*I might add. The only big-picture difference that I can see. Is the Callaway farm is inside massive amounts of timber around. Where mine is surrounded by a lot more open ground.
Thoughts on scrapes and rubs
Was thinking about this the other day, and was curious why.
I deer hunted at my cousins Callaway farm for around 10 years. 160 acres. 80% timber, 20% cropland. In all those years, the place was covered in rubs, but there was hardly a scrape to be found, ever.
Ive since Ive bought my place in Macon and owned it for a decade. 100 acres. 40% timber, 30% draws/overgrown, 30% cropland. Over the time we have owned, its almost literally the opposite of my cousins place. We see scrapes everywhere, tons. But rubs are almost non-existent! Theres a couple pinky sized ones on field edges typically, but that's all. I haven't once in 10 years found a rub on a halfway decent sized tree.
I would say it's just different years, but 10 year chunks at each is a good about of time. What makes them so different?
I deer hunted at my cousins Callaway farm for around 10 years. 160 acres. 80% timber, 20% cropland. In all those years, the place was covered in rubs, but there was hardly a scrape to be found, ever.
Ive since Ive bought my place in Macon and owned it for a decade. 100 acres. 40% timber, 30% draws/overgrown, 30% cropland. Over the time we have owned, its almost literally the opposite of my cousins place. We see scrapes everywhere, tons. But rubs are almost non-existent! Theres a couple pinky sized ones on field edges typically, but that's all. I haven't once in 10 years found a rub on a halfway decent sized tree.
I would say it's just different years, but 10 year chunks at each is a good about of time. What makes them so different?
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Good question, in for updates. (I could only guess as to why)
His soil is rocky, mine is black dirt, and they don't like cutting their hooves up in the rocks. :clap::thinking:Good question, in for updates. (I could only guess as to why)
Is there a difference in the amount of cedars between the two? Is there a difference between the total length of field edges would you say?
Many more cedars in Callaway.Is there a difference in the amount of cedars between the two? Is there a difference between the total length of field edges would you say?
Field edge is hard to figure. More on mine I guess.
Most of the more impressive rubs I have found over the years seem to relate to virtually nothing. Just 3-6-inch cedars back in the woods. I mostly hunt big woods.
I find more scrapes in open landscapes and rubs in dense areas. I think it’s because of deer using cover to move. Areas less dense will funnel deer traffic to “hubs” and all deer will use scrapes. More covered areas tend to not funnel deer, therefore bucks will just make rubs while meandering. Rublines from bedding are gold mines if they have a scrape or scapes with them.
Lots more edges in mixed open/timbered ground. I find most scrapes along edges. I find some scrapes in the timber, but mostly along edges. Logging roads, field edges, fence lines, ect. I do find some sizeable rubs, but not a ton.*I might add. The only big-picture difference that I can see. Is the Callaway farm is inside massive amounts of timber around. Where mine is surrounded by a lot more open ground.
I think they are there they just aren’t being noticed and are spread out more as it’s more woods and in your case less woods so less trees to rub.But I think just from what I have learned about deer they are going to make scrapes,it’s how they communicate and rubs are important because deer don’t have glands that swell in their necks.Their necks get big because they build up their neck muscles by sparring and rubbing trees like body builders and high testosterone levels
I am in SE Callaway. I would say I get rubs earlier and virtually zero scrapes, then they show up all of a sudden in the first two week of Nov. Get virtually zero early "rub of the velvet" type rubs this time of the year. The rubs I do see tend to be maintained and freshen up a lot later than I would expect.
Which is matches my camera pics, zero bucks early season, like ZERO. But they stick around thru late season.
Which is matches my camera pics, zero bucks early season, like ZERO. But they stick around thru late season.
Like others have said, edge areas is where I think most of the scrapes are and cedars are a favorite tree (IMO) for rubs so the fact that you had more rubs in callaway and more edge habitat on yours is factoring in I'd say.Many more cedars in Callaway.
Field edge is hard to figure. More on mine I guess.
how much bedding area is on your place, I realize they bed anywhere in the woods, but true bedding area? The reason I ask I find most of the rubs in staggering areas between the bedding and fields?
A lot of factors determine the amount of rubs and scrapes that you'll find in an area. One thing could be the age structure of the deer herd there and also the aggressiveness of the dominant buck that lives there. The more aggressive bucks will put down more sign. Than there are those dominant bucks that are lazy old bums that just don't rub or scrape a whole lot and because he's dominant in that area, the younger bucks are afraid to lay down much sign either. In general, if the property has few mature bucks you won't see much rubbing and the scrapes you see are mostly made by younger bucks.
On another note, it could also be the lack of preferred trees to rub. Bucks often prefer to rub only specific types of trees where they live. I've known bucks that'll only rub red maples and another that'll only rub red cedars. Bucks usually avoid hedge and locust trees as well as shagbark hickories and others.
Lastly, it could also be that maybe the rubbing or scraping is occurring just outside the property and you're not seeing it where you hunt.
On another note, it could also be the lack of preferred trees to rub. Bucks often prefer to rub only specific types of trees where they live. I've known bucks that'll only rub red maples and another that'll only rub red cedars. Bucks usually avoid hedge and locust trees as well as shagbark hickories and others.
Lastly, it could also be that maybe the rubbing or scraping is occurring just outside the property and you're not seeing it where you hunt.
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