Finally some deer sign

K

Kevin the grey

Joined
Aug 26, 2005
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Walking to my stand to put out some carrots I saw a little scratching on the ground. Darn I said. If that was a little bigger it would almost look like a scrape.

So I looked up to see if a deer had been licking and rubbing at a branch . There was a branch at head height but no sign like a deer had been licking or rubbing at it. Then I looked around for a rubbed tree trunk. Sure enough about two feet from the ground was a nice fresh rub.

Now here is the kicker. I walked by this and hung around for a minute or two. How likely is this to make the buck not to want to come back? How likely is the deer to come back anyway? What is the best time to set and wait for the deer?
 
If you didn't touch the branch, or the rub, or walk a whole lot aroung the area handling things, it should make little difference. When he will return is anyone's guess. Deer vary their travel patterns according to the moon phase, advancing weather fronts, food sources, seeking does, hunter pressure, and a host of other things. I've found most scrapes in travel corridors between food, water, and bedding areas. Deer are ruminents like cows. They feed a while, then lay down to chew their cud. So they feed off and on through the day and night. An advancing cold front bringing wind and rain will cause them to feed heavier. What you have found simply tells you that a buck is in the area, not that he will return to that very spot on a regular schedule. Try tracking both ways. A topo map aided by an aerial survey map really helps figure out the travel paths.

Codger
 
Codger I have some carrots about 75 yards up the road and around a bend.
No Deer have hit them yet. I can,t scout too much as there is a treestand on the other side of the field from my carrots. Too far for a shot. I figure if that deer is in the area he might hit the carrots.

I don,t want to go near another hunter. Also someone screwed around with one of my other stands not too far away.:grumpy: I don,t want to run across them when I am in a bad mood.:grumpy: If I run across them that will put me in a bad mood. :mad:
 
Kevin, seeing deer sign like rubs and scrapes are good for knowing that there are bucks in the area. The best time to hunt scrapes (pawed areas on the ground) is right before the rut. Bucks will check these scrapes for receptive does or other bucks in the area. Scrapes are used by many deer not just one. Usually the dominate bucks in the area will start the scrapes. Once the does are ready to breed scrape hunting is useless. The bucks will be trailing does looking for one ready to breed. Rubs on the other hand may show the travel pattern of a buck from feeding to bedding areas. You need to look for what is called a rub line. A series of trees rubbed in somewhat of a straight line from a feeding to bedding area. Seeing one tree rubbed and hunting near it will not neccessarily yeild a buck.
Scott
 
Good advice on it being part of a travel pattern. It is along a laneway in the woods. I know it walks along the lane to reach the rub. The ground hardens a bit so I couldn,t easily tell where it was going.

It may not be much of a chance. It might be my only chance. I can,t scout around any more. I kinda don,t want to take a chance going near another treestand in the area. I might screw up their chances.

There is also some ornery cusses in the area who don,t want anyone else hunting there. They destroyed a crib where I was feeding deer. I have permission to hunt there so these guys can kiss my attitude.

This laneway rub is close to where I slip into the woods. I can get in and out easily without others seeing me. Including the deer.
 
So, what?, you finally sniffed out a doe and rubbed your head on a tree? Ate some carrots? God, I am so glad I gave up hunting for the computer!
 
The venison tenderloin I cut up last night sure tasted better than a CD, and I am sure it had more nutrition. And we'll be enjoying jerky from now thru this time next year, even if we don't see another deer other than the two already put in the freezer. Finger and mind exercise is great, but so is "being out there", even if you don't score a deer.

Codger
 
Codger, I,m salivating at the thought of a steak or some jerky. Your are right in that "being out there" is food for the soul. This is the first actve scrape or rub I have come across in my life. I didn't exactly dance a jig as I was still bemused with people screwing with my set-up. It was still great to see and may be the highpoint of my season.

As it seems to be on a travel route and it is the only sign I,ve seen I am going to wait a while and set up near it. There is no more time for scouting. I don,t like to scout much if I will be leaving traces of myself near someone else's stand during hunting season. Some of them might be jacka$$es . I don,t want to be the same.
 
FIgure a way to use the other hunters to your advantage. I've done this many times. Set up in such a way that the deer that are avoiding their coughs, steaming coffe cups, cigarettes and aftershave, are funneled toward you. Get there early and use their crunching, brush breaking to your advantage. Don't leave at mid morning, lunch, mid afternoon, early evening. Stick it out and they'll likely push a deer by you. Pee all you need to (won't bother the deer IMHO), but carry a gallon zip-loc if you need to poop. Take water to drink, and bland food to eat like bread, crackers, etc. Deer are attracted more to corn and persimmons than carrots if it is legal to bait there. Doe-in-heat urine works too. Good luck. Shame I can't send you some jerky, but I got a nasty letter a few years ago for sending a bud u there some sassafrass root bark for tea. The border guards were not amused.

Codger
 
Our season ended yesterday. 4 of our hunters from Penn. got their first mule deer and I managed to lead my brother-in-law to a nice fat forkhorn. He was kind enough to give me a couple of packages of backloin and the tenderloins. Didn't get one myself which is alright with me. Seeing the happy faces of everyone else was enough. Our rut just got started and it's not safe to drive.
 
This is how my entire deer (minus backstrap and tenderloin) ended up.
jerky3
 
Clint, your making my mouth water. That has to be some mighty good eatin'. Kevin, the bucks are chasing the does so hard that they are running everywhere with no regard for your vehicle. The local game warden says they have more deer/car accidents at this time of year than any other. Yeah we have a blackpowder season that lasts all of Dec. I've hit it so hard this last 3 weeks that I'm just about burnt out. I guess you can have too much of a good thing.
 
Sorry Crow Butte ? L:O:L When you said Drive I thought you meant pushing the Deer. L:O:L :D

Here I am thinking driving them isn,t safe cause someone will get shot or something like that. :confused:

I wish we had that many deer here.
 
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