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I hunt public land and to me land is land. However, no baiting on public land. Private land you can bait. Regardless, over the last three weeks I've found two ridge areas I call rub and scrape alley on top of two ridges that are the same elevation, 500 yards apart. Not fully understanding how to connect next steps I have researched the signs to improve my chances. My challenge is determining the bedding area for bucks. I'm lost on that one. Which one or how to locate it.
To date: On top of the same ridge I've been busted by a nice buck, could have shot a doe at 7 yards (both of them 2:30pm and 3pm) and jumped a doe walking to this ridge line. Right now I will not shoot a doe because rut has to be so close to being on. Now I need to figure out where these bucks are bedding. I am lost with my next steps and I'm trying to understand pre-rut deer behavior without baiting.
Any suggestions appreciated.
My son says most of these rubs and scrapes are mostly done during the night so am I'm waisting my time to stay up on the ridge?
To date: On top of the same ridge I've been busted by a nice buck, could have shot a doe at 7 yards (both of them 2:30pm and 3pm) and jumped a doe walking to this ridge line. Right now I will not shoot a doe because rut has to be so close to being on. Now I need to figure out where these bucks are bedding. I am lost with my next steps and I'm trying to understand pre-rut deer behavior without baiting.
Any suggestions appreciated.
My son says most of these rubs and scrapes are mostly done during the night so am I'm waisting my time to stay up on the ridge?
- Scrapes
- Boundary scrapes: early in the rutting season bucks will make scrapes around the perimeter or on a partial edge of their territory.
- Scrapes are usually small and quickly made. Seen them on top of the ridge.
- Made by bucks during the pre-rut (prior to peak breeding) as they begin to stakeout and mark their territory.
- Is an invitation for does and a “keep out” warning sign for other bucks
- Random or secondary scrapes:
- May form a line, called a scrape line, leading to a primary scrape.
- A primary scrape is a large area, at least 3 by 3 feet,
- made by a buck in an area where he feels comfortable and secure breeding with a doe.
- A primary scrape is always made under an overhanging branch that is about 5 feet from the ground. I have located this a primary scrape at the top of my ridge. Even saw a doe go near then down into a small ravine with thick cover.
- The buck will then stand in the middle of the scrape, hold his back legs together and urinate over his tarsal glands, allowing the combined excretions to fall into the scrape. I have been peeing in this one primary scrape and raking lines with a stick. Boy has there been activity!
- Boundary scrapes: early in the rutting season bucks will make scrapes around the perimeter or on a partial edge of their territory.
- Rubs: A rub is an area on a tree 1 to 3 feet off the ground where a buck has rubbed the bark off the tree to polish his antlers and strengthen his neck muscles during the pre-rut.
- Three types of rubs:
- Minor: (usually on saplings), rubs that appear in a line are called a rub line. made by bucks as they break away from summer bachelor groups, an indication that the breeding process is beginning
- Cluster rubs may appear as a group, and there may be six or more in one location. Also, are made by bucks to advertise their presence to does. Often these rubs are made in high doe traffic areas or near food sources. These rubs also tell an intruder buck, “Stay out, this is my turf.”
- Signpost rubs, like cluster rubs, serve as a stop sign for does, and a warning sign for other bucks. Signpost rubs are usually on a tree that is 4 inches in diameter or larger, and they are very visible. Signposts are regularly freshened during the early season and may be used by more than one buck. Signpost rubs are also used year after year by generations of bucks. I've seen these rubs down off the ridge near a creek near heavy brush.
- Three types of rubs: