Rubs vs scrapes

[southernhunter]

Would rather hunt a area filled with scrapes or one with rubs , today while doing some scouting I found a bottom fill with nice fresh rubs but 300 yards from there I found a area with several good scrapes , not sure it makes a differance but which do y'all perfer to hunt ?

 

[Nealmeally]

I'd just find the best terrain funnels in between. You know it's a buck or 2 in the area anyways. I like hunting closer to rubs than scrapes if possible, especially big rubs.

 

[Poleaxe]

I'd just find the best terrain funnels in between. You know it's a buck or 2 in the area anyways. I like hunting closer to rubs than scrapes if possible, especially big rubs.

X2 The smart bucks (more mature bucks) usually never check a scrape directly on top of it. They check them several yards maybe 100yards downwind. So placing yourself downwind between them and the rubs would be a better spot. You don't want your scent in amongst the scrapes.

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

It could be that area of rubs is directly down wind of the scrapes where he hangsout checking scrapes from afar and rubbing a few trees to pa time

 

[Adam Jackson]

I'd just find the best terrain funnels in between. You know it's a buck or 2 in the area anyways. I like hunting closer to rubs than scrapes if possible, especially big rubs.

X2 The smart bucks (more mature bucks) usually never check a scrape directly on top of it. They check them several yards maybe 100yards downwind. So placing yourself downwind between them and the rubs would be a better spot. You don't want your scent in amongst the scrapes.

I agree. Also, a lot of those scrapes and rubs are visited at night.

 

[Mike Belt]

I'm more inclined to hunt a "scrape area" but it depends on when and where you're finding them. For instance a field perimeter may be covered up with scrapes. 200 yards into the timber off that field are a lot of fresh rubs. I'd hunt the rubs. When scrapes first start appearing they really don't mean too much to me other than priming me for what's to follow. When the testosterone starts rising bucks will go into a scraping frenzy and you'll find them everywhere. Most of those will be once and done scrapes. I think that half way into the breeding season when you find scrapes those are the ones that the bucks are more inclined to return to. Towards the end of the season I'd rather hunt rublines.

I love finding scrapes and they are great places to hang a camera but most visits are nocturnal. I don't specifically hunt over them but often I have several visible from my stand simply because of the terrain features dictating stand placement rather than those actual scrapes.

 

[BSK]

I'm more inclined to hunt a "scrape area" but it depends on when and where you're finding them.

This. A scrape concentration near the intersection of favorable terrain features.

 

[MUP]

I'd have to say scrape sign over rubs. I've had good success seeing bucks coming to check scrapes at breakover edges next to deep valleys. Seems the bucks are down deep in the thick areas, and come up and out to check the scrapes, while staying just a step or two away from being able to dive back down into the safety of the valley and thick cover.

 

[Winchester]

Really depends on the terrain, one or the other will likely be in a much better ambush point when considering all the factors.

 

[southernhunter]

Thanks for the insight

 

[redblood]

i have killed almost all of my mature deer over scrape lines,usually just past peak rut. in every case, the buck was alone

 

[Nealmeally]

i have killed almost all of my mature deer over scrape lines,usually just past peak rut. in every case, the buck was alone

I know of several guys that have killed mature deer on dead scrapes after peak rut..

 

[Snake]

Really depends on the terrain, one or the other will likely be in a much better ambush point when considering all the factors.

This ^