Fresh rub vs size of rub..? Which is more important to you

[Abenak89]

I found a fresh buck bed today with 2-3 smaller trees rubbed up right at it. I would see this happened within a week and the bed has been clearly used recently.

My question is.. clearly this doesn't scream BIG buck but could this still be a big buck?

What are you thoughts on smaller but fresh rub/beds?

PS. This is my first CLEAR buck bed I have found so I was pretty excited.

[jwilkstn]

If season is open, then I'm more excited about the freshness. I witnessed a 3-4 year old buck rub tiny saplings and bushes last year just as he was shedding his velvet. It wouldn't look impressive to most, but those first rubs of the year are key to early season buck hunting in areas with early openers.

[Abenak89]

If season is open, then I'm more excited about the freshness. I witnessed a 3-4 year old buck rub tiny saplings and bushes last year just as he was shedding his velvet. It wouldn't look impressive to most, but those first rubs of the year are key to early season buck hunting in areas with early openers.

Ok awesome thanks for info! I'm in WI do opener is tomorrow. I scouted a brand new area just for kicks today. Stumbled onto that bed. Wind would be perfect for it and from what I can tell, they are coming through here from the food source. Maybe I will give it a shot tomorrow.

[Tennhunter3]

Both

Big bucks go where big bucks have gone before old sign can be good.

As far as small fresh rubs I've seen some great bucks rubbing only tiny trees. If it's a rub on a hardwood it's more then not a good buck.

[Abenak89]

Ok thanks! Here is photo
https://www.flickr.com/photos/181833167 ... ted-public

[Ack]

Right now, gotta go with fresh over size. I witnessed a decent buck rubbing the other day, and when I saw the size of the rub after he walked off I would have sworn, if I saw that rub anywhere else that day, that it was made by a 4 point.

[Robert501st]

Right now, gotta go with fresh over size. I witnessed a decent buck rubbing the other day, and when I saw the size of the rub after he walked off I would have sworn, if I saw that rub anywhere else that day, that it was made by a 4 point.

What he said. Found the first rubs in my area (if you can call them that, they were nothing more than two foot tall baby maples broken in half) on Sept 5. Could have been a forkie, could have been the Booner I’ve seen in the same area. Little bucks don’t make giant rubs but giant bucks will make little rubs.