Is there a difference between Elk and Deer rubs?

[janttihunter]

Went out scouting today. Found allot of new areas that looked promising!! I saw allot of rubs, actually 5 different rub lines. All of which had both Deer and Elk sign surrounding them..trails, scat, beds..

I figure the smaller, lower rubs are deer, and larger were elk?

But there were some that could have just been a big buck...

Is there any way to tell the difference? I'm going to set some cams up.

Do Elk rub for the same reasons deer do? And some of the larger ones looked really fresh even had sap still. I thought maybe a cougar scratched on the same tree maybe

[_TONY_]

Went out to one of my spots that I havent been to in a longtime, yesterday, and it was FULL of both buck rubs and bull rubs... Probably about 25+ in forty yards square...

I'll post pics later...

Buck rubs tend to be lower and have shorter strokes... Bull rubs tend to be Much taller with longer strokes and will usually have a lot of broken/twisted limbs...

[washelkhunter]

I've noticed over the years that deer rub primarily on the left side of the trees while elk rub on the right sides. Just a little known factoid.

[RoyBoy]

buck rubs can be pretty big but they will generally start pretty low to the ground and can go up a couple feet. now as elk will be atleast up into the 4 foot range and sometimes there tines will scratch close by trees.  just from my prior experience atleast.

[pendoreilleadventures]

If your seeing fresh hooked trees you may be in an area the bucks are shedding. They rub trees to cast their antlers as well. the best way to tell for me is elk almost always leave hair behind when they rub the trees .

[janttihunter]

Ok good info. I posted some pics in the Deer section under the same title. Check em out and tell me what you think.

[Quarteredaway]

I've noticed over the years that deer rub primarily on the left side of the trees while elk rub on the right sides. Just a little known factoid.

That makes alot of sense

[Fullabull]

I believe deer rubs are more for marking territory (at least whitetail). I think elk rubs are first to get rid of velvet, then its random aggression and displays more then marking territory. You will find elk rubs together more just because they tend to hang out in that area because they feel safe.

[TommyH]

I've noticed over the years that deer rub primarily on the left side of the trees while elk rub on the right sides. Just a little known factoid.

That makes alot of sense

 

[Giggles]

I've noticed over the years that deer rub primarily on the left side of the trees while elk rub on the right sides. Just a little known factoid.

That makes alot of sense

But if you look at the rub from the opposite side of the tree, then the elk will have rubbed on the left side and the deer on the right side.