I contemplated whether these rubs were something the tree guys did with a chainsaw because I have never seen these types of markings on rubs before. There are some older rubs from previous years and one of the rubs had marks on a tree about 8 inches behind so I think they are legit, opinions would be appreciated. I started circling out from the rubs to try to find a bed but didn't find anything new, anything old would be under snow. I do think this could be a primary bedding area for a mature buck though. The rubs are in a pocket of dense brush at the edge of the powerline that drops off very steeply into open timber to the south towards the road. Road is about 250 yrds to the south. The powerline is brushy, runs E/W and slopes away from the rubs fairly steep as well. To the north is the timber ridge that I walked down. Pics of the area
First pic shows the rubs and surrounding area. The second pick shows the ridge I walked in on in blue and the red is a parking spot on the road that people use to access with a trail leading into the timber. I didn't see evidence of people walking up the steep hill to the rubs. The parking spot and trail are easily seen from where a buck might bed in the brush and it crosses the powerlines about 200 yrds away at the base of the hill. I picture a buck bedded there watching the open timber and where hunters access this property. North component wind would be blowing from behind the deer.
This property was private until fall 2018 when it was sold to the state so not sure that what kind of pressure it has seen in the past but this is heavily pressured public in Michigan so I am sure the area was hunted. How would you guys go about determining if a buck might be bedded there during another time of year and how would you approach hunting it? Thinking about going in there after greenup to check if I can find find a bed/beds.
