Author Topic: scrapes (Read 4733 times)

fillthefreezer · « **on:** October 21, 2011, 07:24:01 AM »

in the area ive been scouting for blackies this week thee are lots of scrapes from the elk, wondering if theres an easy way to tell if and when i get a buck rubbing as opposed to just more bulls...

sirmissalot · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2011, 07:36:50 AM »

buck rubs are much smaller and lower to the ground. I'd say buck rubs are around 2ft off the ground and only 12-18 inches long, where a bull rub is probably 3-5ft off the ground (often times even higher) and longer, say 2-3ft long. Most buck rubs I see are on small firs or alders about 1-2 inches in diameter, its pretty easy to tell its just a buck.

boneaddict · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2011, 07:40:05 AM »

Usually in a bit different terrain/topography as well. All what he said, plus check for hair in the sap.

buglebuster · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2011, 08:06:59 AM »

buckfvr · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2011, 09:17:28 AM »

I find a lot of rubs along fence lines and its the 4in round posts that are getting gored up.....that and bigger trees with adjoining trunk and limb damage is what I look for....but its whitetails here. Elk is easier to notice as the broken branches catch the eye first....more damage. When an elk horns up a young tree, it many times kills the tree.....

AKBowman · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2011, 09:20:41 AM »

AKBowman · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2011, 09:23:11 AM »

This is also a common elk rub. They will bend alders over and rub the hell out of them then the alder will bend back and the rub will be 10' off the ground.

AKBowman · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2011, 09:25:30 AM »

Or just snap the alder in half like in the picture above.

fillthefreezer · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2011, 09:40:28 AM »

ya ive got elk rubs all over out there, mostly on alder, but ive seen a few nice bucks in person and on my cam, just trying to see if theyve stuck around and are coming into rut.
i figured there would be smaller and lower to the ground, just wasnt sure what trees they like, there isnt much for small fir in the area but lots of alder, and ive seen some rubs that probably only came up to belt line, just wasnt sure

woowoo · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2011, 01:00:37 PM »

Don't mean to hijack here but we have a lot of those trees snapped in half like that with no real signs of rubbing. Wondering what's causing this? Havn't seen any elk but do have some moose running around. It's got us pretty confused and I was just curious if it may be an animal.

boneaddict · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2011, 01:05:56 PM »

VERY characteristic of a moose. Especially one asserting dominance. I have noted it particularly with certain individual moose. For instance the one I got in Washington was snapping 4-6 inch trees in half. It was INSANE. I only find it from certain bulls. Probably the more dominanat ones.

boneaddict · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2011, 01:08:22 PM »

AKBOWMAN, the latter pic is more characteristic of a moose than an elk. Just saying......

moose tend to take on chunks of brush versus individual trees until later in the year when they are peeling bark for food.

hunter360 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2011, 01:27:13 PM »

Quote from: woowoo on October 21, 2011, 01:00:37 PM

Don't mean to hijack here but we have a lot of those trees snapped in half like that with no real signs of rubbing. Wondering what's causing this? Havn't seen any elk but do have some moose running around. It's got us pretty confused and I was just curious if it may be an animal.

That's Bigfoot

fillthefreezer · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2011, 02:54:44 PM »

Quote from: woowoo on October 21, 2011, 01:00:37 PM

Don't mean to hijack here but we have a lot of those trees snapped in half like that with no real signs of rubbing. Wondering what's causing this? Havn't seen any elk but do have some moose running around. It's got us pretty confused and I was just curious if it may be an animal.

i have alot of rubs that are broken off, some even look like maybe they stuck a point through it and pull up like youd do with a filet knife in a salmon..

blacktail luv · « **Reply #14 on:** October 21, 2011, 03:01:12 PM »

I know bears snap trees off also.

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2011, 03:59:19 PM »

Well I can tell ya this ....things are definately shaping up for the rut ....I have not said much because no need to start talking about alot of sheet until I fill my tag ...but I have passed up 2- 2pts which were dang nice ones ...one was about 18 " wide and the other was a heavy tall dark horned buck ... and I have seen over 25 blackies this week alone which one was a little bitty 3 pt ... but this is why I am holding out and if it means tag soup then so be it

I want mister big and I have all the last week off ....COME ON RUT

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2011, 04:01:27 PM »

Blacktail .....HUH!

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 21, 2011, 04:04:22 PM »

wANT TO SEE MORE ? I can go on all day why I wait till the last week of the season .....I will be a huntin machine tomorrow but I will be relentless till the end

7.62Warbird · « **Reply #18 on:** October 21, 2011, 04:29:03 PM »

Finding lots myself. Let the rutting begin...please. same treatment from both :sides.

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 21, 2011, 04:35:53 PM »

Quote from: 7.62Warbird on October 21, 2011, 04:29:03 PM

Finding lots myself. Let the rutting begin...please. same treatment from both :sides.

yeah thats a nice deer their now ....look at all the tin marks ..definately not a 2 pt

need help with that one ?

Good luck let me know if you get that bad boy

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2011, 04:43:37 PM »

little off topic but let me tell ya deer are not worried about logging equipment ...plus they told me they have seen a couple nice bucks hanging around so I will be looking tomorrow since they will not be working in there tomorrow

AKBowman · « **Reply #21 on:** October 21, 2011, 09:39:39 PM »

Quote from: boneaddict on October 21, 2011, 01:08:22 PM

AKBOWMAN, the latter pic is more characteristic of a moose than an elk. Just saying......

moose tend to take on chunks of brush versus individual trees until later in the year when they are peeling bark for food.

I think it more depends on the area and what they have available to rub or what they have learned from watching other older moose. Obviously the pic attached with the broken off alder is an Elk b/c there are no moose in SW WA that I am aware of

In my experiences with AK-Yukon moose they take on the shrubs when shedding their velvet and a little during pre-rut then when the rut kicks in they turn to beating the living hell out of 8-30" wide birch and alder trees. I've literally had them keep me up at night b/c it sounds like two lumberjacks are taking turns beating on a tree with a Lousiville Slugger. But definitely noticed more rubbing of "bushy" type stuff early and then in late sept early oct taking the aggression out on the larger stuff. And for sure they eat bark in winter when they are struggling to find food.

Shed Stud · « **Reply #22 on:** October 22, 2011, 05:54:49 AM »

Why the title scrapes? Scrapes are on the ground. Speaking of, I spend alot of time in the woods and rarely see mule deer scrapes where they rub. I have seen tons of WT scrape-rub combos. Most of the MD scrapes comes from them foraging for food. Why is it you guys think that MD bucks don't scrape as much for scent marking like WT?

boneaddict · « **Reply #23 on:** October 22, 2011, 06:22:56 AM »

Mule deer make different types of scrapes than whitetails. They tend to be more "rut pit" like. They tend to be made by the most dominant of bucks and they tend to be in dark holes. Dog hair thick timber pockets etc. Certainly different behavior. I also believe muledeer are more nomadic than whitetails. Whitetails travel lots but in certain corridors more or less. Muledeer migrate and travel long distances. Its not cut and dry, but it warrants a bit different behavior.

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 22, 2011, 06:23:54 AM »

Quote from: Shed Stud on October 22, 2011, 05:54:49 AM

Why the title scrapes? Scrapes are on the ground. Speaking of, I spend alot of time in the woods and rarely see mule deer scrapes where they rub. I have seen tons of WT scrape-rub combos. Most of the MD scrapes comes from them foraging for food. Why is it you guys think that MD bucks don't scrape as much for scent marking like WT?

LMFAO I was going to mention that but I DECIDED SCREW IT

boneaddict · « **Reply #25 on:** October 22, 2011, 06:25:37 AM »

I know, me too. I knew what he meant and that was good enough.

fillthefreezer · « **Reply #26 on:** October 24, 2011, 08:06:19 AM »

sorry, get all technical on me...
so ive been seeing alot of the rubs that are low have been in dark cedar thickets all around their lower limbs...

BOWHUNTER45 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 24, 2011, 08:39:14 AM »

Quote from: fillthefreezer on October 24, 2011, 08:06:19 AM

sorry, get all technical on me...
so ive been seeing alot of the rubs that are low have been in dark cedar thickets all around their lower limbs...

Its all good we all know what ya ment

boneaddict · « **Reply #28 on:** October 24, 2011, 08:47:53 AM »

Sounds like you may have some bucks working.

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