Where are the rubs & scrapes?

[noahtn]

Is anyone else seeing nearly non existent rubs & scrapes this year? On our 600 acres I have seen almost none, even in places where there are always some over the last 10 years. Am I the only one this is happening too?

 

[Nealmeally]

Re: Where are the rubs & scrapes?

I've noticed the same. I'm still seeing several scrapes but have noticed a lot less rubs. Started seeing rubs later than normal this year but still seeing my normal numbers of bucks. I haven't really done a lot of scouting recently though. Just what I'm seeing in route to my stands.. Actually saw a new rub made overnight Saturday into Sunday sometime. Know for a fact it wasn't there Saturday at dark when I came out. But was there on the way in Sunday morning. Nice size too. Still a lot of new sign being made on the farms I'm hunting.

 

[lung-buster]

They showed up late on our farm this year.

 

[BSK]

Rubbing behavior was WAY down this year, for unknown reasons. Scraping started out hot, especially in mid to late October, but just shut off almost completely the first week of November.

Definitely a strange year.

 

[Winchester]

Same here, virtually non existent overall. All I can think of is the complete acorn crop failure! Bucks here have made almost zero sign for the most part, very strange and the rut has been the same, very strange!

 

[BSK]

Same here, virtually non existent overall. All I can think of is the complete acorn crop failure! Bucks here have made almost zero sign for the most part, very strange and the rut has been the same, very strange!

Poor acorn production is a good theory, as it can mute deer activity levels, but I'm seeing this strange rut in areas that experienced very good acorn crops as well as areas with poor acorn crops.

 

[Diehard Hunter]

I have yet to find a scrape, and have just found a few rubs. Very odd year indeed. I wish I had about 50 bucks collared right now to see what is going on.

 

[Winchester]

Same here, virtually non existent overall. All I can think of is the complete acorn crop failure! Bucks here have made almost zero sign for the most part, very strange and the rut has been the same, very strange!

Poor acorn production is a good theory, as it can mute deer activity levels, but I'm seeing this strange rut in areas that experienced very good acorn crops as well as areas with poor acorn crops.

Whats your take BSK? I don't remember a stranger year myself?

 

[tellico4x4]

More rubs & scrapes this year than ever. Scrapes started showing up in mid-Sept, and saw new ones just opened this past weekend as well.

 

[Grandslam11]

I'm with you. This year, there has been hardly any sign. We do have a good crop of acorns. I am just starting to see a few scrapes. Literally in the past 2 weeks I started seeing them. Very strange year for me, that is for sure. I am anxious to see if I do not have a few better late season hunts this year.

 

[RiverBuck10]

I'm convinced the RUT never happened!! STRANGE, only maybe 2 days went by with no one in the woods in November and haven't seen any sign of rut!! We have lots of deer on the property!!

 

[woodchuckc]

Last year I saw the largest number of rubs I've ever seen on my property in the 12 years I've been here. This year the fewest by far. There is a line of 3 scrapes on an old logging road that are used every year, and they have been open all fall at least up until last Saturday morning (I've been "using" them myself once a week since muzzleloader opened, so maybe that has something to do with the deer continuing to use them). Opening day of muzzleloader I saw one little 4 point dogging a doe, and that has been all the chasing I've seen this season. I haven't seen a buck older than 2 1/2 yet either. Between muzzleloader and gun seasons so far, I've seen 12 bucks (spikes / forkhorns / little 6 pointers) and 28 does / fawns. Other than not seeing any 3 1/2 or older bucks, I'm not far off usual (number-wise) for seeing deer while hunting but I have seen a lot less rutting-associated activity this year than normal. The acorn crop in my area was pretty fair overall, but the ground is pretty much clean of acorns now.

 

[BSK]

Same here, virtually non existent overall. All I can think of is the complete acorn crop failure! Bucks here have made almost zero sign for the most part, very strange and the rut has been the same, very strange!

Poor acorn production is a good theory, as it can mute deer activity levels, but I'm seeing this strange rut in areas that experienced very good acorn crops as well as areas with poor acorn crops.

Whats your take BSK? I don't remember a stranger year myself?

I have no answer at this point.

 

[Jmed]

The odd part to me is that at my place we have a good acorn crop and more sign than I have ever had. Durring opening gun weekend I spotted the two biggest rubs I have ever seen. Our rut was right on time and very intense, but my buddies down the road are singing the blues. Weird how different things are just a few miles away.

 

[BSK]

THAT is a HUGE rub Jmed!

 

[dg7080]

Over here in the SW portion of the state, north Shelby and south Tipton counties, very few rubs to be found, but about average on the scrapes, maybe a few less than most years. Acorn crop was spotty at best but a few trees here and there with plenty of mast. And I've yet to see the first chase and I've got a lot of hours out there. So yep, something is different this fall.

 

[in the dog house]

I hunt 3 places.

At the farm the scrapes and rubs are sparse. Tipton Co. Deer sightings are normal.

The place in Haywood Co. is covered with rubs ( over 100 in a 40 acre cut over ) and avg. scrape activity.

The place here in Lauderdale Co. where I have seen scrapes in the same places every year haven't been opened and have found no rubs. Still seeing good bucks, just no sign.

All on these places are within 35 miles of each other north to south.

 

[EastHipster]

I'm hunting outside of Nashville in mostly Hills. Lots of Acorns.
I had at least 200 Rubs. 3 major lines.

Then had a Scrape line open up opposite side of the property.
Then all the Bucks took off to Rut!
I've only gotten to Hunt 3 times since Rifle opened (was Bow Hunting since it opened) and haven't seen a Deer since one week before Rifle.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Exactly 3 scrapes and 1 rub. I have watched several bucks whip bushes though (I think more out of displays of aggression or frustration) when other bucks were present.

 

[Wompuscat]

Just recently seeing rubs here. Unusually late in season for that.

 

[m411b]

Here on my land in Lewis Co. we have seen new scrapes within the last 2 weeks, and only ONE rub also in the last 2 weeks. The scrapes were active. But for some reason, after Thanksgiving, activity went nearly away, as in nearly non-existent!
We have just within the last few days started seeing fawns by themselves, as well as doe by themselves. Have no idea what to make of it. But our acorn production is good.

 

[southernhunter]

Rubbing behavior was WAY down this year, for unknown reasons. Scraping started out hot, especially in mid to late October, but just shut off almost completely the first week of November.

Definitely a strange year.

the scrapes pop up like normal this year a week before thanksgiving then slowly went dead . Strange thing is I went to place and move my cams today before the rain comes in and do a little scouting before I had to Kansas this weekend . To my surprise the old scrapes are being rework heavy and a lot of new ones have poped up in the last week . Can some explain ??? I am also seeing a lot of new larger rubs too this year .

 

[Boone 58]

Re: Where are the rubs & scrapes?

Rubbing behavior was WAY down this year, for unknown reasons. Scraping started out hot, especially in mid to late October, but just shut off almost completely the first week of November.

Definitely a strange year.

The exact same thing happened in Wayne county on our lease! hot as a fire cracker in oct and early november............has been quiet now since just before mz season closed!!! Couldn't find a fresh scrape anywhere but I figure if you can find a fresh scrape now it could be really hot!!!!

 

[BSK]

the scrapes pop up like normal this year a week before thanksgiving then slowly went dead . Strange thing is I went to place and move my cams today before the rain comes in and do a little scouting before I had to Kansas this weekend . To my surprise the old scrapes are being rework heavy and a lot of new ones have poped up in the last week . Can some explain ???

That is EXACTLY what you should see during peak breeding: scrapes going dead for a week or so and then being reworked hard after peak breeding. Often, I can use this "dead scrape period" to determine a given property's peak breeding dates.

 

[southernhunter]

the scrapes pop up like normal this year a week before thanksgiving then slowly went dead . Strange thing is I went to place and move my cams today before the rain comes in and do a little scouting before I had to Kansas this weekend . To my surprise the old scrapes are being rework heavy and a lot of new ones have poped up in the last week . Can some explain ???

That is EXACTLY what you should see during peak breeding: scrapes going dead for a week or so and then being reworked hard after peak breeding. Often, I can use this "dead scrape period" to determine a given property's peak breeding dates.

I didn't know that , thanks for the info bsk