Finding where big bucks live is a challenge that every hunter faces. There are, however, some important signs that point hunters in the right direction. If you can find the right evidence, you will know when you are close to the stomping grounds of a real trophy.
Rubs will be one of the earliest signs for bucks that you will find each year. When the time comes for bucks to start rubbing the velvet off their antlers, fresh rubs will begin to appear. These rubs can be helpful in the early season to help locate the deer’s core area. These types of rubs will typically be found in the deer’s feeding and bedding areas. If you find some of these early season rubs, you know you have found a buck’s home area. It can be difficult to identify the rubs of big bucks during this time of year. The bucks at this time are only stripping the velvet off their antlers. They will use whatever saplings they can to accomplish this task, so it doesn’t matter how big or small the tree may be.
Just before the rut kicks in, the bucks will start to be very territorial. They will begin to rub trees to mark their territory, as well as making scrapes. These rubs will be more evident than those made earlier in the year. With these rubs, bucks will begin to tear up trees, shredding them with their antlers. With these rubs, you will be able to get an idea of how big a buck is. Bigger bucks will rub bigger trees. Big bucks have been known to rub very large trees, and even telephone poles. If you find rubs on large trees, you know you are in the right area. You may also be able to identify how many points a buck has, based on its rub. Often, you will be able to see distinct tine marks in the rub itself, and if it is big enough, you will be able to identify each antler’s gouge in the tree. Since these types of rubs are more territorial, they will give you a great idea of where to set up stands to ambush a big buck.
Rubs are an important part of hunting, especially in the time before the rut. These signposts will help you locate the biggest bucks in your hunting area, and help you hone in on the perfect place to hang your stand. Zeroing in on rubs should be a key to success before the deer are disturbed by hunting pressure. Find them in their natural travel patterns in the early season, and score big!
