Buck Rub fun!!!

[woodchucker]

It's getting to be that time of year!! Time for the velvet to come off, and polish the antlers!!

I've noticed after many years, that in some areas, Bucks seem to prefer certain trees/saplings, to rub on...
There are a lot of old buck rubs around the new property here. On trees that aren't familiar to me??

Untill today!! A search on the computor found that they are Quaking Aspens.
Now I have always thought that they were a Northwest tree. (Aspen Colorado?)
Unknown to me, they are apparently very common here in the mountains of the Northeast.
Well, there are probly about 100 of them around Little Bear's property!!!

So... What trees/saplings to YOUR bucks prefer to rub...??

[gregg dudley]

In my part of Florida, the rubs are predominantly on pine trees.  That is what is most abundant.  However, if there is any appropriate sized tree that produces an aromatic scent when rubbed, you can bet that it will get hit. 

[TIM B]

Most big rubs are Pines and cedars here in SE MO
Tim B

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Over the years it seems to me that bucks rub just about anything for velvet removal, often small bushes.  Territorial or signpost rubs around here are usually on cedar trees and basswood trees.

R

[Tedd]

Any type of tree that I planted! Otherwise I'm not sure there is a preferred species around here. A 2" sumac is a good target. Smooth barked trees. Up north in the hills I'd say a young beech.
Tedd

[MnFn]

Where I am hunting at usually it’s poplar, sometimes willow.

[arrow30]

i dont think they like paw paw trees for rubbing,(stinks) . i have seen a lot of poke berry bushs that have been beatup. young sycamore sometimes, cedar and pine always get hit.

[Sam McMichael]

They hit numerous tree types. I see a lot of oak, hickory, and persimmon saplings on my place that are peeled pretty well. Also, a fair number of pine and cedar trees. One particular Magnolia tree in my son's yard had to have a fence built to protect it.

[tradslinger]

around here it is mainly cedar but young pines get destroyed as well, usually by the younger bucks. Just about any hardwood is a possible target as well but usually there are few cedars around. The big scent posts are usually big cedars as well.

[J. Cook]

I agree with Ryan - my experience shows that velvet removal is more about filling a need than marking territory or "training" for the rut.  I think they use whatever they can to get that stuff off at that moment.  Once they start rubbing for real - both here in NC and back home in WV they use pines or cedars if available, especially cedars.  Seems most of the repeat rubs seem to be cedars.   

I know in the higher mountains I used to hunt in WV, there were "striped maple" saplings everywhere and they seemed to be a favorite to rub up.  But those were only on the highest elevations, not in the valleys as much. 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I think they will hit pretty much any tree in their line of travel

[LookMomNoSights]

shorter hemlocks 4 to 6 ft tall are a favorite........   second runner up is probably beach saplings (also a usual suspect for a dandy scrape)...... beach limbs take a royal beating and I think the bucks know it,  they can shred the tips of them and bend them like crazy but they still hold up good.  They like to hang out straight a lot too,  parallel to the trails it seems.  Maple saplings get a fair share of rubbing also. 

[arrow30]

i love big rubs and i cannot lie....

[woodchucker]

10 miles away, over the cabin, it's pretty much an equal mix of young maple, beech, and black birch.

Funny as it may sound, even though there are hundreds of them...
I have never seen a hemlock rubbed on that mountain!!

[varmint101]

White pine, eastern cedar, wild cherry, and sumac trees I see the most rubbed by far. Any small white pine runs a good chance of being killed by a love sick buck!

[JakeD]

Pines and cedars at my farm. Mainly cottonwoods and box elder along the river farm I hunt.

[Lonster]

Mostly pine and cedar here in NW AL. Sometimes they’ll rub a few hardwoods such as this ironwood below:

[woodchucker]

Many years ago, we were after a bushel basket rack buck, in a land locked series of overgrown fields, surrounded by strips of woods. We had seen him several times, but never within bow range. Usually, "across the field"...

This buck had every Ironwood tree on the place tore up!!!
In a field corner, about 10yds into the woods and 5yds from a small deep brook, (5' wide, 3' deep)
Was a clump of 8-10 Ironwood trees about 3-5" in diameter that was completely TORE UP!!!
By the looks of where he was rubbing, and the gouge marks dug into the trees behind it, he had at least 12" tines!!

Back then, all of my "stands" were homemade wood ladder stands.
There was no way to get one back into that field corner, and as far as I knew, nobody had found this yet.
Not wanting to advertise what I had found, and not wanting to spook the buck with activity, I made a plan...
Sit on the ground.

There was a big maple tree 17 steps away from the Ironwood clump. I cleared the ground at the base of the tree and set down cross legged, to draw my bow and see if this was going to work?
All seemed good!! I got out of there...

I spent the next 2 days, shooting cross legged, 17 steps from my target in the yard.
The 3rd day I parked my truck and headed across the fields in the dark. When I got to the corner, I waited for first light, when I could make out trees and slip in as quietly as possible. I found my spot and set down.

A couple hours later, I heard footsteps behind me... Then quietly splashing water....
The buck came in from behind me, on my right side. (I shoot right handed)
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him, 2 steps away.... His rack is huge!!! 12 LONG points and a few "stickers" that were a couple/few inches long!!! Then, he looked at me.... I don't know for how long, it seemed like forever.
Then, he walked to the Ironwood clump and started to rake his antlers...
My bow was in my lap. I tightened my grip, and a little tension on the string, and got ready to draw....
Then, he looked at me. AGAIN!! Almost like he knew I was there, and what I was going to do?
This went on for a while... He would rub, and rake, and then look at me.

Then.... He stopped. He looked at me one last time, gave a single grunt, and walked off.
I just watched him go... I was 17