Probably a spike or forky that’s really enthusiastic
Could be more the truth than you know.
Many years ago after a fresh snow, I came across a steaming hot rub not much different than that on a 12" diameter Norway Pine on my Dad's place. The bark was absolutely shredded side to side and for about a foot up and down and fresh bark was all over on top of the new snow. There was only one set of tracks in the brand new snow, and knowing the landscape well, I took a guess at where the deer was heading and made a huge circle around to try to get ahead of it. I wasn't set up for more than a few minutes when along came this little 6 pt basket rack with about a 6" inside spread and main beam tips that came back almost together. I let him go by and after a while, when nothing else came along, I followed his tracks back....right to that tree. That's when I came to know that big rubs do not necessarily mean big bucks, just like small rubs don't necessarily mean a small buck.