can this be???? a rub allready?? (pic)

[adkmountainken]

while turkey hunting with Bowspirit today we were walking up a side hill when he said look at this rub! yeah right i was thinking as this is MAY but when looking closer it is indeed a FREH rub, bark and debris laying on the ground. man alive is this early or what?? i know they rub to remove velvet but not this early. i would think antlers are still in development? really threw me for a loop! the Ninja is Bowspirit!!
 
 

[Apex Predator]

Either from a deer that never lost his antlers, or another critter.

[adkmountainken]

i'm sure it is a deer, right on a well used deer trail. i just thought that all antler was still very soft and in early development in May?

[rg176bnc]

Probably one of those freak deer w/ no testies and a very odd rack.  Might be worth further investigation.  Weird trophies dont come along very often.

[Bowspirit]

That sure was something else...and Ken's understating things when he says it was on a "well used" deer trail. Those deer tore that place up; it truly was an impressive amount of sign...

[Deadsmple]

Always interesting to find something like that when out for a walk. But my limited experience leads me to believe that rubs on hemlocks tend to look fresher than they really are. Also the "ninja" pic kind of looks like the actual rub is in a relatively protected area so having the pieces of bark and such still right there around the tree is not at all unlikely. I have on many occasion found "fresh" rubs on hemlocks that in the long run did not hold up to further scrutiny. Usually it was a case of the rub being sheltered by the other bigger trees in the area in such a way that snow and rain and such actually would have a difficult time getting to it and therefore leaving the scene somewhat intact.

In anycase it's still always nice to find a rub in the woods we hunt, even the ones we over looked during scouting and in season.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

They will also rub to knock their antlers off, However it is normally not as agressive..
Could also be someone messing with you.. done that before.

[J.Williams]

You have a trailcam you could put there?Might show you the culprit and could prove interesting.

[T Sunstone]

Could it possibly be where a 4 wheeler turned around backing over the tree?

[adkmountainken]

definitly not a 4 wheeler or anyone messing with me, posted land, no trail and to far for the average person to hike. i do have a trail cam and i will definitly set it there. i know it was fresh as the bark was very light in weight and would blow away with the slightest wind so i'm sure it was recent.

[BMOELLER]

I say its from last fall by the looks of it.  The wood is too yellow and I've seen shreds from the tree still there into the spring.

[ronp]

I found a fresh rub last year in early June near the Tug Hill where I hunt.  I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it. Nobody believed me. Fresh tacks and droppings near by. I thought it was odd.
ronp

[Wapiti Chaser]

Ken, That's easy it was that ole longbeard that lives up there sharpening his spurs !!!!!!! Goin to have to shoot him in self defense.