Big blacktail rubs

[ridgefire]

I am doing a lot of scouting right now for the up coming season and I'm finding rubs on trees that are 6"-8" thick. Would these be considered big rubs for blacktails? I know there is big bucks in the area but trying to narrow the areas down so I can set up some tree stands.

[ridgefire]

I know the first pic is a old rub but I have found some big rubs in the same area from last season. These rubs are same area but a mile or two away.

[nwmein199]

I think the first picture is of an old bear peel.
Seems too low and big of a patch missing to be a buck rub. 

Pic of a bear peels from Saturday.

[fishngamereaper]

Are they rubs or bear/porcupine bark strip trees.

[ridgefire]

It could be but I have been finding peels as well. Up close it looks more like a rub than a peel. I could very well be wrong though.

[nwmein199]

I was guessing bear peels based off the size. The blacktail rubs I have seen were not nearly that big...hopefully they are buck rubs and you have some monsters in the area!!

Could you see if there are bear claw marks in the tree?

[fishngamereaper]

Clean edges of the bark look like a peel. I've seen blacktails rub small fir/pine/cedar sapplings but never bigger conifer trees, at least in my hunting areas. They seem to gravitate towards alder. maple and such when they rub bigger trees.

[ridgefire]

Thanks for the replies. I have never really gotten serious about blacktail hunting so trying to figure them out. I am finding plenty of rubs in the same area on alders as well. Sorry, I am not sure how you turn the pictures the right way so you will have to look at them sideways.

[JakeLand]

Top pics are rubs not bear peels ! Those are rubs that are used every year , put a cam

[ridgefire]

This is in the vicinity as well. I was thinking cougar or bear claw marks. What you think?

[JakeLand]

Usually cat and bear markings are 5’-6’ high normally

[ridgefire]

The picture with my hand in it was 3-4' off the ground.

[nwmein199]

Top pics are rubs not bear peels ! Those are rubs that are used every year , put a cam

 

Listen to the guy with a monster blacktail in his avatar pic 

[Griiz]

I think first picture is buck rub. I get excited when I find 8plus inch trees rubbed.

[Griiz]

This buck was a nice three point with big eye guards. He’s at the taxidermist.

[nwmein199]

This buck was a nice three point with big eye guards. He’s at the taxidermist.

Apparently I have never seen a big blacktail run...never seen a tree shredded like that!

What time of year did you find those rubs and when did you get the buck? Curious if its the same day or month apart.

[ridgefire]

Griz, do you have a picture of the buck that was making those rubs?

[JakeLand]

Griz, do you have a picture of the buck that was making those rubs?

hes got some studs ! (Drop tine ?)

[Tree Killer]

Big buck rub I found years ago on a timber sale I was cutting.  Bucks love rubbing those Bull Willows (Black Willows). Quite often they'll rub the same willow multiple years if it kill the willow.

[Flyfisher9]

Any hair left behind in the rubs?

[Griiz]

In my experience mature bucks usually make rubs like that in the pre rut. Usually start finding them around 10th of October, but they will make them a little sooner and in November too. I’m referring to blacktails.

[Griiz]

My droptine buck is the most aggressive buck I have encountered. Tearing up 12” inch fir and willow trees and had rubline trails with trees rubbed every five feet for a hundred yards.

Griz, do you have a picture of the buck that was making those rubs?

hes got some studs ! (Drop tine ?)

[Griiz]

Griz, do you have a picture of the buck that was making those rubs?

[fishnfur]

Nice one Griiz.

Typically, you can find tine marks outside the major rub, but I've seen bear peals where the animal left claw marks which could be mistaken for tine groves.  If the rubs are recent, there will be some hair left somewhere on the rub. 

I rarely start finding rubs before the last week of October, though I've heard others say it starts earlier, which agrees with Griiz's statement. 

Here's a bear peel:

[dilleytech]

Most of these pics look like bear or cat.

[Alchase]

Nice one Griiz.

Typically, you can find tine marks outside the major rub, but I've seen bear peals where the animal left claw marks which could be mistaken for tine groves.  If the rubs are recent, there will be some hair left somewhere on the rub. 

I rarely start finding rubs before the last week of October, though I've heard others say it starts earlier, which agrees with Griiz's statement. 

Here's a bear peel:

Have to agree with dilleytech, looks like blackbear too me 

[ridgefire]

Beautiful buck. Thanks.

[buggy]

Ridgefire,
I say first two pics are a buck(s) worth hunting. Third pic looks like a porcupine chew with the pattern. Fourth pic (alder) looks like elk to me.

[Birdguy]

6 inch ponderosa pine tree in my moms yard in Kitsap County. Taken October 5th 2019.

[Turner89]

You should still be able to find hair in the rubs even now. 

Always get excited when I find a good rub.

[Skyvalhunter]

elk?

[Turner89]

elk?

No, its a blacktail.   

[Buck Rub Jr]

Hopefully he comes back for year three and I can get some good trail cam pics.

[Onewhohikes]

Sorry but he's gone, I made mostly stew meat out of him