Pay attention to rub height

[Jeff G]

[ScottSpitzley]

Good tip!

[<DK>]

Cool graphic!

[creepingdeth]

Thanks Jeff

[Edcyclopedia]

Maybe the deer are taller in NH?

I never see shin high...
Shift it up one noctch.
That's a viewpoint from a 5'5" hunter...

[Dewey]

Maybe the deer are taller in NH?

I never see shin high...
Shift it up one noctch.
That's a viewpoint from a 5'5" hunter...

I watched a spiker make a waist high rub.

[Jeff G]

Dans statistics. There was a post on the beast with his data. Dan can chime in..,

[Jeff G]

Here is my view on the topic....

Dan is taller than me. His reference to shin is where my knee is.

The middle of the overall rub is key. Do not use the highest portion of the rub. Use the middle.

I think some people are missing the overall principle.

The higher that rubs are on trees, larger or small, is a good reference for judging the age class of the buck.

Diameter is not the most important. Height is a major factor.

[Dewey]

I absolutely agree a large amount of taller rubs are made by older bucks but just like anything there are no absolutes. Like mentioned I have seen a spiker make a waist high rub and have also seen mature bucks make knee high rubs many times. I like to pay attention to diameter plus height but won’t ignore huge rubs made fairly low.

Doubt a 1 or 2 year old was making these.

[kurt]

I've seen 1.5year olds rub high like waist or even more. It's a sign post type rubbing of antlers to the tree but mainly that rubbing is on forehead glands. Small bucks will putz around on tall rubs. It's not the aggressive slam into the tree or the actual "rubbing" that is shredding the bark that created the height of the sign post. That is actually pretty intense. That's were Dans relative height relationship to the waist comes into play.

[ScottSpitzley]

Maybe the deer are taller in NH?

I never see shin high...
Shift it up one noctch.
That's a viewpoint from a 5'5" hunter...

I have seen shin high rubs before, quite often actually. Using the middle of the rub as a reference point that is. I have also seen one individual rub go all the way down almost to the ground and almost as tall as my chest.

[tgreeno]

I also pay attention to the rubs with the tine gouges 10" above the main rubbed area. Lets you know there is some very good tines.

[ghoasthunter]

I absolutely agree a large amount of taller rubs are made by older bucks but just like anything there are no absolutes. Like mentioned I have seen a spiker make a waist high rub and have also seen mature bucks make knee high rubs many times. I like to pay attention to diameter plus height but won’t ignore huge rubs made fairly low.

Doubt a 1 or 2 year old was making these.

i have put trail cams on rubs like your pics in past and was amazed how many bucks of different age used them over a season. i think one of my cams about 6 years ago had close to 20 bucks use them some aggressive some just barely hitting it then licking there nose and scent checking them. they are almost as good as a scrape for pics some times. when i look for mature buck rubs it more placement for me its got to be located where i feel a mature buck will travel just as much. and the ones mature bucks lay are always seam to have a purpose.

[ghoasthunter]

I absolutely agree a large amount of taller rubs are made by older bucks but just like anything there are no absolutes. Like mentioned I have seen a spiker make a waist high rub and have also seen mature bucks make knee high rubs many times. I like to pay attention to diameter plus height but won’t ignore huge rubs made fairly low.

Doubt a 1 or 2 year old was making these.

i have put trail cams on rubs like your pics in past and was amazed how many bucks of different age used them over a season. i think one of my cams about 6 years ago had close to 20 bucks use them some aggressive some just barely hitting it then licking there nose and scent checking them. they are almost as good as a scrape for pics some times. when i look for mature buck rubs it more placement for me its got to be located where i feel a mature buck will travel just as much. and the ones mature bucks lay are always seam to have a purpose.

and size does not matter ive seen some real big buck delicately rub one in trees.

[ghoasthunter]

rubs are more of a indicator of where to start you bed search and identify travel routs but you still need to find that bomb proof bedding and it could be a mile away or more.