Antler rubs/no rubs to be found. Does it matter?

[Acrosstheriver]

This is my third season out hunting blacktails - or actually hunting anything!  First year nothing, last year a nice forked horn (see photo of the European mount I made of him!)  This year?.....

I've been out just a couple times so far, but am waiting for the last week or so this month when things usually get better with rut approaching.  I hunt 40 acres of private property where there are typically lots of does and I occasionally get a buck on my game camera.  I scout early looking for well-worn trails, beds and antler rubbed saplings, the latter of which I've yet to find.  Seems like last year there were rubs everywhere by this time! This year I've yet to find a single one and haven't had a single buck appear on camera since last July.  As a side note, elk, however, have been milling around all Summer.  I have cows on my camera and vid of a large bull in rut that I encountered one evening a few weeks ago.  I found a huge rub from what I assume was the same bull, on an alder tree.

So my main question is: how important is finding antler rubs in determining the whereabouts and/population of these blacktails?  Is it a sign that maybe they've gone elsewhere this year? 

Second question:  Does the heavy presence of elk tend to drive the blacktails off? 

[Teepee96]

While I'm also not real experienced either (1st buck last year/3rd year really getting after it), I do know a lot of real experienced blacktail hunters who I've been able to get a ton of great info from.

Now that my disclaimer is over with, I'd say if you're on does that last week there's bound to be a buck sniffing around the area. And if you have seen rubs in that area then he shouldn't be far. I've heard that blacktail will live most of it's life in a pretty small area.

With that said, rubs are better because it's hard evidence that a buck is in that area and he's laying claim to it, but just because there's not I wouldn't say there's no bucks either

[bobcat]

You'll probably start seeing rubs in another week or so. It's still a little early.

[fishnfur]

There have been years when I didn't find a rub until the 29th or 30th of October.  I wouldn't sweat it yet.  If you've got doe close by, then bucks will be there when the time is right, whether you find rubs or not. 

Elk in the area often are often noisy enough in the woods to move deer to the periphery of their territories until the elk leave.  The deer just can't seem to settle down when they've got big honkin' animals walking up and down the trails where they bed and feed.  I've got property in 506 like that - If I go out deer hunting there and see a lot of fresh elk sign, it is almost guaranteed that I won't see any deer until the elk move on from the area.

[jason4429]

I just found rubs today in my spot. They were made in the last two days. I was in there Thursday and there was no rubs.

[Acrosstheriver]

Thank you for your replies.  Still no rubs, but all of a sudden the bucks showed up!  This forky isn’t as big as last year’s but He should be good eating!  He was with a doe that I’d been trailing.  Got him from about 30 yards with my grandpa’s Savage 99. 

[lewy]

 , classy rifle to!

[Turner89]

Nice job

[fishnfur]

Nice.  Like the rifle and the buck.  Congrats.

I could see a rub on a Ponderosa Pine at 65 yards from my blind today that seems new overnight. 

[X-Force]

Very cool

[boneaddict]

Glad you connected!  Love that gun.  I have a non scoped version.   As stated, a little early for rubs but they should be starting. 

[Axle]

Nice 

[Okanagan]

Thanks for posting your progress with its lead up thread and your success story.  Great photo:  hunter, buck, rifle with history and character.  Good stuff. 

Re rubs this year:  I saw my first fresh rub of the year last Monday, two days after opening day when the rub was not there.  I tagged a big bodied older 2x3 on Thursday because he acted just enough rut goofy to let me get off a snap shot at 37 yards.   Shotgun only area, slug. 

[Threewolves]

Killing a fork horn is way better than finding rubs, congratulations!

[Okanagan]

Killing a fork horn is way better than finding rubs, congratulations!

!!!

[cooltimber]

Thank you for your replies.  Still no rubs, but all of a sudden the bucks showed up!  This forky isn’t as big as last year’s but He should be good eating!  He was with a doe that I’d been trailing.  Got him from about 30 yards with my grandpa’s Savage 99.

         great job