#1736431 - 01/20/10 11:31 AM
Re: Big Buck Sign Question?
[Re: BlueMarlin]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Extremely large rubs are at minimum an indication a mature buck has traveled through the area. Concentrations of very large rubs suggests one or more mature bucks frequent the area. On the other hand, a lack of such sign tells you nothing. Mature buck "sign" is driven by more factors than just the presence or absense of mature bucks. Sex ratio, buck age structure, and deer density play a role in how much sign bucks make.
In addition, mature bucks present doesn't guarantee huge antlers. Depending upon the local habitat, the majority of mature bucks can produce antlers below what most would consider "trophy" caliber.
Honestly, the best evidence of mature/trophy bucks is sightings and trail-camera pictures of them.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1736437 - 01/20/10 11:37 AM
Re: Big Buck Sign Question?
[Re: BSK]
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BlueMarlin
4 Point
Registered: 06/04/07
Posts: 131
Loc: East TN
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Ok, let me be more specific. I saw a very large buck before the season, hunted him all season long, and have no idea where he went or how to locate him. Would like to scout the surrounding areas, now that the season is closed, to find out where he went for the future.
Edited by BlueMarlin (01/20/10 11:39 AM)
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#1736449 - 01/20/10 11:43 AM
Re: Big Buck Sign Question?
[Re: BlueMarlin]
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strutncut
6 Point
Registered: 01/02/05
Posts: 759
Loc: Crossville
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Let your trail cameras do a lot of the work, trails coming out of nasty thickets. Try to locate feeding areas right now to see of he made it.
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The main thing is don't get excited too early in the hunt!
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#1736450 - 01/20/10 11:46 AM
Re: Big Buck Sign Question?
[Re: strutncut]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
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Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Trail-cams are your best option. Even if you found good "sign" how would you know if that buck made it or not?
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1736471 - 01/20/10 12:01 PM
Re: Big Buck Sign Question?
[Re: BSK]
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BlueMarlin
4 Point
Registered: 06/04/07
Posts: 131
Loc: East TN
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Thanks and I'll put out my camera, but what about big buck sign. Anything else but the rub sizes and height to go on?
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#1736498 - 01/20/10 12:15 PM
Re: Big Buck Sign Question?
[Re: BlueMarlin]
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Winchester
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Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25335
Loc: TN
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The very best sign is the sign he is standing in when you see him! The only way to absolutely identify a specific buck is to lay eyes on him or get his picture. Now you can most definitely hunt and kill good bucks based on sign alone, as I kill most of mine with nothing more than sign, as I hunt a lot of places I dont have the luxury of putting cams on. You go with the best you can find, the biggest/freshest rubs, largest/freshest scapes, largest,freshest tracks, and probably most importantly where you find he right sign, as most mature bucks wont spend much time where the rest of the deer in an area do, outside the rut. In some areas you have the luxury of long range observation and this can help some at specific times of the year, but again many times the buck(s) you are looking for wont show during daylight anyway! Learning to identify and hunt terrain features will pay you much better dividends vs. trying to pattern a single buck at a time, IMO anyway especially in the hills of East TN.
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#1736505 - 01/20/10 12:18 PM
Re: Big Buck Sign Question?
[Re: BlueMarlin]
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foldemup
Spike
Registered: 02/09/09
Posts: 53
Loc: Hampton Cove, AL
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I mainly hunt in northeast Alabama and I have some places where deer will regularly tear up some pine trees as big as your leg. I put one of my bushnell trophy cams on one of these pines on video mode and was amazed at what all hit it.....please watch all four videos linked below.....I have everything from does, button bucks, spikes, tiny basket racks, to a nice 10 pointer hitting this one rub on video...prior to placing it on video mode I had many other bucks of all age classes hitting the rub including a 152 inch main frame 10 point that I killed two weeks ago......hope you enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCrhqnDKUd8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnQxwPG46x4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=788i3D8rzu0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBnqHkFUSe8
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#1736517 - 01/20/10 12:23 PM
Re: Big Buck Sign Question?
[Re: foldemup]
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Winchester
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Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25335
Loc: TN
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Great videos, and they make it plain that there is much more scent checking and dispersal than there is actual rubbing going on. Notice also how much higher up the older bucks checked the tree, younger bucks didnt even attempt to smell higher up the tree!
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#1736522 - 01/20/10 12:26 PM
Re: Big Buck Sign Question?
[Re: Winchester]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
Non-Typical
Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59668
Loc: Nashville, TN
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foldemup,
I've seen those videos before and they are fantastic. They exemplify just how communal sighpost rubs are. Once initiated, every deer in the area interacts with them. That is their purpose. They are communal "pheramone wicks" created (subconciously) to influence the local deer population.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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