Is It True That You’ll Find Big Bucks If You Find Big Rubs?
As a hunter, you know the importance of seeking out the various signs that deer leave behind in the woods. One of the most obvious of these signs are rubs. As a general rule, rubs tend to begin appearing in the middle of September. This is when the bucks begin to feel a bit of a spike in their testosterone. It is ultimately a chemical and visual way for the deer to communicate with one another; they will shred the bark off trees and leave behind a bit of scent from the glands of their foreheads.
There is a lot of myths surrounding deer rubs, some of which date by centuries. Deer will rub against telephone poles and fence posts, but they will not make rubs as they shed their velvet. The deer also don’t make rubs as they lose their antlers.
One myth that tends to gain a lot of attention amongst hunters is whether or not big rubs correlate to big bucks being in the surrounding vicinity. It makes sense, but is it true?
Some hunters believe that it is true, but that the opposite isn’t. Many have told us that if they come across an area in the woods that have large rubs, they know that they are about to come up on an area with some big boys. However, if you see smaller rubs, then it is a bit more difficult to tell what you are going to find.
Some hunters have even said that bigger bucks get the big rubs started. Once they are established on the trees, other bucks – assuming they’re in the mood – will use it.
As far as science goes, there isn’t a whole lot of research to back up whether big bucks make big rubs or not. However, there is some interesting information that is relevant.
For example, a single mature buck has the ability to make between 100 and 1,000 rubs annually. So, over three months, this is roughly a dozen rubs each day. On the other hand, yearling bucks can only make approximately 400 to 500 rubs annually. Therefore, more often than not, it is larger dear that are forming the rubs that you see.
Another piece of beneficial information is that edges tend to be one of the most likely places that deer create rubs. These edges can be found within he first 20 meters of a treed area. The best edges for rubs to be formed are considered around food sources. Of course, none of this information is officially confirmed.
So, in conclusion, science does not have conclusive evidence regarding rub size, though it will say that larger deer are more likely to create rubs. Science also says that rubs are more likely to show up around edges. Or you could just take the word of the majority of your fellow hunters.
