" up. I'll have called using a grunt call or whatever or some light tinkling and I've watched and heard bucks begin to rub any old random sapling they are standing by to display dominance..... so there are those sexual hormones raging through them that they deal with during the pre rut, rut and post rut. Then the sign post rubs....... I believe those are displays of dominance with depositing forehead gland scent for communication of sexual readiness but I also believe in some sick and dimented way that they are also like a porn billboard too us humans...... except they can't make or use signs like we do so they do it in other ways. Its like the old locker room phone number, for a good time call 8675309...... I think there is some of that too. I also think it helps get the does ready too but as we all know now, its photoperiodism that triggers estrous in does.
 
I just use fresh rubs to let me know a buck has been in that area. Rubs all around and inside a bedding area tells me a buck is likely bedding in there at some point. I especially like areas with rubs of all different age classes. It tells me the place is likely special in that it has bucks year after year.

I think making rubs for a buck can be like whittling a stick for a human. It's something to do and fulfills some basic urge. There isn't always a larger meaning to it.
 
I just use fresh rubs to let me know a buck has been in that area. Rubs all around and inside a bedding area tells me a buck is likely bedding in there at some point. I especially like areas with rubs of all different age classes. It tells me the place is likely special in that it has bucks year after year.

I think making rubs for a buck can be like whittling a stick for a human. It's something to do and fulfills some basic urge. There isn't always a larger meaning to it.
I agree with this with the random rubs, I do believe signpost rubs have more of a meaning. That being said....... for hunting...... unless they are in thick or near bedding...... or you're hunting in a thick staging area before ag or a feeding area with relatively unpressured deer, finding a rub and then hoping a buck will come back to it may be a fool's errand.
 
I've watched a lot of deer actively make rubs and I think most rubs are just a momentary outburst of aggression. They tend to do them on the edge of their territory more than anything I think. I find in my area anyway they very rarely leave many rubs right next to their beds. Some bucks will, some won't. Some bucks don't even hardly rub at all. Some bucks rub like it's going out of style. It's very individual deer to deer.
 
I myself think it is mother natures way of getting the buck's neck muscles bulked up for the real battles ahead with other bucks. Where they are found and how many tell me how many bucks are in the area(not specifically just a lot or none) and that a buck has been in that particular spot. Sometimes you are able to tell what buck made what rub if they are a real mature trophy buck or if they have a lot of trash and stickers on their rack. jmo
 
I myself think it is mother natures way of getting the buck's neck muscles bulked up for the real battles ahead with other bucks. Where they are found and how many tell me how many bucks are in the area(not specifically just a lot or none) and that a buck has been in that particular spot. Sometimes you are able to tell what buck made what rub if they are a real mature trophy buck or if they have a lot of trash and stickers on their rack. jmo

I've heard that one reason big tree usually equals big buck is because bucks prefer to rub trees that they can push a bit and feel it give....which I think supports your idea.
 
I think that is part of it. I think they have a lot of different reasons for rubbing. First off, I think it feels good to them, like scratching your back against a door frame. I think it is a way they relieve some built up frustration when their testosterone builds up in the fall. I think they rub when they don't have another buck to spar with, sort of like a punching bag. I think they sometimes do it to rub off velvet. I think they do it to leave scent behind for other deer. I think they do it as a visual signpost saying, "I was here, and I own this place". I think they do it out of boredom, like rubs in their bed.




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I've heard that one reason big tree usually equals big buck is because bucks prefer to rub trees that they can push a bit and feel it give....which I think supports your idea.

I mean unless the OG’s talked to some bucks their idea is just a theory like mine


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I have a new theory on rubs. The OG’s say rubs are used by bucks to mark their territory and show dominance to other bucks to stay out.

I disagree (newbie no clue guy) I think rubs are used by bucks around scrapes to let the doe’s know where to find them.

I have seen rubs close by scrapes and I have followed those rubs. I think a buck creates a rub line to help the does who come by the scrapes to find that buck not necessarily a track to his bed but close by.

I don’t think it has anything to do with showing dominance and scaring off other bucks.


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I hunt rub lines and have for a very longtime and I have yet to see a doe directly follow a rub line looking for a buck. I have been bowhunting deer for over 50 years and never seen anything that said to me that a doe is in search of a buck . That's my opinion and observation from many many years of hunting.
 
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I hunt rub lines and have for a very longtime and I have yet to see a doe directly follow a rub line looking for a buck. I have been bowhunting deer for over 50 years and nevery seen anything that said to me that a doe is in search of a buck . That's my opinion and observation from many many years of hunting.

This might be sex ratio dependent. Around here we have way more does than bucks (they keep wanting to incentivize doe harvest to equalize it.....ignoring that you can also equalize the ratio more by limiting buck harvest.....but I digest). Anyways, during the rut, when a doe is ready to come into estrous, she will have at least a spike or something pestering her and following her around. Maybe a hot doe that isn't being pestered would look for bucks, but I haven't seen anything like that. I'm sure in Kansas or something where you can't harvest 3 bucks per season (used to be 5 here), then you might see something different.
 
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