[kroppe]

I was pulling my maple taps last week and snapped this picture. It is a fresh rub, no more than a week old, at the time I took the picture. I had been visiting this spot every other day to harvest sap, and had not noticed it during my previous visits. There are at least two bucks in the area, and I didn't tag either of them during the 2003 season. So it looks like at least one made it through the winter. Looks like I'll have to meet up with him on October 1, 2004!

The diameter of the branch is about 1.5" - 2" and the length of the rub is about 2.5 feet or so.

 

[Jeff Sturgis]

I just talked to John Ozoga yesterday and he said it is extremely common for bucks to make rubs right up to the time the antlers are shed, especially in their winter bedding areas. In fact, he said it could be decieving as to scouting for the next year in that a winter time bedding area may be some distance from a fall or summer bedding are due to thermal cover, escape cover, or southerly exposure, etc..

We were down in WI scouting our lease last Friday and noticed many rubs that were not there during their late November gun season. If nothing else it was very encouraging to see that some decent bucks made it throught the season.

Nice picture!

 

[Lunker]

They were still wearing their head gear last week here too Kroppe. Ive found alot of rubs that look pretty fresh lately but nothing that white. That must of been in the last 12 hours Id guess.