Interesting. I was thinking of climbing up one of the mature basswood trees we have around and cut down a large branch and stick it unto the ground and see if it gets any action.

Hopefully your changes work out.

 

Very cool. Are you going to put a trail camera up to document any use or just go off of physical sign after the season is over?

 

Interesting. I was thinking of climbing up one of the mature basswood trees we have around and cut down a large branch and stick it unto the ground and see if it gets any action.

Hopefully your changes work out.

While I didn't climb up a basswood tree, I did cut a off a a young basswood from a multi-trunk tree. Almost every buck that the trail camera got a pic of seemed to have stopped to check it out.

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Great thread. I simply cut branches off oaks and put them in pipes driven in the ground in food plots. Will post some action shots from my deer cam when I get a chance.

 

While I didn't climb up a basswood tree, I did cut a off a a young basswood from a multi-trunk tree. Almost every buck that the trail camera got a pic of seemed to have stopped to check it out.

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Did they end up rubbing on it?

 

Seems like a lot of work, I just weed wack the dirt bare under a low hanging branch and pee in it. Works 90% of the time.

Every year I make more and more scrapes on my small piece of property and every year most of them get taken over by bucks (ones that dont get flooded out). I never thought they would use so many scrapes in a small area. This year my goal is to go over board. I also want to get scrape dirt from the state land I hunt and add this to a select few.

Keep us posted on how this turns out.

 

Did they end up rubbing on it?

No they haven't rubbed it. It has served as a licking branch only so far. It is placed about 20yds out from a stand in a clover plot.


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I have been experimenting with some artificial rubs and scraping areas. In the picture below was may first attempt at a 4" cedar rub pole with a manila rope for a licking branch.

I have four of these contraptions scattered through the property. Even though they are butt ugly and unnatural, I am still interested to see if I can get something like this to attract.

My first attempt (1 year) received no rubbing on the 4" cedar poles and an occasional nose to the manila rope. No scraping occurred under any one of the 4 manila ropes.

So I made some changes.

I took the goofy 2x4s off the top of the poles.

I believe the 4" diameter cedar was to big to attract attention for rubbing in my area so I carved them down to about 2" with the chainsaw.

Next, I drove to Hillsdale Co. to round up some of the finest Basswood branches one could find and drove them to Lapeer.

Drilled some 1.5" holes in the top.

I then shoved the Basswood branches in the holes.

Here they are completed.

I made sure I had bare dirt below the Basswood branches. I will not do anything else (like adding liquid scents). Build it and they will come.

I will not see these areas again until January or until I drag a deer past them.

I have about 10 young Basswood trees I planted on the property that need a few more years and plan to plant more. They are known to be one of best trees in our area for attracting scrapes and rubs. I am hoping this year that these artificial Basswood licking branch posts will compliment my existing oak and apple licking braches/scrape sites.
Maybe even a couple hits on the cedar rub posts.

Looks like some kind of a beaver trap:lol:

 

It looks pretty nice Rich. I hope it works out for you and you kill a big one. Good luck.

 

I saw the earlier cedar post and rope thread and decided to try it too. Scored up the cedar post with a chainsaw and hung a rope from a 2x4.
I made a fake scrape under the rope and whizzed on it

I have pics of a fawn nosing the rope but no other activity directed at the cedar post yet. I am monitoring it and expect that when the bucks get ready to go hard horn it will get attention. There is an Antler Rock there too and that gets daily use.

 

While I didn't climb up a basswood tree, I did cut a off a a young basswood from a multi-trunk tree. Almost every buck that the trail camera got a pic of seemed to have stopped to check it out.

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Though its been 20 yrs since I've done it, this set-up works great placed 30yds or less from the edge near a corner or adjacent to a travel corridor. I always used some type of stank to get it started, mostly tinks. Never had one left standing as I usually halfassed placement. I did one for a friend using post hole diggers a few years ago that lasted and was active for two years until he removed for plot replanting.

 

vines are better than ropes

 

We have a lot of northern hardwoods on our U.P. Property, including basswood, but maple is, by far, their preferred licking branch. I just wire a fresh maple branch (horizontally about 4-5 feet above ground) to whatever tree I want for a good scrape location and then scratch up the ground beneath it. No scent, no rubbing post. We do pee in it initially. They make great sites for camera surveys of the buck population although does and fawns will visit them also.

 

I had a scrap going on a piece of land I used to have that had a big grape vine above it that was broke off. That vine had all the bucks and does in the area rubbing there head glands all over it most nights. get your self a nice size grape vine instead of that rope.

 

Probably not suppose to do this but here is a link to a great discussion about this very subject: http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39114

 

Very cool. Are you going to put a trail camera up to document any use or just go off of physical sign after the season is over?

I plan to do both.

vines are better than ropes

Yes they are IMO also. I have two grape vine scrape sites on the property and plan to set up more, just need to pull some more loose from trees.

A few years back while shed hunting I found a vine about 1" in diameter hanging 30' from a tree. There was a 4" deep scrape under it that was about 4' in diameter.

I thought about replacing the ropes with vines but wanted to get rid of the ugly 2x4s and went with the Basswood branch idea.

Looks like some kind of a beaver trap:lol:

I love me some beaver.:lol:

 

While I didn't climb up a basswood tree, I did cut a off a a young basswood from a multi-trunk tree. Almost every buck that the trail camera got a pic of seemed to have stopped to check it out.

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I wanted to do this also this year but did not get it done. Please give us a report on how it works for you. I do not have any Basswoods available around me but maybe I will find time to slip in a couple Sumac this weekend.

Great thread. I simply cut branches off oaks and put them in pipes driven in the ground in food plots. Will post some action shots from my deer cam when I get a chance.

Can't wait to see your pics!!!

It looks pretty nice Rich. I hope it works out for you and you kill a big one. Good luck.

Thanks Mike! Do you dabble in any of this artificial stuff?

Probably not suppose to do this but here is a link to a great discussion about this very subject: http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39114

Thanks for posting the link Mightymouse, there has been some good stuff over on the QDMA forums over the last few years also.

 

My first thoughts was using a fresh cut post from a cedar with the bark still on it. The wood would be softer and may smell little more like a live cedar tree.

 

I cut some 2" diameter staghorn sumac out of an roadside ditch and buried them 3' deep in some of my rye plots this weekend. Hoping to get some rub action on them. I am staying out now until hunting begins.

 

I cut some 2" diameter staghorn sumac out of an roadside ditch and buried them 3' deep in some of my rye plots this weekend. Hoping to get some rub action on them. I am staying out now until hunting begins.

Next spring I can hook you up with some 2'-4'+ bare roots if you want live ones.

 

I cut some 2" diameter staghorn sumac out of an roadside ditch and buried them 3' deep in some of my rye plots this weekend. Hoping to get some rub action on them. I am staying out now until hunting begins.

I did similar this weekend as well, as my final job before leaving everything alone. Put in a cedar post and drilled 2 holes at the top for branches or vines. I ended up putting just 1 grape vine through it to see how it goes. I may end up thinning it down next year, like you did, if it doesn't get any attention this year. I also put a Sumac in with my Brassica's. They sure tear them up on my property every year. I've got four of these out, in hopes of having each of my kids (and wife) get a crack at any deer. Good post, love the setup!

 

Next spring I can hook you up with some 2'-4'+ bare roots if you want live ones.

Sure!!! Looking forward to it.

 

Went out to make some mock scrapes today, and was pleasantly surprised. My cedar rub post with oak branches had been rubbed.

Some bucks also gave my basswood rub tree a look. It had two small marks on the bark, and trail cam pictures confirmed that two bucks indeed played a little with it.


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Well after this weeks card check the basswood rub post has seen some more action.

A little 8pt reaching for the branches.

The cedar post has also seen more action. Both have active scrapes under them now.


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Awesome BigAl06 thanks for the update. I am happy to hear you are getting some action.

I am feeling satisfied just to have that stuff out even though I will not see it most of it for a while. I do have my cameras out in the back yard plots in front of some of that stuff and may sneak in for a card change. I mean I don't know what I am worried about my brothers lawn service drive their mowers 30 yards from both my cameras once a week.:lol: