What do deer rubs mean

These are excellent spots during the pre-rut. Deer will usually head toward the blazed side of the rub. Rut rubs are made during peak breeding by hormonally-charged bucks near a hot doe. Three to 4-inch trees may be rubbed, but the buck will also shred nearby saplings and brush to release pent-up testosterone and impress his mate and other nearby bucks.

He may also paw the ground, making half-hearted scrapes. These are great peak-rut stand sites. The buck will hang here with the estrous doe for up to 48 hours. Community rubs are made in places like staging areas or the intersection of major trails where large numbers of bucks pass and add their scent, typically on 3 to 6 inch trees. These can be prime spots to simply tag out with an average buck. They may only visit them occasionally. Random rubs that are simply found scattered here and there are of little use for your hunting strategy.

Any buck might rub a tree of any size. These are the general rules:. Do you welcome grueling tasks? Can you suffer pain without whining? Do you get the job done in the end? The notably large outbreak has killed over 2, whitetails throughout the state. Are bucks locked down with does or holed up from gun-season pressure?

Once antlers are fully developed, their velvet starts drying and shedding. Bucks accelerate its removal by rubbing their antlers on trees or raking them through brush.

They usually shed all their velvet in less than 24 hours. For most of the country, the rut occurs from late October to early December. Before and during the rut, bucks rub trees to mark their territory, work off aggression, and intimidate other bucks.

Buck rubs also serve as dominance symbols and communication signposts. Back Resources Contact. Customer FAQs. State Licensing. Back Brands Mossy Oak. Mossy Oak Fishing. Nativ Nurseries. Mossy Oak Properties. GameKeeper Kennels. Mossy Oak Wellness. GameKeeper Butchery. Nativ Living. Mossy Oak Golf. Big Game. Land Management. Small Game. How To. Wild Game Recipes.

Country Roots. View All. The Mossy Oak Store. Hunting Gear. Fishing Gear. Brand Gear. New Arrivals. September 26, Comprehending Whitetail Rubs. Todd Amenrud Fresh whitetail rubs are a great thing to see in your hunting area, especially when new ones show up just before you hunt an area.